GILDING THE LILY: TIPS FOR SELECTING AND CARING FOR
BELLY DANCE COSTUMES
BY: PRINCESS FARHANA
you’ve spent hours sweating in classes and
Will it be cabaret or tribal? Do you work in a res-
workshops and now it’s time to get serious. …
taurant, and need a good sturdy” “workhorse”,
you’re about to buy a belly dancing costume!
or will your costume need to be easy to pack,
It should be a joyous occasion but it can also
because you take frequent trips? What can
be riddled with stress, because you’re making
you actually afford, and will you need to save
a rather pricey investment- if you’re a student,
up for your purchase? Are you dancing just
it suddenly means you are serious . If you are
for fun, as a hobby? Are you looking for a one-
dancing as a hobby, you may be wondering if
of-a-kind wonder that nobody else has? Write
you can afford it. If you’re already a pro, you
down a simple list of what you are looking for
need something that is wearable, travels well
in a costume, and let it become as long as you
and worth the money you put into it. No matter
need it to. Include wishes and dreams as well
what type of dancer you are, there are things to
as practical considerations….then keep all this
consider.
in mind as you hunt for your new costume. In
my years of dancing, I can’t tell you how many
Belly dance costumes come in a mind-boggling
times I’ve made impulse purchases. For ex-
array of styles and colors, running the gamut
ample, a few years ago, I decided I needed a
from simple, modestly-priced off-the-rack bed-
new lavender costume, as it was the best and
lahs purchased on E-Bay to extravagant, hand-
most flattering color for my skin tone. As I was
beaded and Swarovsky crystal-studded extrav-
looking for one, I succumbed to a bright orange
aganzas that can set you back a few hundred…
Egyptian stunner, because it fit me like a glove
or a few grand! In the early 1990’s as a baby
, and was gorgeous. The only problem was, I
dancer, eager to buy my first “legit” stage cos-
already owned three other orange costumes!
tume, like many beginners, I was astounded at
I acted on impulse. Luckily, because I work al-
how expensive cabaret costumes were. Wistful-
most every night, I could and did get plenty of
ly fingering a glittering Egyptian Madame Abla
wear out of it; I could justify the expense, and
creation priced at $725.00, (and remember- this
it’s a tax write-off. But you may not be in my situ-
was almost two decades ago!) I amused all the
ation, and as I said- I wasn’t considering my
professional dancers within earshot by loudly
specific requirements… so stick to your list of
wailing, “I’ve had three cars that cost less than
costume criteria!
this… and they all ran for years!”
Style AND cOlOR
Due to the global nature of today’s world, ready-
made costumes are easier to find and purchase,
A tried and true belly dance costuming rule-of-
and in general, prices in have come down a bit,
thumb for newbies is to get a well-fitting basic
and there are many more options available. But
bra and belt in a “neutral” metallic- either silver
still… whether your costume is a simple, “gener -
or gold, or a mixture of both. Fringe or coins-
ic” one, a used outfit that could use a little love
it’s your choice. With a neutral base, you can
or a custom-made stunner, you need to make
swap out accessories, skirts and veils in differ-
sure it will serve your performance needs well,
ent colors and styles, and it will look as though
fit correctly and also know that it will stand up to
you have many more costumes than you actu-
the test of time…and have resale value, should
ally own.
you ever decide to part with it.
This concept works for both cabaret and tribal
DeteRMiNe yOUR NeeDS
dancers, by the way.
Figure out exactly what you want in a costume.
However, if it’s your dream to own a flaming red
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