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

You asked how to make a coin bra to match your belt. "Match" is the key word. A variety of coins and ready-made coin bras are available, but the type of coin varies. If you chose the wrong type of coins for your bra it would clash with your belt. The coins need not match exactly in design or size, but they should be compatible in weight, color, and style. Thus if your belt used "real", heavy ethnic coins with drilled holes in a dull finish, and the bra was covered with little shiny, tinkly aluminum coins available in costume supply stores, that wouldn't do at all.

Many Arab import shops have several types of brass and nickel coins with a medium weight, as well as ready-made costume pieces. Coin shops might have foreign coins suitable for the purpose. Surf the web--there are many vendors who sell either real or imitation coins for use on belly dance costumes. Obviously, you'll have to do some shopping with your belt and compare the look and feel of the belt with the coins you're considering purchasing.

• Ask The Costume Goddess: Making A Coin Bra. Learn how to make a coin bra and how to wear a purchased coin belt.
• Ask The Costume Goddess: Attaching Coins, Beads, Bells. How to securely attach trims to your costume.

• Ask The Costume Goddess: Shopping for a Large-Sized Bra. If your cups runneth over, here's how to shop for a large-sized bra to use as a costume base.

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.