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

Multiple personality? I can suggest options for each attitude. In either case, I'm sure you take pleasure in your lithe, snakey little body. At five feet and 95 pounds, you're probably not underweight but small-boned and lean. A lot of dancers would trade places with you any day!

If you feel the desire to pump up a little (I said a little!) refer back to my column about bra padding. Make sure your bra has plenty of fringe or coins and sparkles too.

Extra veils tucked into and draped around your belt will round out your small hips. A full circle skirt will do the same.

If you'd rather play up your natural slimness instead of going for mini-voluptuous, you could forego (uncomfortable) padding and wear the tiniest little bra you can find, maybe in a metal mesh or metallic crochet that someone with bazooms wouldn't dare look at. Drape some chains and coins on this, and add plenty of snake armbands and rings. If your nipples show through, camouflage them with flesh-colored tape.

Wear a shiny sheath skirt with slits up the side.

If this is still too "exotic" for you, maybe you'd prefer a stretchy midriff top, backless choli, or peasant blouse decorated with coins or beads along the edge, and moderately full harem pants, as illustrated. Now you're the simple village girl who happens to be a hot little dancer.

• Ask The Costume Goddess: Small Hips. Some suggestions to flatter your narrow hips.
• Ask The Costume Goddess: Hip Drape. How to make a hip drape like the one pictured in the first diagram above, for dancers who would like to use costuming to create the illusion of being curvier.
• The Costume Goddess Tells All: Flattering Costume for Bellydancers. Review of book by Dina Lydia.

• Ask The Costume Goddess: Creating Cleavage. Ways to make the most of your assets on top.
• Making A Circle Skirt. Shira explains how to make a circle skirt like the one pictured in the first diagram above.

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.