The BellyGram Newsletter

Babi Habibi

Greetings to All in ShimmyLand!

Well, it looks as if spring has finally shown her face on our little spot of the planet. With it, everything is renewed. It makes me think of the spring cleaning, getting ready for those summer days, sundresses, bikinis, flip flops and new costumes. Did I say new costumes? Did I mention accessories? Yeah, baby!  Here weee gooooo...

Whether you are Cabaret, Tribal or anything in between, choosing the right fit, colors, flow and then your accessories in putting that perfect look together , which can be a harrowing experience. I know it is for me at times, but don't let this scare you newcomers off!  Putting yourself together for a performance is a blast in every direction, but as I have found out, you'll learn a lot on your journey. When you're done, and perform with what you have created, it is well worth all the time and effort!  You'll be a Goddess.

But before we go further, lets start at the beginning, shall we?

First you need to decide your price range. If you’re new to this obsessive/compulsive disorder, ask lots of questions of those who have gone before you.  Their experience can be valuable when you start to spend your hard earned cash. I've found components as little as .99 cents on E-bay, but watch out for the shipping charges with that one. The prices, of course go up from there, and can become endless. What you really need to do is get on line and shop, shop, shop. Compare prices with the things you are thinking about. There are tons of places to shop on line for everything belly dance- from jewelry, to skirts and veils, to full costumes with a veil included in the price. Look for sales and deals. Our website is a great beginning, so take your time and look around. I can't stress that enough.

Next, if your looking for a full belly dance costume, I think it's best when you can try them on. Beware though, whether you buy one on site or order, the probability that you will still need to make adjustments is almost a given. I have purchased costumes that seems to fit me almost perfectly when I have tried them on, only to find when I get home I still need to move a hook or hem it a bit. I'm also advised by those with more experience than I that when custom ordering, you may still find the need to adjust.

If your not a seamstress type person, most of us can at least sew a hook on. There is also a list of seamstresses on the Oriental Guilds  website, if you live in the midwest area. For my big hem jobs I will take it to a tailor or seamstress and have them do the work for a small fee. It's worth the price to me and lets me concentrate on my dancing instead of stressing out over a hem. There always seems to be another gal in the group that can also help.

There are some things that can't be fixed- like cup size. Make sure the cups are not too small. If they are a bit large you can always add a little something to enhance our most beautiful feature. You can purchase cup fillers at your local fabric store or even at Walmart. Make sure that they are not too large either, (the cups that is), that could make your costume look a bit sloppy and it just won't look right. Most important is: ALWAYS have 2 hooks on the back, no need for a serious malfunction. It happens to the best, don't let this be you. Your straps should be snug, but not to the point you can't breath, this includes you shoulder straps, so they won't slip off your shoulders.

Check out your hems. The length of your skirt is up to you, but I like mine to just touch the top of my foot near my toes. I have one I just love, but had to take it up 2 inches. Not a big deal, but I had to re-sew the beading on the hem back on by hand. (That took me 9 hours). My skirt looks fabulous but I don't want to do that again, so now I really check to see what needs to be done with alterations. ( hems are a problem for me due to the fact that I'm only 5'2") That can also be corrected if you can perform with heels on.

Also be sure that the skirt is not too tight. You can always add elastic for the perfect fit. But if it is too tight, you will look squeezed into it. If you don't know what to do, check out what other gals have done and how they have done it on their costumes. Some of this material is delicate, so again, the experience that others have can be a great resource.

Let me tell you this also. When Dahlal International comes to town and we start literally ripping her racks apart, we all are goo- goo eyed. Bless Debs heart! But always take a person with you to help  try these things on. Ask for an honest opinion. I say this because, all these costumes are beautiful, but not every costume is for every one of us. The different styles with their jewels, sequins, gorgeous beading and colorful fabrics as blinding as they are, don't always look good on every skin tone, size and shape, others' opinions are a necessary component when deciding how 'many' of these things we take home... and you experienced costume shoppers out there know 'exactly' what I mean when I say 'how many'... (he he)

Good luck, have fun, spend your money and turn yourself into that Goddess...!

Gotta go, gotta go shimmy
Babi Habibi