Costuming from the Hip: 30th Anniversary Edition is in progressing at a pretty steady clip!  Over the next two weeks, my prime goal is to finish updating and expanding the bibliography.

My mission for this project is to create a more complete, modernized, and, frankly, more useful book. To serve this mission, I’m crafting the bibliography to serve as the research tool I wish I had when I started. It will function as a jumping-off point for future costume designers, historians, and scholars of belly dance.  

Haven’t read “Costuming from the Hip”, the current edition is available on Amazon.com or on direct from me via my Etsy store.   

Can we get this revision and expansion done before the end of the year?  Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter.

Thanks for joining me on this
costuming and publishing adventure!
Dawn Devine ~ Davina
June 2023

 

 

Six Books that Inspired “Costuming From the Hip”

I am working on the 30th-anniversary rewrite of my classic 1993 book, “Costuming From the Hip.”  Wheee…  This project was on my agenda for 2022, but life got a little out of hand, and here we are in 2023 setting other projects on the back burner.  Our mission is to get this new edition done by the end of this year or in early ’24.

Part of this process involves working through my own archive and research collection.  In this video, I share the six books that directly inspired the creation of my book way back in 1992.  Costuming From the Hip grew from this inspiration with the help of my growing collection of class handouts and research notes.

I’m thrilled that editor Nancy Hay, and my co-author and photographer Alisha Westerfeld will join me on this adventure!  We’re working together to update, modernize, and expand on the information, illustrations, and photos of the original version.

Yes, you read that. The new edition of CFTH will feature photos of dancers in costumes!  

It’s an exciting time here in Studio Davina.
I look forward to sharing more progress reports in the coming weeks.

Dawn Devine ~ Davina
March, 2023

Margot Robbie wearing an assiut gown in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a delightful period murder mystery set in the 1920s.  It was released in the fall of 2022 and starred Margot Robbie.  The costumes designed by J. R. Hawbaker perfectly capture the look and feel of how assiut was transformed into gowns during the 1920s. 

I’ve found a pair of videos that have clips of this gown in action.  Be sure to watch the film on your favorite movie streaming service and see the full scene with this luscious dress!  Wanna see more assiut garments?  Check out my Assiut Pinterest Board with thousands of images collected during my research for The Cloth of Egypt through to today.

Happy Costuming and Dance,
~ Dawn Devine ~ Davina
March 2023

 

Toroz – Modern Egyptian Design
Traditional Assiut Details

I recently discovered an amazing young designer Lobna Zogheib, founder of the label Toroz.  These lovely garments are modern and fashionable featuring accents of traditional embroidery from Sohag and Siwa oasis.  Lobna strives for her garments to be, “a gateway between cultural iconic craftsmanship and modern-day fashion style.”

Toroz is making an impact in the Egyptian fashion scene, with key figures collecting and wearing her pieces.  One of the most prestigious collectors of Toroz is the Egyptian Minister of Culture, Dr. Ines Abdeldaym.

If you’re interested in learning more about Toroz, or even picking up a piece for yourself, visit the company’s Instagram account follow, and DM them directly for more information.

Until The Next Post!

Dawn Devine ~ Davina
March 2023

 

 

Can You Write a Novel?
Challenge Accepted!

Many years ago, my mum challenged me to create a work of fiction. Of course, I said “Yes!” My mom wants to read a non-DIY or History book by her one and only daughter. How could I possibly say no?

We brainstormed together and settled on a few key features for this project. These general parameters were going to inform the shape and scope of the book. 

• Cozy Mystery.  Both mum and I enjoy reading a silly-fun cozy-style mystery.
• “Write what I know.”  I took this excellent advice and set the event at a belly dance festival.
• An Exotic Setting. Let’s put it on a cruise ship! Many years ago, I attended a belly dance event on a cruise ship.

Shimmy On The High Seas

I bounced the idea around with my co-author and cruise travel buddy Alisha Westerfeld, shown below looking out onto a ship’s wake with my mum. She gave it two thumbs up and the work began. Between Alisha, my mum, and me, we came up with the title of our mythical event, “Shimmy on the High Seas.”

The story takes place on board a 15-day round-trip cruise to Hawaii.  The belly dance event, Shimmy on the High Seas would take place on days 1 – 5, and 11-15.  Between the 6 – 10, the ship visits several ports throughout the Hawaiian islands.  But this fun event is interrupted by the tragic death of one of the event instructors!  *gasp and clutch pearls here*

NaNoWriMo 2018

In November, I took on the Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month) challenge and managed to get nearly 30,000 words of the novel completed. Raw and unedited, it needed plenty of work, but I set it aside in early 2019 to work on the rewrite of Costuming From the Hip, getting it ready for its 30-anniversary rerelease.  

Booked a Cruise & Personal Writing Retreat

In 2019, after much nudging from my mum, I booked a cruise for her and me to set sail from San Diego to Mexico. The mission was to eat a bunch of food and work on Shimmy on the High Seas.  We picked our ship, and we bought tickets, for March 2020. 

I don’t think I need to explain why THAT trip got canceled!

In 2022, mum and I decided to finally book that replacement cruise, so we booked for March 2023. The main mission is to eat a lot of food, see a lot of great entertainment, and make significant progress on the unfinished manuscript for “Shimmy on the High Seas.” 

Let’s get this book finished in 2023!  CHEERS!
Dawn Devine ~ Davina
February 13, 2023

 

 

 

 

Who Dunnit?