PHOTO CREDIT: Above photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California.

Yes, a baladi dress really is an acceptable substitute for a cabaret costume. But it must be a dressy style and fabric; something with a sheen or sparkle or ornamented border, not a folksy-looking cotton. It can be form-fitting or loose, whatever is most flattering. If loose, the fullness usually is pulled in at the hip with a suitable ornamented hip scarf or small belt, and this can match the dress fabric for a more slenderizing look.

Don't wear a big, chunky cabaret belt in a contrasting color on top of the dress; this will make you look wider. If the dress is semi-sheer, a simple matching bra (no hardware showing!) and harem pants can be worn underneath.

A compromise is the Ghawazee-style dress, which is cut out in front so you can wear a glamorous cabaret bra with it. If you like to use veil a lot, the dress is fine, but you may want to go sleeveless so the veil can drape over your shoulders and arms nicely. This photo shows a Ghawazee dress and bra of mine.

Typically, a baladi dress is a folkloric style of dress, based on the Egyptian garment known as a gallabiya, which includes sleeves and a looser fit. I concur with Dina that a more theatrical interpretation of a baladi dress made of sparkly or sheer fabric, perhaps with a lower neckline and slits along the legs could be used with a veil.

The photo to the right shows Leyla Lanty, a dancer from California, wearing a typical theatrical version of a baladi dress. Factors that make Leyla's dress theatrical rather than traditional include the low-cut neckline, the fact that the sleeves as 3/4 length rather than full length, and the choice of sparkly fabric as opposed to traditional cotton. The loose sleeves of a baladi dress make it less than ideal for dancing with a veil, due to the risk of the sleeves becoming entangled with the veil.

Photo by Marcia Morris Conklin. Click here to see other costumes in Leyla's photo gallery on the Bellydance Plus web site, which is also managed by Shira.

This photo shows Melodi, a dancer from Texas, using a veil with another theatrical variation of the baladi dress by L. Rose Designs. Melodi's dress is more fitted to the contours of the body than the traditional Egyptian gallabiya, and the neckline is cut low to expose the costume bra. The sumptuous velvet fabric and chiffon sleeve drapes represent further theatrical modifications.

Despite its made-for-the-stage adaptations, Melodi's dress retains certain features of the original garment upon which it is based - the long sleeves, the mostly straight line, and the mostly-covered look.

This photo was taken by Melodi's husband, Dean Pentico.

Although baladi dresses can work with a veil, as Melodi's photo above illustrates, I'd like to suggest for your consideration another option for dancing with a veil: an evening gown style of costume.

One of the popular costume options in Egypt is that of an evening gown made of a slinky fabric such as lycra, and decorated with beads and sequins.

This photo of me in this type of costume was taken by Kaylyn Hoskins. The dress was created by the popular Egyptian designer, Hanan Mahmoud.

These dresses often feature cutouts lined with see-through mesh as a design detail, as can be seen over the left leg in this photo. Sometimes the mesh is beige to create the illusion of bare skin, and other times (as with this dress) it is a color that coordinates with the costume fabric.

• Ask The Costume Goddess: What Is A Baladi Dress? Here's a little more information about using a baladi dress in a costume.
• Ask The Costume Goddess: Tummy Trouble. Costume suggestions for a dancer with a protruding tummy.
• Ask The Costume Goddess: Apple-Shaped Figure. Costume suggestions for an apple-shaped dancer.
• Dear Shira: Am I Too Fat To Dance? Shira responds to a reader who asked whether large women can belly dance.

• Dear Shira: What About My Scars? Shira responds to a reader who asked what to do about scars when making costume decisions. These comments may also fit some full-figured dancers.
• Belly Dance Costume Patterns. Identifies sources of belly dance costume patterns, including assorted outfits that look good on full-figured dancers.

Dina has been sewing for more than twenty-five years (yes, she started as a toddler!)

She's also an artist (Maryland Institute of Art) and perfected her sewing techniques apprenticed to various designers, freelancing for small theaters, restyling vintage garments, and altering wedding gowns.

Dina fell in love with belly dancing costumes upon her very first lesson. Now the pleasure of wearing her own designs, and seeing others wear them, offers as much pleasure as dancing. She's become expert as well in altering those troublesome ready-made Egyptian costumes, and modifying designs to flatter individual figures.

She holds workshops in Seattle to teach design and construction of cabaret costumes, and analysis of figure characteristics. She will also give private lessons, or resize or repair a secondhand costume. She's thus earned her Costume Goddess title.

The Costume Goddess Tells All Costuming Books

Dina has published six books of her own on belly dance costuming as well as writing nearly all the costuming section for The Belly Dance Book. For information on her series of books, The Costume Goddess Tells All, see her web site at www.costumegoddess.com. For reviews here on Shira.net of some of her books, see:

• Volume 1: Flattering Costume for Bellydancers. Advice on designing a belly dance costume that will look flattering for your figure type.
• Volume 2: Easy Costume for Bellydancers. Explains how to create easy-to-make costume items if you have very little sewing experience.
• Volume 3: Cabaret Belt and Bra for Bellydancers. Detailed instructions for making your own bra/belt set. Emphasis on the beaded/sequined look, but some coin information too.
• Volume 4: Arm Costume for Bellydancers. Creative ideas for sleeves, armbands, gauntlets, and drapes.
• Volume 5: Tribal Toppings for Bellydancers. Cholis, vests, and other tops suitable for U.S. Tribal costuming.
• Volume 6: Thrifty Chic for Bellydancers. Transforming thrift shop bargains into belly dance costume pieces.
• Volume 7: Headpieces for Bellydancers. Many simple, inexpensive ideas for costuming from the neck up.