The Costume Goddess

• Costume Design
• Creative Costume Components
• Fitting And Alterations

• Sewing Technique
• Other Costume Issues
• About The Costume Goddess

• Flat Figure. What's the best way to pad a bra?
• Look Like A Goddess. What kind of design would be appropriate for a costume portraying a goddess?
• What To Wear For Debke. What kind of costuming would be appropriate for performing debke?
• Flattering A Pear-Shaped Figure. What kind of costuming looks best on a pear-shaped figure?
• A Tummy That Sticks Out How do you make a tummy that sticks out look good in a belly dancing costume?
• Skinny Dancer. How do you go from skinny to slinky?
• The Apple-Shaped Figure. What types of costume choices look the most flattering on an apple-shaped figure?

• For Young Dancers. What to wear if you're a teenager (or anyone else who is self-conscious about baring lots of skin) and not ready to show yourself in public wearing a sequinned bra/belt set?
• Small Hips. Costume suggestions for petite dancers with small hips.
• Flabby Upper Arms. The Costume Goddess describes how to camouflage those flabby upper arms with adroit costuming.
• Coordinating Color. Ideas for choosing colors that look good together.
• Short Dancer. Costume tips for short dancers.
• A Belly Dance Wedding Gown. For the bride who loves to dance!
• 1940's Style Costume. For elegance and glamor.

Most of these articles are illustrated with Dina's original drawings, like this one.

Skirts

• How To Make An 8-Point Skirt. Three different designs for a flattering skirt.
• Making a Handkerchief Skirt. Make a square handkerchief skirt.
• Making A Multi-Point Skirt. Details on how to make a multi-point skirt.
• Circle Skirt Hem Problems. Why the hem of your circle skirt is uneven.

Dresses

• Baladi Dress. Hide a scarred or large tummy. Or, get a more covered look.
• Baladi Dress With Veil. Is it okay to wear a baladi dress with veil work?

Pants

• Harem Pants. Make pantaloons, and vary the look.

Arm Decorations

• Making Gauntlets. Make gauntlets to match a costume.
• Making Armbands. Accessorize your costume with armbands.
• Sleeve Variations. Creative ideas for accessorizing arms.

Bras

• How To Cover A Bra. Choose a suitable bra, and cover it with costume fabric.
• Beads Connecting Bra. Could strands of beads connect a collar to a bra?
• What About Soft-Cup Bras? Can you use one to make a costume?

Blouses, Vests, Cholis

• Support With A Choli. How to get the support you need when wearing a choli.
• Making A Ghawazee Vest Or Jacket Pattern. Adapt an existing vest or jacket pattern for making a Ghawazee garment?

Other Items

• How To Make A Veil. Make a belly dance veil.
• Hip Drape. Just what kind of hip drape was the Costume Goddess recommending in the above article about the pear-shaped figure?
• Headdress Ideas. Don't step on stage with hair that looks like you just came from your office. These headdress ideas will make you look like a dancer from your head to your toes.

• Falling Gauntlets. What to do about gauntlets that keep falling down as you dance?
• Battle Of The Hip Bulge. What can you do about it when your hip elastic fits too tightly and makes your hips flow up over the top?
• Tight Sleeves. How do you handle the sleeves on a fitted midriff top so that your top doesn't ride up when you raise your arms?

• Large Bustline. What if you have trouble finding a bra to fit a large bustline?
• Fitting Belts. How do you make a belt fit the curves of your hipline?
• Make Your Own Belt Pattern. Additional clarification of some of the instructions that were provided in Fitting Belts.
• Altering A Belt. What to do about those too-big, ill-fitting Egyptian-made belts?

In one of her articles, Dina takes you step by step through the process of altering a belt.

• Machine-Sewing Sequins. How do you use a sewing machine to attach sequins to a costume item?
• Glitter Dot Fabric. This fabric with reflective dots fused to its surface looks beautiful in belly dance costumes, but presents challenges when sewing it. Here's some advice on how to work with it.

• Costume Fabric Choices. Tips on selecting fabrics that work well for belly dancing costumes.
• Attaching Coins, Beads, Bells. How to secure trims to the costume.
• Making A Ruffled Hem. How to make a ruffled hem on sheer fabric.

• Making Beaded Fringe. Use crochet techniques to make your own beaded fringe.

Dina has been sewing for more than twenty-five years (yes, she started as a toddler!)

She's also an artist (Maryland Institute of Art) and perfected her sewing techniques apprenticed to various designers, freelancing for small theaters, restyling vintage garments, and altering wedding gowns.

Dina fell in love with belly dancing costumes upon her very first lesson. Now the pleasure of wearing her own designs, and seeing others wear them, is as much pleasure as dancing. She's become expert as well in altering those troublesome ready-made Egyptian costumes, and modifying designs to flatter individual figures.

She holds workshops in Seattle to teach design and construction of cabaret costumes, and analysis of figure characteristics. She will also give private lessons, or resize or repair a secondhand costume. She's thus earned her Costume Goddess title.