Author: Davina

I’ve been recently spent some quality time working on a research project. A book I began quite some time ago, is rapidly reaching its deadline, and so I dusted it off and started looking through my notes. To refresh my mind, I took a moment to do a quick internet search for new sources, and I found a few things that you might be interested in. I hope you enjoy these links and find them as valuable and interesting as I do.

This upcoming book Period Impressions for Dancers and Musicians will be a handy resource for SCA members, Renaissance Fair performers and performers looking for historic folkloric costumes to wear during traditional dances. Look for more information for

~ Davina ~

Metropolitan Museum of Art hosts the Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History which has images, contextual articles that presents the flow of art history. There are quite a few articles about the Middle East, Islamic art and its relationship with the west. I particularly love this textile fragment. Read more about it and other works of art on their website.

If you are interested in the traditional dress of Saudi Arabia, there is an excellent website hosted by the Mansoojat Foundation, a UK charitable organization whose mission is to preserve and document the traditional clothes of Saudi Arabia. Their website is filled with gorgeous images of thobes from various parts of the country, with documentary text and descriptions. It’s worth taking some time to check it out.

The entire book, Oriental Costumes, their Designs and Colors by Max Tilke from 1922 is available for view from the Reference Department of the Indiana University Libraries.

Tilke’s finely rendered drawings of traditional garments from accross North Africa, the Middle East, Asia Minor, Central and Eastern Asia. His drawing allows us to identify the textile as an Ikat, and you can see the locations of the seams. This book is an excellent tool if you are trying to create a period dance piece, or are looking for models to inspire a historical costume.

Italian promotional poster – From Russia with Love – including fantastic belly dance image and Gypsy chick fight. Which got me wondering – what does the English language version look like? So I looked around and found the US version… Check out the differences in what the belly dancer is wearing. In the US version her costume belt is far lower and she is drawn with more clarity and detail. The artwork looks less like the same artist, and more like it was “redrawn” to produce a more aesthetically or culturally appealing message.

If you are interested in seeing

Showgirls are Showgirls… Belly Dancers, Burlesque, Broadway, Vegas.. we all have one thing in common – we all LOVE to wear a hot and spicy embellished bra!

This season on Dancing With the Stars, we’ve been treated to a host of incredibly sexy, complex and lovely dance bras. Here are just a few of my favorites.

This first bra worn by Melissa Rycroft is cute-cute-cute. The bra has been worked into a cute little cropped top with a ruffled edge around the neckline and adorable cap sleeves. This style of top would look fantastic with a Mediterranean fusion costume. And isn’t that jeans-style belt treatment adorable?

Another fantastic ensemble is this light and fluffy two-piece ensemble worn by Edyta. Her bra is covered with rows of pleated fabric applied as a surface embellishment. This technique, used for centuries is known as ruching and is very popular in formal and ready-to-wear as well as dance costuming.

This costume is so fantastic, had such great flow, I couldn’t help but imagine an entire troupe in this simple, yet elegant ensemble. The sleeve treatment is fantastic, and though Edyta doesn’t need them, they would cover a multitude of problems.

The silk has such dramatic flow, fluffy and light. This patterned effect can be achieved with a spray-bottle of dye or fabric paint. Just be sure to use a light hand as you spritz your fabric and follow the directions of the product you choose to use.
(Check Dharma Trading, they have a large selection and tons of information on dye, fabric and dying techniques.)

One inexpensive and easy to make style of bra is simply a “shimmy bra” covered with rows of rayon chainette fringe. This lovely ensemble features a parti-colored two-toned color scheme made with four rows of 2″ fringe. Here Jullianne wears one, beautifully exicuted, proving that simple can look fantastic!

For dancers with petite bustlines, this style will add fullness when still and tons of movement as you dance. A simple row of sparkling trim can be achieved with rows of sequins, glass beads or a rich combination of beads and sequins together. To make a completely matching bra and belt, echo the same number of rows of fringe. Or, if you are feeling particularly flirty, you could make a straight skirt with a long slit, and apply rows of chainette all the way to the ankle.

Alternately, a chainette belt will look fantastic with a classic chiffon skirt or over a slinky mermaid skirt. You can find chainette fringe on the web. I buy mine from Lace & Trim online, but chainette is available from most retail fabric stores.

So if you are looking for inspiration visit the ABC website to view photos and full-length episodes of the latest season.

Hello My Friends and Fellow Costume Enthusiasts,

In a departure from my standard “tribal light” style of jewelry, I’ve made one of my most elegant creations ever. Tiger eye, garnet, sterling silver and, amazingly enough, already sold!

Project #1 – Jewelry for the Silicon Valley Open Studios – In May, I will be participating in the SVOS tour. If you are in the greater bay area, and would like to see my jewelry in person, it will be on exhibition the first two weekends in May at the Westerfeld Studio in Palo Alto. For more information about time, location and the other two artists I will be showing with, visit my page on the SVOS website. Hopefully, I’ll have enough jewelry to exhibit. Wish me Luck!

Project #2 – Book Anyone? Yes, my new book is coming along.. but shhhhh.. I’m trying to keep it under wraps until it’s at the galley stage! I’m drawing and writing daily, and I hope to have it finished before Tribal Fest in May. I’ll be at Tribal Fest 8 hanging out, watching the dance, and enjoying one of the most FANTASTIC shows you can see in Northern California. And perhaps, if I am really good, I’ll have those galleys done-enough to show! Wish me luck!

Project #3 – I’m Moving! Not far.. but far enough to require me to pack up my studio and move. This is an exciting time for me, as I move even deeper into the beating heart of Silicon Valley. Hey – if you work at Google – invite me over for lunch!

So.. I’m putting my head down and finishing up a few items on my workbench.
Like this lovely necklace and others like it for the SVOS show.
Now – if I can just make them and NOT sell them right away..

Dawn Devine ~ Davina
http://www.davina.us