Belly Dance Costume Design

Africa Adorned by Angela Fisher. "A coffee table book full of photos of African and Mid-Eastern people. The emphasis is on Africa, but there are great pictures of the Tuareg, Berbers, Moroccans, and the Berber bridal fair. INCREDIBLE photography of costumes, jewelry, henna and facial tattoos. Wonderful photos of the people of Africa."

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Art of Arabian Costume: A Saudi Arabian Profile by Heather Colyer Ross. "This book would be a useful resource for middle eastern dancers looking for costume ideas, but is not as helpful for those looking for exact information about how the garments are made. Many of the poses used by the models are very dramatic (or even high fashion) and attractive, but make it difficult to make out the details of the garments. Historical information is sketchy. However, the wide variety of garments shown and the fact that they are shown in color, together with the extensive commentary in the text, makes this a useful book. There are few books covering Bedouin dress this extensively."

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The Art of Bedouin Jewellery : A Saudi Arabian Profile by Heather Colyer Ross. "A coffee table book FULL of incredible pictures of Arabic jewelry with good close-ups for detail and info on the cultural details as well."

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Bedlah, Baubles, and Beads by Dawn Devine Brown. "Bedlah, Baubles, and Beads is a book about designing and crafting the elaborate bra and belt sets worn by contemporary belly dancers.... The first part of the book provides a conceptual framework by starting with a history of this costuming style and its origins here in the United States. From there, it concentrates on introducing the reader to design principles, methods, and techniques for developing figure-flattering styles. The second part presents the materials, tools, and processes for putting together an elaborately decorated bra and belt set. Step-by-step illustrations for applying beads, a fabric shopping guide, and directions for constructing the bra and belt bases are all illustrated with descriptive diagrams to aid the reader. Finally, the book finishes with a portfolio of styles and ideas for expanding the performance wardrobe. From skirts to accessories, these chapters introduce the essential garments that transform the bra and belt into a complete costume.

Belly Dance Costume Making by Vicki Corona. "...covers basic instructions for belts, skirts, beledi dresses, folkloric dresses, headdresses, arm bands, harem pants, and more. While it doesn't go into extreme sewing detail, it's a great idea book, and it certainly expands on the repertoire of (mostly purchased) costumes I've seen."

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Costumes & Customs from the Arab World by Salah. "An oversized book with a box jacket full of drawings, paintings and some photos of traditional dress. Good narrative on many aspects of Arabic culture."

Costumes of Morocco by Jean Besancenot and Caroline Stone. "Between 1934 and 1939, French artist Besancenot (b. 1902--currently living in France) travelled throughout Morocco, capturing the beauty of traditional Moroccan dress in superb color paintings, with following narrative-descriptive text."

Costuming From the Hip by Barry Brown and Dawn Devine Brown. "Costuming from the Hip is a comprehensive reference for anyone who works with Middle Eastern dancewear. Dancers, costume makers, designers, and historical re-enactors will like the many illustrations, historical patterns, construction techniques, and hundreds of hints and tips. This 120-page book will take you step-by-step through measuring your body, researching your costume, laying out the patterns, fitting it, and accessorizing your creation."

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Embellished Bras by Dawn Devine Brown. "Embellished Bras: Basic Techniques provides in-depth instruction and useful advice that guides readers through the process of turning a store-bought lingerie bra into a fabulous costume piece. This easy-to-follow four-phase process is presented through graphic step-by-step photographs and illustrations. You'll learn how to make a bra cup pattern, cover the bra and straps, and embellish with fringe, beadwork, appliques, and jewelry. From ballroom to belly dance, Embellished Bras addresses the special needs of dancers no matter what performance style. This "workshop in a book" is an excellent resource for both novice sewers and professional designers."

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Ethnic Dress by Frances Kennett. "Celebrates the dress of people who do not adhere to the trends of westernized fashion, pointing to general themes and principles, and aiming to be illustrative rather than definitive."

How to Dress Dancers: Costume Techniques for Dance by Mary Kent Harrison. "Geared for costuming dancers, this book includes over 400 line drawings that demonstrate how to make a costume from a sketch rather than a pattern. Detailed instructions for making classical and romantic tutus, bodices, blouses, costume for men, tights, leotards, and skirts are presented, along with designs for character, national, and period costumes. Directions for headdresses, props, decorations, and ornaments are also included."

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Middle Eastern Folk Dance Costumes by Vicki Corona. "Illustrated overview and mini-sewing & crafting class on authentic folk costumes worn in & around the Middle East. Fabric types, care/packing/storing how-tos."

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The Omphalo-Stepses Belly Dance Costuming Book by Shantell Powell. This is my very own costuming book. It's chock-full of easy costuming patterns, hints, and references.

Reveal and Conceal: Dress in Contemporary Egypt (Contemporary Issues in the Middle East) by Andrea B. Rugh. "Lots of good detail drawings and photos on modern costume. Very detailed information regarding the subtleties of costuming in various regions throughout Egypt."

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The Shining Cloth: Dress and Adornment That Glitters by Victoria Z. Rivers. "Cloth may glitter or shine because of its own lustrous qualities, as is the case with silk, or with the help of special treatments and dyes. Materials such as metals, sequins, beads, or mirrors may be used to embellish fabrics as decoration or to attract or deflect spirits in unseen worlds. Gifts from nature can also be cleverly manipulated into shapes and pieces to simulate more precious materials: for example, the iridescent elytra of beetles reflect brilliant metallic greens and violets as if they were gems. Sumptuously illustrated and superbly designed, this odyssey through the world's cultures will captivate those concerned with contemporary fashion and textile history as well as anyone interested in symbol and ritual in traditional societies."

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Style File: A Visual Vocabulary of Middle Eastern Dance Costume by Dawn Devine Brown. "Style File is a compact dictionary of the specialty terms associated with Middle Eastern dance costuming. This concise visual guide is an invaluable reference tool for dance students, teachers, and belly dance costume designers. Over fifty beautifully illustrated original drawings are supported by easy to understand text that identifies the garments and accessories unique to our dance form. Covering high-glamour bedlah to earthy folkloric, tribal fusion to historical reproductions, each style is broken into its component parts. From assuit to zardozi, this handy book is a must for the reference library of Middle Eastern belly dancers who want to push past the basic cabaret costume. "

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Women's Costume of the Near and Middle East by Jennifer Scarce. "Lots of drawings and photographs of costumes and fabrics. It's got some nice diagrams on how to cut and construct many of the garments shown. Tons of info! Costumes are from the 14th to early 20th centuries."