helping a friend with gypsy/Romani garb - ideas/photo inspiration needed!

[Tixi]

Hi,

I'm trying to help my BFF build / buy / sew a Romani style outfit for faire this year

She's kind of a free-spirited hippie type (the royal medieval Moresca dress she bought her first year totally didn't suit her )  Anyway, Romani clothing/culture is kind of outside of my personal realm of knowledge at this point, so I don't know much about it.  I've read:  http://www.globusz.com/ebooks/Amuck/00000012.htm, http://westwood.fortunecity.com/armani/208/costume.html, and http://www.willofyre.com/realgypsies.html already & done some google image searches, but I still feel like I'm coming up short.

She does not want: a) to show belly dancer skin (choli tops are out), b) to wear anything too loose/frumpy either c) anything too modern/fusion.

I don't really know where to start.  I'm probably going to end up helping her make most of it.

Any ideas, additional links, and especially PHOTOS anyone would like to share would really help us!

Thanks!

[tcindie]

This might help:
http://www.larsdatter.com/romani.htm

[DonaCatalina]

Caravagio's fortune teller

Medieval tapestry gypsy dancer

[Sitara]

I would go with a Ghawazee/gwahzee coat.  They are fitted and do not expose the midriff nor do they look too modern.

Here are two different patterns

http://www.adiradance.com/dance_costume_cp/PT-803/BD_PAT/i3/o/Adjustable+Ghawazee+Coat+and+Turkish+Vest%2C+Pattern+%239803.html

http://scheherezadeimports.com/items/atira~39-s-fashions~35-/atiras-fashions-22-6010622-detail.htm?Shopping_cart_id=8572349

Either that or tunic length top with a fitted cropped vest as well.

[lys1022]

There tend to be two main ways that people go with Romani-wear out at faire:  people tend to go either Indian/Eastern/Belly Dancer style or they go Russian/Eastern European style.  I know at Scarborough, our Rom lean toward the Russian.  Bright, multi-colored outfits with lots of tapestry and embroidery work, bells, long vests and coats, pillbox-style caps or headwraps that resemble turbans but not as oversized.

Some photos from our favorite stalkers...er...photographers...have good examples:

http://www.pbase.com/autumn_leaves/image/95412591

http://www.pbase.com/autumn_leaves/image/95721383

http://www.pbase.com/vstrick/image/96531123

http://www.pbase.com/vstrick/image/96531244

There are a lot more out there, but these should get you started.

Lys

[Cateyes]

I am playing a Ruska (Russian) Roma Gypsy this year.  These sites helped me.

http://www.imninalu.net/Gypsies.htm   (types of Roma)

http://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/dante/980/DomGypsy.html  (History of Gypsy)

I picked an outfit kind of like these but I added a gypsy chemise and a waist cincher.  http://www.barynya.com/barynya/Gypsy_Dance.htm

These outfits are more modern than the renaissance, they are more along the pirates and kilts period but I doubt anyone will care unless she is planning on going historically correct.

Here are youtube dances to help her get in the mood.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYxMZ3m28nQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3ctVf8Xs3A&feature=PlayList&p=7F26CC05DC66C1BA&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXv1lpmYxZM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv46cFiZ_E0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lxK8bwp3R8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9PO5NQtPZ4


Enjoy!