(no subject)

d tonightI’ve started making a skinny gold belt, and in the process have already seam-ripped the hell out of a costume bra, here’s the back story:

 

( Backstory )

 

Then, towards the end of 2004 (the start of 2005), our teacher wanted us to seriously upgrade our look with professional costumes…made by someone that she’d befriended in Egypt. At a rehearsal she put a bunch of pictures of potential styles on the floor and asked us to stand next to our favorites. Three of us picked costumes, unafraid of the overly sexy-showy nature. Yoko in fact noted “all those sexy holes” as to why she’d picked hers...the others sort of hovered in the corner, afraid of all options.

 

It was going to take more meetings. People felt that the costumes were too revealing, too “not our style” and just too damned pricey. We didn’t have any paying gigs, so why drop 400$ plus dollars per person?!

 

We suggested coin costumes, would have fit our budget better. Crazy Lady wasn’t having it. We all vetoed spandex with sparklies in favor of a simple gold bedlah ( bra & belt) with chiffon. One girl, Koito, was very worried about exposing a slight skin condition that she had, so I offered to get a more covering top along with her.

 

We went home to write down our measurements and get color swatches for the color skirts we wanted (each of us would have our own color.) I picked raspberry, but we had too many pinks and reds I was told, so I picked a dark green instead.

 

After sending everything to the costumer, I was told that they didn’t have the right green. I’d be getting grass-green. YUCK. I also learned, after sending everything out, that Koito had decided that she’d go for the sexier top. I was stuck alone in my big one. Damn.

 

During the time it took to get our costumes, my teacher went to India and returned SERIOUSLY batshit insane. The costumes arrived, but the new levels of crazy in our teacher caused us to loose two members the day the costumes arrived.

 

We’d all sent our sizes, altering Japanese bra sizes for American ones. No bras fit correctly. My bra was simply uncomfortable (wide in the cup but shallow) and ugly, the other bras required 2-3 pads per cup ( and some still never fit)  We performed frequent nipplechecks.  My skirt? Unflattering in color, style, and lenght. Most of the skirts were a bit short. The skirts were also edged with sequins and beads which cut into our legs and knees when dropping down for floor work. Our veils were similarly edged and could easily cut nearby dancers.

 

The Romanian said that we looked like Startrek planetfolks. She was dead on.

 

The fabric used to cover the bra and belts was stretch gold lame, not known for a long life in general. The costumer warned our teacher against the choice, but oh well.

 

After we all ran away from the troupe, Anaan gave me her gold bra. It was too big for her and not her style. I wear it to this day. It looks great with a trumpet skirt. This was my original bra and this is now. Much better, eh?
 

Anaan and I always planned to sell my old bra and her old belt as a set and any of the skirts or other bits that we wish never to touch again. But as I’ve mentioned, stretch lame is not a strong material. My original bra was designed in a way that the fabric stretches over my back instead of a hard-cup. My back moves...stress...so when I recently pulled it out to to photogrpah it for sale, I realized that the lame is flaking off and the bra simply can’t be sold.

 

Anaan is giving me her belt for parts this Friday. I’ve bought enough of her cabaret styled costumes that she’s just tossing this to me, happy to be rid of the crazy memories. Until then, the unflatteirng bra is getting deconstructed for parts.

I'll still wear my wider belt for the trumpet skirts, but It’s my hope to have a more retro-60’s feel for wearing the gold set with NICE chiffon skirts. In the next few weeks you’ll be subjected to progress/process pictures.

 

 

 

(no subject)

d tonightI’ve started making a skinny gold belt, and in the process have already seam-ripped the hell out of a costume bra, here’s the back story:

 

( Backstory )

 

Then, towards the end of 2004 (the start of 2005), our teacher wanted us to seriously upgrade our look with professional costumes…made by someone that she’d befriended in Egypt. At a rehearsal she put a bunch of pictures of potential styles on the floor and asked us to stand next to our favorites. Three of us picked costumes, unafraid of the overly sexy-showy nature. Yoko in fact noted “all those sexy holes” as to why she’d picked hers...the others sort of hovered in the corner, afraid of all options.

 

It was going to take more meetings. People felt that the costumes were too revealing, too “not our style” and just too damned pricey. We didn’t have any paying gigs, so why drop 400$ plus dollars per person?!

 

We suggested coin costumes, would have fit our budget better. Crazy Lady wasn’t having it. We all vetoed spandex with sparklies in favor of a simple gold bedlah ( bra & belt) with chiffon. One girl, Koito, was very worried about exposing a slight skin condition that she had, so I offered to get a more covering top along with her.

 

We went home to write down our measurements and get color swatches for the color skirts we wanted (each of us would have our own color.) I picked raspberry, but we had too many pinks and reds I was told, so I picked a dark green instead.

 

After sending everything to the costumer, I was told that they didn’t have the right green. I’d be getting grass-green. YUCK. I also learned, after sending everything out, that Koito had decided that she’d go for the sexier top. I was stuck alone in my big one. Damn.

 

During the time it took to get our costumes, my teacher went to India and returned SERIOUSLY batshit insane. The costumes arrived, but the new levels of crazy in our teacher caused us to loose two members the day the costumes arrived.

 

We’d all sent our sizes, altering Japanese bra sizes for American ones. No bras fit correctly. My bra was simply uncomfortable (wide in the cup but shallow) and ugly, the other bras required 2-3 pads per cup ( and some still never fit)  We performed frequent nipplechecks.  My skirt? Unflattering in color, style, and lenght. Most of the skirts were a bit short. The skirts were also edged with sequins and beads which cut into our legs and knees when dropping down for floor work. Our veils were similarly edged and could easily cut nearby dancers.

 

The Romanian said that we looked like Startrek planetfolks. She was dead on.

 

The fabric used to cover the bra and belts was stretch gold lame, not known for a long life in general. The costumer warned our teacher against the choice, but oh well.

 

After we all ran away from the troupe, Anaan gave me her gold bra. It was too big for her and not her style. I wear it to this day. It looks great with a trumpet skirt. This was my original bra and this is now. Much better, eh?
 

Anaan and I always planned to sell my old bra and her old belt as a set and any of the skirts or other bits that we wish never to touch again. But as I’ve mentioned, stretch lame is not a strong material. My original bra was designed in a way that the fabric stretches over my back instead of a hard-cup. My back moves...stress...so when I recently pulled it out to to photogrpah it for sale, I realized that the lame is flaking off and the bra simply can’t be sold.

 

Anaan is giving me her belt for parts this Friday. I’ve bought enough of her cabaret styled costumes that she’s just tossing this to me, happy to be rid of the crazy memories. Until then, the unflatteirng bra is getting deconstructed for parts.

I'll still wear my wider belt for the trumpet skirts, but It’s my hope to have a more retro-60’s feel for wearing the gold set with NICE chiffon skirts. In the next few weeks you’ll be subjected to progress/process pictures.