M'shisha al Fo'awi

This enlarged picture offers a chance to see more detail on M'shisha al Fo'awi's stretch blouse and pantaloons costume. Included is a description of where each component came from and how it was made.

This costume consists of a stretch blouse, a pair of pantaloons, a stretch sequin hip belt, a body stocking, a nylon tricot hip drape, and a rectangular lurex-striped veil.

M'shisha made this pair of pantaloons from simple 100% cotton fabric, which she notes attract all the cat hair around her house!

The belt, which she also made, consists of stretch sequin fabric with rayon chainette fringe sewn to it. The stretch sequin band is 4 inches wide, and the fringe is 6 inches long. For sparkle and jingle, M'shisha al Fo'awi attached some small silver-colored coins from India alternating with 20-millimeter prismatic silver paillettes.

M'shisha al Fo'awi purchased the glittery stretch "half top" with 3/4 inch sleeves from L. Rose Designs, a California-based vendor. The front arrived "pinched", which she altered to allow her to wear a standard bra underneath for support.

Her midriff is covered with a flesh-colored body stocking purchased from Sugar Petals.

This picture shows how the costume looks from the back.

M'shisha al Fo'awi purchased the hip drape from a fellow dancer at a belly dancers' flea market. It's a rectangular 3-yard veil with rounded edges made from black nylon tricot fabric. Primatic silver 20-millimeter paillettes are arranged around the edges.

The 3-yard rectangular veil has ribbons of lurex stripes through it.