PHOTO CREDIT: Above photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California.
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Ask the Costume Goddess |
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Ask the Costume Goddess:
Tying a Hip Scarf
by Dina Lydia
The Question
Dear Costume Goddess:
I bought this lovely coin/beaded triangle belt. But it's heavy
and it keeps sliding down my hips. I hate to tie it — that pulls
some of the beads and coins into the knot and I'm afraid they
will pull off. Help! Is there some way to keep it from slipping
without hurting the bead / coin work?
--Clueless On Coins
The Costume Goddess Responds
Dear Clueless,
You're right. Tying a beaded hip scarf risks damaging the
scarf and produces an unattractive golf-ball-sized knot that
doesn't hold securely anyway.
I collect decorative pins from flea markets and
thrift stores, like those shown in the photo. When I wear a hip
scarf, I select a suitable matching pin, then simply cross the
ends of the scarf for a snug fit and pin through all layers,
including some fabric from the skirt or dress underneath. Using
this method, the scarf can't slip down and it looks much nicer
too.
If the scarf is especially heavy, it wouldn't hurt to pin
an edge on the opposite side as well. |
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--The Costume Goddess
About the Costume Goddess
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. |
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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:
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Costume Goddess Photos
To view a photo gallery featuring pictures of Dina, costumes
she has designed, and her friends, either click on the choices below or visit her web site:
The contents of this page are copyrighted 2009 by Dina Lydia. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication is forbidden.
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