(As printed in the Quarter 2/05 issue of The Belly Dancer Magazine)
Shopping for Costumes On-Line
By: Dawn “Devine” Brown
Back in the bad old days of dance, from the golden era until recently, dance students learned to make costumes as part of a right of passage as they moved from student to novice performer, from talented amateur to semi-pro and from there to professional status. Impor-ters were few and far between, with limited style options and few sizes to choose from. Out of necessity, dancers learned to craft their own costumes, creating a landscape in the world of dance of innovative fabric choices and unique embellishments.
Today's dancer has a world of shopping opportunities. There are hundreds of importers active in the US today providing a flood of costuming options from Turkey, Egypt, India and beyond. Dancers no longer need to wait until the next festival or hafla to shop. Now, the world-wide-web offers dancers 24/7 access to delectable costuming options.
But, how easy is it to shop for a costume on the Web? Dancers need to embrace that classic credo Caveat Emptor - Buyer Beware. We all need to be advocates for our own protection. Here are a few road-tested tips from experienced pros to help you avoid pitfalls when shopping on-line. Bay Area professional dancers, Setareh and Shanna offer their top tips for successful web purchasing.
Measurements
* Know thyself - this means your EXACT measurements. Don't kid yourself, or shave off an inch or two for vanity sake. Go by your actual rib-cage measurement, not your bra size. Bra sizes vary considerably, but measurements will always tell the truth.
* Measure for you belt at a variety of heights on your hip. You may not wear every belt cut at the same level. For instance, a deeply V cut belt will ride higher on the hips, than a straight cut belt will. Be realistic about where you actually where your belt so that it will fit where you want to wear it.
* Know your hip to floor measurement both with and without heels. By "hip" I mean that space on your hip where you will actually wear the skirt. This will ensure that your waistband, which may not be that attractive, is concealed by the body of the belt.
* Have someone else take your measurements while maintaining your best posture. Bending over will affect your skirt length, and how you hold the tilt of your pelvis will affect the size of your hips. Accurate measurements are essential for successful internet shopping.
Quality
* Examine the photographs carefully. Look for obvious flaws such as mis-matched cup sizes as well as missing, damaged, sparse or mis-matched beadwork and fringe. Also look for visible damage, stains, tears, loose threads, and broken beads.
* Do not be fooled by a fancy description, "professional" quality means different things to different people. Be wary of designer brands unless you are very familiar with the work of the design house in question.
* Make sure that all pieces included in the ensemble are represented in the photos. A 7 piece set that includes two rubber bands and a shoe-clip does not a costume make. Count the accessories and make sure they are ones you will actually use.
* Know the fabric and structure of the costume. If the description says it's assuite, and it looks like polyester, chances are it's not what it claims to be. If in doubt, ask for close-up photos otherwise pass on the garment.
Reputation of the Dealer
* When auction shopping, check out the track record of the dealer before handing over your cash. Use PayPal or a credit card to protect yourself so you have some recourse if the transaction goes sour.
* If you are going to purchase direct from overseas, be sure to ask for references and check them out. You don't want to send your hard-earned cash to some unknown designer in a foreign land only to receive a wimpy hip-wrap or worse, nothing at all.
* Knowledge is power. When buying a used or one-off costume from an individual, send them e-mail, ask a lot of questions about the condition and quality of costume. If you feel uneasy or unsure of the transaction, thank them for the time and continue looking. There are many costumes available currently so keep shopping.
* Demand the best quality shipping materials and insurance to protect your investment. Packages can become damaged or worse - lost - in the mail, so be sure to get a tracking number for your shipment so you can keep track of your precious cargo.
