Embellished Bras: Basic Techniques [Paperback]

Dawn Devine Brown (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2003

Embellished Bras: Basic Techniques provides in-depth instruction and useful advice that guides readers through the process of turning a store-bought lingerie bra into a fabulous costume piece. This easy-to-follow four-phase process is presented through graphic step-by-step photographs and illustrations. You'll learn how to make a bra cup pattern, cover the bra and straps, and embellish with fringe, beadwork, appliques, and jewelry.

From ballroom to belly dance, Embellished Bras addresses the special needs of dancers no matter what performance style. This "workshop in a book" is an excellent resource for both novice sewers and professional designers.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dawn Devine Brown is an internationally acclaimed author of books on designing and making Middle Eastern belly dance costumes. Her other books include Costuming From the Hip (1997), From Turban to Toe Ring (2000), and Bedlah, Baubles, and Beads (2001). She has been dancing for over fifteen years and has been designing historical costumes nearly all her life. She has degrees in both Art History and Fashion Design.

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Ibexa Press (May 2003)
• ISBN-10: 0967817064
• ISBN-13: 978-0967817064
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,120,741 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Listen to Davina - she knows her stuff!, March 8, 2004

By 

Shelley Ashfield (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Embellished Bras: Basic Techniques (Paperback)

I am a dance costumer with 30 years' of sewing experience under my beaded and bejewelled belt. Having made my share of beautiful dance bras, I thought I'd mastered it all...until last night, when I was attempting to cover a D-cup with glittery spandex that showed every tiny flaw in my draping technique. I was about to give up until I paid attention to the little voice in my head whispering, "Would would Davina do?"...and got out this book, which my wonderful husband bought me this Christmas.
The moral of this tale is: Davina has been there, done that; follow her advice, because she knows how to help you get from the dream costume in your sketchbook to the real thing.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very thorough detailed directions with nice photography, June 13, 2006

By 

Amalfi Coast Girl (Mid-Atlantic, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Embellished Bras: Basic Techniques (Paperback)

As someone that is new to belly dancing I was surprised at the prices of the costumes. Being an avid do-it-yourselfer, I decided to figure out how to make my own. Unless you count 7th grade home economics I have never made a garment in my life, nor have I had any sewing training. This is not to say that I don't sew at all, because I do. I have made lined Roman blinds, pillow covers, duvets, and slipcovers for the v-berth of a boat. Garment sewing has been something that I avoided because it seemed far too complex. This book has given me the confidence to give costume making a whirl.

This book is extremely well written and very easy to follow. The directions are very clear, even for a novice sewer like myself. The close up photographs of the many steps make the whole process easy to follow.

The book covers the following information:

Styles of Dance Costumes
The Method: An overview
Design
Phase I - The Foundation Bra
Phase II - Making the Pattern
Phase III - Sewing the Cover
Phase IV - Embellishments
Hand Sewing Techniques
Sewing Beads and Sequins
Care and Maintenance of the costume
Resources
References

The method this book suggests is covering a purchased bra. This idea will obviously make this process much easier to pull off. The steps for covering the foundation garment are very detailed and easy to follow. I was quite surprised by the photographs in the book of the finished garments. It is impossible to tell that these are covered purchased bras without being told. The author lists many sources for embellishments, fringe and beading that are invaluable.

There are many more steps to this process than I expected. I would suggest only purchasing this book if you think that you can spend 20+ hours on the first embellished bra. However, if you love to do-things-yourself, and it you are a serious dancer what do you have to lose?

Overall, I highly recommend this book to serious dancers and/or tenacious do-it-yourselfers.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for begginers, August 28, 2005

By 

S. G. Douglas (Northern California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Embellished Bras: Basic Techniques (Paperback)

I started belly dancing a year ago and my neice followed a few months after me. I wanted to learn to make the costumes and I became frustrated with the lack of information I was able to find. Being a intermediate seamstress, I decided to wing it and make my neice a costume for her christmas present, thinking I will learn as I go. When I was almost done with her bra, I came across this book. I bought it and when I went through it, I found out that I wasn't far off from the techniques I was using, trying and helped me with aspects I wans't sure about.

This book is really good for beginning belly dancers who are wanting to make their own costumes. The bra, which is the most important piece, sets the setting for the rest of the costume, then the belt follows the bras design. The books is really good for those who are beginner sewers and need visuals to help them understand the instructions.