Belly dance inspired costume?

[a_chromatic_sea]

Hello everyone!

I work at the Colorado Renaissance Festival and started doing tribal belly dancing in September of last year, and am thoroughly addicted. I want to put together a costume for this upcoming faire season that is belly dance-inspired, but have no idea where to start. How can I either a) create a tribal belly dance look that will cover my midriff(mostly, at least) and be "somewhat period", or b) spruce up the run-of-the-mill corset/chemise/skirt/boots look to make it more belly dancer-esque?

Any ideas or suggestions would be awesome!

[isabelladangelo]

Period ones are actually really easy (and beautiful).   
http://www.freewebs.com/isabelladangelo/turkishcoat.htm

Here's my documentation that I wrote up for my "Italian" Turkish coat.  The true Turkish coats aren't that much different (so very little different that I won a contest for most accurately middle eastern dressed at an SCA event).   The page includes links to various sites I used to help me understand how to create the Turkish coat. 
There are some extant examples.  Most of the Turkish coats look to have two panels in the front, two in the back, and big gores starting at the waist. 
Wear something similar to an Irish Liene for your first layer, then a short bodice to help keep everything from falling.  :-)   Wear a vest or the Turkish coat over these layers.  Also, a simple pair of pants are great.

http://safiye.myphotoalbum.com/view_album.php?set_albumName=album03
I loved looking at the late 16th c drawings of Turkish women in this lady's photo album.  It should give you a good idea for the look.  Feel free to ask me any questions on how to make the coat. 

For the hat, I bought one of the $3 straw ones at the craft store, cut out the crown, wrapped it in black velvet tights, wrapped a bit of red linen around the brim and held the linen strap in the front with a brooch.  I also added a white rectangular veil to the back tucked under the linen strap.

[Pipere]

http://forfaxia.deviantart.com/art/Hashishin-Garb-79271495
http://photos-245.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v197/185/44/768985245/n768985245_2633430_6011.jpg
Nice thing about middle eastern is the non-midriff market is virtually untapped and unfamiliar, so there are a lot of little things you can do to make a splash. Obviously I went for a look that suggests a certain character (one that will knife you in the back) but same sort of principles. Tassels are fun and easy to make, there's a bevvy of headdress options, and look for nice big patterns as Ottoman textiles never bothered with small repititious ones.

[silverstah]

Are you looking to make/sew your own costume, or purchase?

[a_chromatic_sea]

Thank you for the ideas!

I AM in fact looking to sew my own rather than purchase.

[silverstah]

Here are some great links, then:

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/6419/
http://www.thorngrove.net/athenaeum/qgtg.htm
http://livingpast.com/turkp.html


Hmm... I'll have to see what else I can come up with.

[sealion]

Wonderful examples of turkish garb here:
http://safiye.myphotoalbum.com/view_album.php?set_albumName=album03

[Pipere]

If you're sewing be sure to make yourself a pair of Turkish trousers- not only are they comfy for faire days, but they make for great lounging around the house.


Also be sure to check out resources on Ottoman make-up and henna if you're into that sort of thing:
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/encyclopedia/turkish/
http://www.bdancer.com/med-guide/suppl/makeup.html