How to Make a Belly Dance Cabaret Costume

Making your own belly dance costume at home can save you money.

A belly dance cabaret costume is known as "bedleh" in Arabic, meaning suit. The costume is comprised of a bra, belt and skirt that have been decorated with sequins, jewels, rhinestones or beads. Creating your own belly dance costume is cost-effective, as materials can be purchased at your local craft or fabric shop for a fraction of the price of what it would cost to purchase a pre-made bedleh.

Things You'll Need

• Skirt fabric
• Sewing elastic
• Thread
• Needle
• Padded bra
• Paper
• Pencil
• Pins
• Scissors
• Scarf
• Decorative sequins

Instructions

1. Decide on the fabric you'd like to use for the skirt portion of your costume. Choose a lightweight material that will flow easily, such as satin, lace or lycra. Wrap the fabric around the circumference of your hips to ensure a proper fit. The length will depend on whether you'd like a knee-length or an ankle-length skirt.

2. Position the elastic along the top edge of the skirt fabric and fold the fabric over the elastic band. Sew along the edge to enclose the elastic band. The waistline of the skirt should rest on the hips, just below the belly button. Once you have the elastic band secure, sew the edges of the skirt together. You can either sew along the entire length of the skirt or sew until you reach the mid-thigh area so that a little bit of leg will show during a belly dance performance.

3. Locate a supportive and padded bra that matches the material and design of the skirt. The padding allows you to incorporate decorative elements, such as beads, onto the bra without damaging the fabric.

4. Cut out two circles from a piece of paper to match the cup size of the bra. Outline the pattern you wish to create on the two circles and then cut those patterns out. For instance, if you wanted to create a zebra effect, you should draw the stripes in the circle and then cut the stripes out.

5. Position the cut circles on top of each bra cup. Pin the circles securely into place and use them as stencils to create the design on the actual padded bra. Using a needle and thread, sew each sequin onto the bra in the designated area. Make sure you sew the sequins close enough together so that you don't see the fabric behind them. Upon removal of the paper circles, you should see the decorative design on the bra. Another option is to purchase appliques that you can sew directly onto the padded bra. These are pieces of cut material that are covered with jewels, beads or rhinestones.

6. Find a sheer lightweight scarf that matches the padded bra and skirt to complete the look. You can use material that you have at home, or purchase a scarf that is decorated with sequins or has golden coins hanging from the fringe. The scarf will be tied around the skirt and should sit comfortably on the hips.

References

• Sevenveils: Make Your Own Belly Dance Costume
• Tour Egypt: Belly Dancing Costumes
• Shira: Belly Dance Terms