c0777 Holographic Gold and Bronze Pharaonic Style Belly Dance Costume     $225

SOLD
Like most of the costumes on this site, this was a one-of-a-kind piece hand crafted by an Egyptian artisan. THIS COSTUME CAN NOT BE ORDERED. Will there be more? Individual artisans will occasionally repeat designs, but never exactly and rarely in the same color. It's impossible to say if or when these will show up or in what size or color. YOU CAN'T ORDER THIS COSTUME. Thank you.

Made in Egypt. Impactful (I'm running out of adjectives) gold holographic stretch fabric, flashy but elegant. Lovely beadwork is simple but beautifully designed and colored.

Beadwork is intricate. Scallop and oval shapes have about 5 lines of different beads (gold glass seed, dark copper metallic glass seeds, tiny gold and silver metallics, and small rhinestone strings in every outline, with amber, brown stones. Centers of shapes have beautiful clear iridescent amber sequins or gold holographic sequins. Curving lines are glass gold and amber traditional smooth bugle beads and seed beads. All edges of skirt and bra trimmed with gold glass seed beads. Note back of skirt has very large design, sides have bead lines emphasizing flare, and front panel has radial bead lines. Center fringe on bra is glass gold square cut bugle bead tipped with gold metallic ovals (Egyptian fringe, cord with individually knotted strands).

Skirt is terrifically flattering. Fit-to-flare with a center slit that is covered by the flaring panel. Waist "band" in front is nicely sewn with faux seam that makes it look like a separate piece and gives nice texture. Back zipper. Bra has shoulder strap on one side and completely integrated shoulder and sleeve on the other.

I think this costume is really lovely. The only minor complaint I have is that the front panel flares enough and is fairly heavy with beadwork that it tends to curl forward on the edges. This won't be a big deal while you are dancing and moving around. It also pulls the top of the skirt down, but a little elastic or boning will easily take care of that.

Accessories: None.

Sizing: Medium Bra, Small-Medium Skirt

Bra: Should fit range including wide 34 C, 36 B/C, 38 A. Note: the sleeve is a little small around the end (though maybe just seems that way to me, I'm pretty slim but not petite - 5'7"), but there's about 1/2" seam allowance each side. My upper arm where it hits is roughly 9.5" and I could easily wear it without busting seams/beading, but it was snug.
Skirt Top: Fabric relaxed = 29", stretches to 34".Has no elastic. Will fit an inch or two smaller with elastic added. Likely will need elastic for most sizes due to weight of the front panel. Even if skirt fits with it's own stretch, it's advisable to add elastic as the fabric will not hold its memory forever. See easy tip here.
Skirt Hips: Fabric relaxed = 31", stretches to 37"
Skirt length: 37". Front panel is 39" Makes no sense to me for it to be longer, but so it is! Relatively easy to shorten. Probably about the same work to do it from top or bottom. On top, it is finished with the top of the skirt (it goes over the top to the inside and is sewn through with same seam that goes around top of skirt) and beaded through with the beading that goes all around the top of the skirt. But that's only a couple of inches, you could pick out seam/beading. Shortening on the bottom you can either do a "pinch hem" or actually cut. You'd lose the trim along the bottom (nobody will notice, trust me), and have to tie off the side trim and the radial lines that come all the way down to the hem. I believe this would be the better option.

Age/Condition: New.

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