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Photo by Mandy Weiser
Photos by Jackie Baisa Donnally
Dream Yoga and Dance
How to Purchase and Maintain Quality Costumes (without breaking the bank)
I now own 14 costumes, which I cycle through on a regular basis. I started out with two costumes in 2002. One was a poor purchase, and is
useless (beading fell apart, backing of belt also ripped). The other got a lot of mileage, and has since been resold at the top of the market. Here's
how you can own quality costumes and get your money back.
1. Find a costume maker you love. Some suggestions:
Dahlal.com
Bellacostumes.com
2. Participate in a swap board or consignment group
Bhuz.com
The Belly dance costume recycle project (Facebook)
Belly dance Costume SWAP (Facebook)
3. Know what colors you want, what style looks good and moves well with you, and don't buy anything less than that (or you might regret the spendy
purchase).
4. Keep your costumes in excellent condition, doing repairs and replacing bead loss immediately. This will help when you are ready to re-sell your
costumes to purchase your next costume. Store them in separate boxes after airing them out after a performance. Do not smoke or eat in your
costumes, and do not wear your costumes longer than you need to (i.e. change into street clothes after a performance).
5. Dance at least ten times for pay in each costume, and keep track of how much money you made. Some costumes are "money" costumes,
attracting more tips and better pay. You might wish to keep this costume longer, even if it isn't your personal favorite. Sell the costume after the 10th
time you've used it in your same town.
NOTE: Here's the kicker: if you aren't being paid for performances, you should pace your costume purchases and quality to the pace of your ability
to pay for them. If you simply buy costumes because you really want them, make sure you have the income to cover these purchases. Otherwise,
consider doing a "costume brokerage" systems, buying and reselling approximately two costumes a year,and purchase costumes that you believe
will have a high resell value.
6. Purchase costumes in bright colors with interesting details.
7. If you know a professional dancer who is close in size to you, offer to purchase costumes from her for below-new prices, or get on her email list
when she places them on sale. My favorite: Sandra of raks-sharki.com
8. Don't buy costumes if they are:
a. full of small problems you wish you could fix, but know you won't
b. ill-fitting, too large or too small, or requiring massive amounts of alterations (adding more cost)
c. in drab colors that don't suit your coloring
d. trendy, unless you can truly pull it off AND you believe you can resell it later
8. Don't make emotional decisions about costume purchases. Get a trusted friend's opinion if you are unsure about a purchase. When it comes
time to sell, don't hesitate if you find a buyer.
9. If you do a lot of performance where you are the solo entertainment for the event, consider buying costumes that are easy for you to dress
yourself. If they have unreachable clasps, require a lot of pinning, or have details that need a second pair of hands, save those costume
purchases for when you are doing stage shows (people in the dressing room can help you).
10. Consider buying conservative fitting skirts with slits that can be shortened or closed, and those with beading sewn directly to the skirt (instead
of a separate belt). Costumes showing too much of the thigh are pretty for pictures, but not always practical (and sometimes unappreciated) in
some settings.
I now own 14 costumes, which I cycle through on a regular basis. I started out with two costumes in 2002. One was a poor purchase, and is
useless (beading fell apart, backing of belt also ripped). The other got a lot of mileage, and has since been resold at the top of the market. Here's
how you can own quality costumes and get your money back.
1. Find a costume maker you love. Some suggestions:
Dahlal.com
Bellacostumes.com
2. Participate in a swap board or consignment group
Bhuz.com
The Belly dance costume recycle project (Facebook)
Belly dance Costume SWAP (Facebook)
3. Know what colors you want, what style looks good and moves well with you, and don't buy anything less than that (or you might regret the spendy
purchase).
4. Keep your costumes in excellent condition, doing repairs and replacing bead loss immediately. This will help when you are ready to re-sell your
costumes to purchase your next costume. Store them in separate boxes after airing them out after a performance. Do not smoke or eat in your
costumes, and do not wear your costumes longer than you need to (i.e. change into street clothes after a performance).
5. Dance at least ten times for pay in each costume, and keep track of how much money you made. Some costumes are "money" costumes,
attracting more tips and better pay. You might wish to keep this costume longer, even if it isn't your personal favorite. Sell the costume after the 10th
time you've used it in your same town.
NOTE: Here's the kicker: if you aren't being paid for performances, you should pace your costume purchases and quality to the pace of your ability
to pay for them. If you simply buy costumes because you really want them, make sure you have the income to cover these purchases. Otherwise,
consider doing a "costume brokerage" systems, buying and reselling approximately two costumes a year,and purchase costumes that you believe
will have a high resell value.
6. Purchase costumes in bright colors with interesting details.
7. If you know a professional dancer who is close in size to you, offer to purchase costumes from her for below-new prices, or get on her email list
when she places them on sale. My favorite: Sandra of raks-sharki.com
8. Don't buy costumes if they are:
a. full of small problems you wish you could fix, but know you won't
b. ill-fitting, too large or too small, or requiring massive amounts of alterations (adding more cost)
c. in drab colors that don't suit your coloring
d. trendy, unless you can truly pull it off AND you believe you can resell it later
8. Don't make emotional decisions about costume purchases. Get a trusted friend's opinion if you are unsure about a purchase. When it comes
time to sell, don't hesitate if you find a buyer.
9. If you do a lot of performance where you are the solo entertainment for the event, consider buying costumes that are easy for you to dress
yourself. If they have unreachable clasps, require a lot of pinning, or have details that need a second pair of hands, save those costume
purchases for when you are doing stage shows (people in the dressing room can help you).
10. Consider buying conservative fitting skirts with slits that can be shortened or closed, and those with beading sewn directly to the skirt (instead
of a separate belt). Costumes showing too much of the thigh are pretty for pictures, but not always practical (and sometimes unappreciated) in
some settings.
