Reinvention

A while ago I made myself a new black sequin covered bra - the one I showed in the first post was not offering a lot of support anymore and I decided it was time for something else. I had to put a rush on it as it was just before our Hafla and I had someone else's costume to finish as well. . . Of course that turned out to be a substandard bra for me.

So this time around, I'm going to show you how to reinvent a bra that you're not happy with.

On the photo above you can see what it originally looked like: safe, boring. . . entirely lacking in everything that makes a belly dancing costume. So I started by removing the silver trim very carefully, ensuring that I don't damage the fabric underneath.

Next I sewed sequins in the same basic pattern in which the silver trim was, the only exception was now that the sequins actually reflect light and give the feel of serious bling. I used a ruler to ensure that the lines are as straight as I could get it. Start with the top line along the cup, next do the middle line and then the bottom. Only do one cup at a time to ensure that you have something to refer to when you do the other side.

The smaller and shorter line of sequins are holographic - these really catch the light beautifully. You don't have to stick to this linear pattern. I just happen to like the look of it. When you're reinventing, you are the master and commander and you can go as crazy as you want to.

This is a vew of the inside of the bra. I have taken small silver rings and sewn them into the inside of the bra. This is an idea I love - you can attach your draping here with a lobster claw - this means you can use one basic bra and different drapings, depending on how you're feeling that day. I have very simple ones and very elaborate ones that I'm able to change. This also gives you the option to remove it completely when you're wearing something over the bra, such as a Turkish vest (photo below)

Always remember that you're never "stuck" with a costume once you've made it. Anything and EVERYTHING can be changed if you just use your imagination.

XXX
Karma

Red devil costume

Hi everyone.

Sorry that I've been so quiet for so long. . . I'm back and I'm ready to show you all sorts of great stuff to DIY.

Today we're starting with my new favourite costume in my cupboard. Recently I was asked to dance at the last place I ever thought I would dance. . . my old high school. Please understand this, if we had those "Voted most likely to. . ." I would have received the vote for joining a convent before thirty. Belly dance, however, saved my life literally! Anyway, this costume represented the change that I had undergone between 2003 and now. . . and I call it the Red Devil costume!

First, we start with the basics. I took a white padded bra, silver sequins, small red foil beads, some holographic bling, silver and red fabric paint, twisted long beads, scissors and thread . . .

I started by painting half of the one cup with a silver fabric paint - I cheat, I'll confess. I couldn't bear to bead the whole cup! By painting it silver, I created a base for beading that will hang down when done. The top half I leave white as I intend to cover this part of the cup with sequins. . . lots of sequins.

The sequins were sewn on to look like the scales of a fish - they overlap and cover almost half of the one below. This is a clever way to hide the thread while you're sewing. At the top of the cup I placed a line of holographic daisy sequince. They catch the light beautifully. However, I decided to take them off of the cup on the right. . . you'll see why.

Once the silver sequins work was done on the left, I covered the right side with crushed taffeta. It's a little tricky because the fabric has zero stretch in it - if you can avoid no-stretch fabric, do it. I just didn't have anything else at the moment. I put the bra on a dressmaker's mannequin to make it easier to pin it while the cup is moulded into shape. Don't do it while wearing it. . . you are going to hurt yourself! ;-)

Now comes the fun part. Go wild with bling. . . a belly dancer can never have too much bling on her costume.

Afterwards I painted the back strap a matching red to blend in. I also covered the straps to match.

I left the other "hard work" part for last. Taking a piece of double thread, I looped it through a red bead and then strung up twisted silver beads. I sewed it into the middle of the sequince on the bottom row of the silver cup. It takes a lot of time, so be patient. Also, remember to seal off the ends with a matching nail polish - the last thing you want is a cascade of falling beads while you're shimmying away!

 Now all you need to do is create a focal point on the other side as well. This ensures that the look is nice and balanced.

And you're done! For the performance I used a simple matching red coin belt (my routine was very hip intensive) over a silver crushed taffeta skirt with net insets.

This is me in my Red Devil costume dancing at our recent Hafla.