Buying a Bedlah
What’s a bedlah? you ask. The term “bedlah” is the term we belly dancers use to refer to the matching bra and belt sets. These are usually elaborately beaded and sequined. Bedlahs are great for troupe dances and restaurant gigs because they give that classic belly dance look of sparkle, exposed belly and lots of beaded movement. They are also versatile because you can switch out the skirt and accessories for different looks.
Price/Sources: A decent bra/belt set will generally cost about $125-$250. Sometimes you can luck out and get one for less than that, but use caution because quality does matter – you don’t want all of the beads to fall off when you’re dancing! Of course, you can also pay lots more and get something super fancy, but that’s up to you.
It’s most common now to buy belly dance costumes online. Quality varies widely, however. My advice is to first browse around on a reputable site. My favorite is www.bellydancestore.biz. They literally have hundreds of costumes that range from inexpensive to top designer quality. Check out the costumes to get familiar with what styles you like and most importantly, what you think will be most flattering for you. This initial research will help give a frame of reference whether you end up ordering from that site or elsewhere.
Fitting and Flattering: About 95% of the time, whatever you purchase will not fit you perfectly right away. It’s just the nature of a bedlah that you’ll have to take it home and move hooks around and maybe resew the straps, etc. It’s a little bit of work, but an important step to get a fit that works with your body so that you can move comfortably and feel secure in the costume. It’s also common to have to adjust the costume as time passes and it stretch or your body changes. Find a great TV show (I recommend the reboot of Queer Eye on Netflix), sit back and enjoy the process of becoming intimately familiar with your costume.
How can you tell if a bra/belt will fit, especially if you are ordering online? I usually look for three things:
1. Will the cup size accommodate your tatas? If the cups are just a little big, they can be padded, but there’s almost nothing you can do if the cups are too small.
2. Will the bra strap go all the way around you? The straps can always be shortened or hooks can be moved, but it’s hard to add extra to the bra without it looking a bit odd. Believe me, I’ve tried.
3. Will the belt go all the way around you? Again, the belts can always be cinched in by moving hooks, but it’s awkward to add to a belt. Also, some designs are symmetrical, so make sure that if you need to adjust the belt, it doesn’t mess up the symmetry. For example, some belts have a point that dips down in the center that needs to be positioned in middle of your body both front and back. I’ve had belts that I adjusted only to discover after I adjusted them that I could no longer line up the center points where they were supposed to be so I had to dance with a lopsided belt.
As far as flattering, look for colors that look nice with your hair and skin. Also, take into consideration the size of your frame and the assets you want to highlight. It’s SO tempting to get something really gorgeous and showy, but make sure YOU are the main attraction, not the costume. You should be wearing the costume, instead of the costume wearing YOU!
Making a costume: If you are a very, very talented seamstress with oodles of time on your hands, you might be able to make your own bedlah. However, to be honest, I’ve seen very few examples of homemade bedlahs that don’t look homemade. Plus, you’re looking at not just a few hours, but probably in the hundreds of hours to mimic the beading on a true Egyptian bedlah. Bottom line: I recommend spending your time dancing instead of beading unless you really love beading. Save up and buy a real bedlah, preferably one made in Egypt or Turkey. You’ll be glad you did!