HP1052 Gold "Diamond Cascade" Professional Belly Dance Costume $315
By Hoyda of Egypt
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Made in Egypt.
Brief description, check the close up detail to see beadwork and don't hesitate to email ( info(at)bellydancewithk(d0t)com ) if you have questions.
Va Va Voom! Yes, it's daring! But extremely elegant and completely "safe"! Gorgeous swags of glass crystal rhinestones swoop across midriff and chest. Wide overlapping line of glass tumbled silver Egyptian bugle beads, heavily accented with rhinestones, create the design. On the bra each zigzag line is doubled by a strand of rhinestones. On the skirt a long chain of rhinestones glitters down the full length of the center of the wrap around leaf like shapes. Offhand I don't know the "point" size, but these are not the tiny ones, they are generous 1/8". Slightly larger (almost 1/4") individual stones are the single accents you see, generously scattered throughout. All edges of bra and skirt have the same glass bead trim as the inner design lines.
The skirt is not completely straight. It's a well tailored, 3 gore (piece) fit-to-slight flare, cut on the bias, which means it hangs beautifully. Fabric is all-way stretch with a gold metallic overlay of tiny closely spaced dots. The underlying fabric is actually black, though it does not "read" as dark at all. Over the left hip is a connecting band of flesh mesh; originally comes as about 3" "tall"; additional (goes further down leg) mesh is shown in the photos and described under "Sizing" - "Skirt Hips"; it can be included for additional $10 (making total costume price $325). Side zipper.
The gorgeous bra has, of course, a bazillion rhinestones, and 3/4" wide clear pliable plastic halter style straps. When I first saw these used quite some time ago by the haute couture designers, I was dubious - I thought that they would be visible anyway, in most venues, so what was the point. I'm a convert. Yes, the plastic can be seen somewhat if you are near your audience, but it still gives a "floating" look to the bra - I always get complements on these costumes!
Accessories: Matching beaded gauntlets.
Age/Condition: New.
Bra
Bra arrived from Egypt without any fasteners (hook/eyes) for the clear plastic neck straps. Since 99% of the time you have to move them anyway, to me it's just as well; would save the time of picking out the stitches of sewn-on fasteners. I will include the needed standard Egyptian costuming fasteners (the wide, flat "hook and eyes," of which the eye is actually a bar). Particularly with the clear plastic strap, it's preferable that the fasteners were NOT sewn on - when you sew through the plastic, it does leave holes. Don't be afraid of the plastic. You just sew through it as you would anything else. Just use heavy thread, and poke as few holes as possible! I've done it on quite a few costumes .
Skirt Top: Smallest body will reasonably fit approximately = 30," largest body will reasonably fit approximately = 36."
Skirt Hips at widest: Smallest body will reasonably fit approximately = 33," largest body will reasonably fit approximately = 37."
Skirt length: 36."
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A general statement about HP series costumes (by Hoyda of Egypt): these are truly works of art and outstanding craftmanship,
extremely high quality work and attention to detail. I've been almost overwhelmed to tears at how well they are made (less work for me!). The prices on these are frankly misleading; compared to what else is on the market I feel I could easily charge at least $50 - $100 more for these and you would still be getting a solid deal -- but her prices are reasonable, she believes dancers shouldn't have to mortgage their homes for quality professional costumes, and I'm overjoyed to be able to pass that on. A few points: only high quality fabrics; ample use of real glass crystal stones; any acrylic 'crystals' are very high quality, sharp and clear. Primarily glass beads without over-use of plastic (almost never!) or acrylic, and when acrylic novelty beads are used (as on most high end costumes, for example, in the fringe - beads that are available ONLY as acrylic!) they are lovely and high quality. Only heavy weight thread is used for beadwork, never doubled or quadrupled 'normal' weight sewing thread; the finishing of the beadwork itself is equal to and usually better than the best you will see in the industry (including high end designers); always completely and cleanly knotted. Cut, tailoring and finishing of the costumes is equally professional; no fraying, unfinished chiffon edges, messy thready hems or cockeyed zippers.
> Click For "How to Buy a Costume that Fits", explanation of my sizing, how to apply it to you, also some tips on altering. VERY HELPFUL
DO NOT CALL OR EMAIL ME WITH SIZE QUESTIONS OF ANY KIND UNTIL YOU HAVE 1) READ THE LINKED PAGE ABOVE (How to Buy A Costume that Fits), 2) READ THE FULL DESCRIPTION OF THIS COSTUME INCLUDING NOTES GIVEN WITH THE SIZES, 3) TAKEN YOUR MEASUREMENTS NOW AND CAREFULLY COMPARED THEM TO MEASUREMENTS GIVEN FOR COSTUME IN QUESTION. Please! I'm overwhelmed with emails/calls, which keeps me from posting new costumes! It may be hard to believe, but many, many questions are answered by taking a little time to do this -- even if you think you understand my measurements and/or know yours. Even if you are totally confused (or only know your size in a non-US format - page gives help converting). If you still have questions after that, I'll be delighted to answer them (please email vs. phone if you can -- love to talk to customers, but much easier for me to answer emails quickly) . Thank you VERY much, I greatly appreciate it! - K
- Brief Explanation of notations used below.
- Underbust measurements are NOT a good way to judge bra fit, please read this (short).
Should fit range including: wide* 32 DD, slightly wide* 34 D/DD, 36 B/C/C+/probably small D. Max underbust = 36."
*RE: "wide:" I found that the cups fit me better when they were tilted a bit toward each other, and I think this will be true of almost everybody. I stitched the bottom center of cups together in one spot to do this; easy to just snip & remove if you want. I also did the equivalent of moving the bra neck strap, where the ends attach to the cup tops, outward (they come sewn on not quite flush with the outer edge of the cups).
IMPORTANT: The piece of flesh stretch net that connects the skirt above the slit, as it arrived from Egypt, is about 3" vertically. In all of the photos here, there is an additional piece of flesh power mesh (with stick on rhinestones) that I pinned in behind, extending down the leg about another 4". I am about 35" around my boo-taay, and on me the slit was gaping pretty wide without the extra net, and I think that it will do so (without the extra mesh, or some other method of holding the slit edges together a little further down) on all but the tiny-est hips. With the extra mesh it's perfecto. Obviously this is a pretty bare costume, and without the extra mesh be prepared for it to be even barer! I will leave the extra mesh - which is also about 6" wide and will allow letting out of the skirt for even larger sizes, if you don't mind a wider slit - with the rhinestones, for additional $10 so that the total costume cost is $325. It will be pinned in, exactly as it was for the photos, so that you can adjust and sew in the way you need.
Photos are of actual items for sale unless noted. Due to variations introduced by the camera, the lighting, and your computer monitor, colors in real life may not appear exactly as on your screen.
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