So it isn’t a big secret; I’m not a thin girl. I’m plus sized and while occasionally shopping for jeans does make me want to put my fist through drywall (I’m looking at you Old Navy), I’m happy with my body and my health level being what it is. I like the skin I’m in, and having killer curves, one would think, is an asset and a blessing in belly dance, am I right? Costuming should be a cinch. No problems. Easy peasy.
…Oh god…wait, it doesn’t work that way in reality?! CRAP!
Years ago when I started down the road to raqs, I was content wearing yoga pants and some jingly hip wraps, and calling it a day. It was a time of exploration and self awareness, and as I came into my comfort zone, I grew more confident, and found myself wanting to perform. When I got to Detroit and started working with Mijnoon, I started to realize something; I had a hard time finding things that made me feel good. I could cobble together outfits, throw on vests and slap on layers of skirting, but I never felt comfortable. Mijnoon had this fun wandering gypsy thing going. We wore a lot of skirting, tribal-influenced hip wraps, turkish vests, and lots of fake hair. But the costuming was kind of like having A.D.D. Everything was mismatched, everything was colorful, and everything…well, never worked for me. It looked amazing in the group, don’t get me wrong. But I never felt comfortable. I spent every single performance pinning and tucking and pinning some more, to the point where I was pretty much a walking pin cushion in silk and tassels.
When Richard and I moved to Minneapolis, it was this big period of “now what” with my dance, and my costuming went through the same metamorphosis. I ditched the fringe and embraced a bit more sparkle, purchased a fedora, and found myself buying things in color palettes and styles I’d never tried before. Now my costuming choices are growing, as I need to include more items in my closet. I need more weapons in my arsenal, so to speak, and I’ve been poking around.
But…oh god…finding things that FIT! And it is SO important to your dance to wear things that you find comfortable, because you should be focusing on your technique and losing yourself in the moment, not freaking over whether your girls are about to fly out.
I’ve got a few standard spots I recommend for any plus sized belly dancer looking to expand their costuming:
Geisha Moth: Let’s start with the obvious. I’ve become a Geisha Moth Convert thanks to Kalila and Lesley. I’ve always been a fan of her fun, flirty styles, but I never started wearing it until recently. I know, I know, I’m late to this freakin’ party but my previous group never had need for a style like this. Kalila bought me a pair of bloomer capri style pants for Christmas and let me just say this; as a plus sized woman, these things are insanely comfortable, and above all else, they sit in the right spots!!! Shelf booty? It works! Uber hips? It works! I actually started wearing them with knee high boots just for fun because it looks awesome and fun. They stay put, and they really emphasize the best. Her newer skirties are some of the most functional, adorable dance items I’ve ever seen. She doesn’t always carry things in the larger sizes but if you watch her Etsy, you’ll eventually luck out. Oh, and glovies? You can never have too many glovies.
Ashner By Elizabeth: I want each and every one of you to read this statement and write it down; EVERY GIRL NEEDS AN OPTION TOP. Kalila has several of these, and she got me hooked when I borrowed one for a show ages ago. They come in every color and size known to man, you can wear them about twenty different ways, and they are flattering to just about every body type in existence. Not joking. Get one. Get ten. Get some of her cute hip pieces too.
L-Rose: L-Rose is kind of the happy medium store that carries all the staples you need. Tops? They have them, in every cut and style you can think of. Pants? Same thing. Skirts? Yup. My personal favorite? The Choli Bra. I ended up having to wear one of these for Dancing With Death last year, and I was very worried about the support factor of wearing these without a bra. I will say that I am a 42 DD and this thing kept me comfortably secured without a problem, without fail, for the entire 2 week run of the show.
Tribal Virgo: Kelly Holder is not only an amazing dancer, but she’s handy with a serger as well. Vertigo makes fun and flirty shruggies and gahwazee style vests with hoods. I picked up one of her black vest-coats a few months ago, and it is not only super flattering to the curves, but it’s great for both rehearsal and performance alike. I get compliments every time I wear it, and she makes them in tons of fun colors and patterns. Plus, the hoods are great for when your studio is a little chilly and you aren’t warmed up yet. Kelly also makes skirts, headbands, and gloves.
Dahlal: Well of course I have to mention them in this lineup. Dahlal is the bread and butter of any dancer’s costuming repertoire. Want sparkly cab outfits? Look no further. Want some awesome tribal gear? Done. Seriously, they seem to have it all, and in an amazing range of sizes. I had a friend who worked for them for a short amount of time, and she mentioned that while she was working with them, there was a huge push to meet plus sized needs as well as the smaller sizes. I love how versatile their selection is. I’ve bought hip wraps, bolero shrugs, and accessories from them and have never had a complaint. Sometimes you have to dig a bit on their site to find the really juicy deals, but they are really a great spot to buy.
I’m sure I’ll do more of these in the future as I continue expanding, and I’ve already got an accessory one in the works. 
Happy Shimmies, lovelies!
~Shanaz
