Rating: 
Summary: Chintzy materials mar OK content
Review: ... Yes, it does clearly say "spiral bound" in the description- but it doesn't say that the book starts to fall apart the first time you turn the pages!The content is pretty good. Maybe I've just read too much on the subject- but I didn't learn anything I didn't already know. The belt patterns in the back are nice, though. If you've created belly dance costumes for the stage, this book is probably not going to give you any ideas you haven't already come up with yourself or seen on other dancers.
Rating: 
Summary: A good beginner's guide to costume creation
Review: A very basic book for the beginner seamstress looking to make their first belly dance costume. Good breakdown of subjects including how to design a costume that will suit each dance/dancer and the techniques needed to acheive the goal. The next book in the series (Bedlah, Baubles and Beads) includes all of this information and adds more detailed information.
Excellent resources listed at the back of the book, too.
Rating: 
Summary: The Best Belly Dance Reference Book presently on the Market
Review: First let me say that I have been costuming in the Belly Dance/Middle Eastern Dance market for well over 25 years. That said I found this book to be very informative and helpful. From the very technical aspects to the duct tape method of making a perfect fitting belt. The illustrations are plentiful and inspirational. I own it and use it myself. And reccomend it to others all the time.
Rating:
Summary: She really is a wonderful designer
Review: I attended UC Davis with Dawn, she was a grad student and I was undergrad. I was very impressed with this book when I saw it. It is fantastic. Dawn is a wonderful designer and has made some fabulous costumes. She really knows bellydancing and costuming. This book is an absolute must have if you at all want to make bellydance costumes. I love the book and just want to add that she was by far the best T.A. I had during my undergrad as a textile design student.
Rating: 
Summary: this book is CRAP
Review: i buy this book for my girlfriend...its not a book, its a stapled pile of paper at the price of a hardcover book
Rating:
Summary: The one to have if you have only one
Review: I don't think it's possible for me to say enough good things about this book. As the first reviewer pointed out, it is a "be creative" book, but the fodder it gives to the creativity is nothing to be dismissed so lightly. Yes, the book assumes you can sew, but I suspect one wouldn't be buying a DIY costume book if one couldn't. It also assumes at least a passing acquaintance with the idea of modifying existing (store-bought) patterns, but it also walks you somewhat through the process if you've never actually done it. It addresses how and where to measure yourself, and makes the really cool suggestion of a sort of 2-D dressmaker's model -- placing drawn costume elements onto a photo of yourself in a dark leotard and tights/leggings. The book's real strength and richness lies in the diversity of styles which it treats -- from historic/folkloric to modern/cabaret -- and its incredible wealth of ideas for developing your unique look as a dancer, including how to develop a costume that best suits your body type. Cleanly-rendered diagrams and really inspiring illustrations round out what I dare to say is currently the definitive book on the subject. The book could only be made better by the inclusion of color in its line art, to give further goads to the imagination (though you could photocopy its pictures and color them yourself!). But if you buy only one belly dance costuming book, make it this one.
Rating:
Summary: Makes you wanna jump right in!
Review: I really appreciate this little "how-to" book that also gives great explanations of the different kinds of costumes you'd make, i.e. what would be appropriate to wear for this kind of dance. It makes me want to just start sewing right away!
Rating:
Summary: Makes you wanna jump right in!
Review: I really appreciate this little "how-to" book that also gives great explanations of the different kinds of costumes you'd make, i.e. what would be appropriate to wear for this kind of dance. It makes me want to just start sewing right away!
Rating:
Summary: The Book I Always Come Back To When I'm Designing
Review: I'm a costumer of the Philadelphia area bellydancers, with over 30 years of sewing experience under my beaded and bangled belt.
When I'm drawing up a new design for a customer, "Costuming From the Hip" is the book I always come back to for advice and moral support. There are lots of other wonderful books that address the sewing techniques that go into a costume, but few that address the unique concerns of a bellydance costumers.
Rating:
Summary: The Book I Always Come Back To When I'm Designing
Review: I'm a costumer of the Philadelphia area bellydancers, with over 30 years of sewing experience under my beaded and bangled belt.
When I'm drawing up a new design for a customer, "Costuming From the Hip" is the book I always come back to for advice and moral support. There are lots of other wonderful books that address the sewing techniques that go into a costume, but few that address the unique concerns of a bellydance costumers.
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