Customer Reviews

Style File: A Visual Vocabulary of Middle Eastern Dance Costume

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
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At only about 40 pages long, this book isn't going to take up too much space on your shelves! It is, however, a nifty little compendium of different belly dance 'looks', grouped according to basic classifications (bedlah, beladi dress, tribal and so on) and illustrated with clear, simple line drawings. There is also a good quantity of background information in these pages (though little that an experienced dancer is likely to find new!) This is a great little book to thumb through for inspiration, and I'll be coming back to it again and again. There's nothing particularly 'new' or innovative in it, but there doesn't need to be.

It is important to note that this is not a book on how to make costumes, though it does give a few ideas on what can be used or adapted for some components. AS the title suggests, this provides you with a 'visual vocabulary' - a selection of style fundamentals from which you will be able to build design ideas of your own. Even if you're not into the 'mix and match' design, even just photocopying the line drawings and experimenting with different colour combinations will lead to a wealth of design ideas...

This odd little book is not quite what I expected for the money, but it's adequate nonetheless. While $13 is a little high for a Very simple black and white guide consisting of a mere 40 glossy, monochromatic pages put together with only two staples, the content is well-researched and concise. The drawings convey the styles well and with enough detail, though they are irrefutably amateurish. The proportion is only so-so, and all the faces are left blank, and while an "independently produced" book will have a low budget, the illustrator could have tried to make it a little more professional-looking, but I have seen worse illustrations in mass-produced books, so kudos for the independent writer team, the Browns. The fact that there are so many illustrations (at least one per page) with such diverse styles and pieces shown, I would still buy this book knowing all I know now. As a costume designer and dancer, there is plenty of inspiration in these humble pages, and while much of it can be found in bits and pieces on the internet, this is well-compiled and useful.

This small book graphically demonstrates the differences among the various styles of Middle Eastern dance costumes. It would be of assistance to any dancer, costume designer, or dance historian.

This book is a great resource on Middle Eastern Dance costume styles and when to wear them. It is indispensable for any dancer new to belly dance. Full of great information and the background on the different styles of belly dance costumes.

I purchased this to supplement my information on costuming for Middle-eastern dance and related styles. As I can both sew and make my own patterns this book is a great reference source anytime I may have questions about what styles go with what. If someone is looking for a pattern book THIS IS NOT IT! For that you need to purchase her *Costuming from the Hip. Costuming from the Hip has instructions and patterns on how to make a wide variety of costumes, this book will show you what the final product should look like. I like having both as together they give a complete picture. She also offers other books that go more in depth on how to make bedlahs, do beading, or costume for Tribal dancers but unless you are an ATS dancer (From Turban to Toe Ring) or are only interested in Cabaret style costuming (Bedlah, Baubles, and Beads, Embellished Bras: Basic Techniques) I would recommend starting with these two first, the "Style File" and "Costuming from the Hip".

*(Not for the casual or beginning sewer.)

A bit expensive for what it is, but I do agree that beginners need to read it. It's a good book to help you understand about costuming.