hey costuming people!

[solipsistnation]

Does anyone know where I could acquire some Bedouin desert robes and stuff, or patterns for making them? I'm not worried about them being too authentic, but they should be functional-- that is, they shouldn't be non-breathing synthetic fabrics.

It seems I may be hanging out in the desert for a week or so, and they're the people who know how to dress for it... Most of the google hits are for belly-dancing outfits, which isn't quite what I'm going for here, as attractive as that might be.

Comments

[pir.livejournal.com]

as attractive as that might be

Where "might" translates to "oh my ghod, my eyes, my eyes!" ?

[solipsistnation.livejournal.com]

Considering I'm planning to wear this at Burning Man, I expect that my wobbly hairy gut in a belly dancer outfit would be a step up from some of the sights on display there.

[pir.livejournal.com]

I don't plan on putting myself through that particular form of torture :)

[kadath.livejournal.com]

I knew it! I knew it had to be Burning Man!

(That's what I'd wear.)

[solipsistnation.livejournal.com]

That's because you're clever!

Also, why the hell else would I go hang out in the desert for a week? I'm not CRAZY. (Like that, anyway.)

[kadath.livejournal.com]

Burning Man would be great if it weren't for all the other people who go.

Seriously, can you imagine how awesome it would be to have the entire installation to yourself for a week? Everyone gets there and sets up, and then vanishes in the Smelly Hippy Faux-Counterculture Rapture. Everyone but you. Glorious!

[solipsistnation.livejournal.com]

Ha, yeah.

So, we know some people who have been going since it began, and they've invited us along this year. It looks like an interesting thing to do, and it's certainly not like anything else I've ever done... So, you know, why not go? I mean, just for the people-watching opportunities alone, it's like a huge mother lode of weirdness. So I figure I'll get into it and see what happens.

[z-gryphon.livejournal.com]

At this point, I think the Burning Man crowd is up to either counter-faux-counterculture or faux-counter-counterculture, I'm not sure which. With a large side order of Ironic Post-Irony.

[solipsistnation.livejournal.com]

...and a heaping helping of "naked" and "on fire."

[thastygliax.livejournal.com]

I have an issue of The Compleat Anachronist (#51) that has a few pages about Islamic clothing, including patterns for a shirt, drawers, and an aba (over-robe), as well as a brief note about how to wrap a turban.

How soon do you need this stuff? I could probably mail or fax a photocopy (4 pp) to you.

[solipsistnation.livejournal.com]

Well, within the next two months, although if I'm making things I should start sooner rather than later...

Can you scan and email? Otherwise, postal mail is just fine... Thank you!

[thastygliax.livejournal.com]

I'll check with meranthi about what she can do from work, and get it to ASAP, one way or another.

[thastygliax.livejournal.com]

M has scanned it so I can email it to you. Could you send me your address? (Mine is [sameusername] AT gmail DOT com.)

[syringavulgaris.livejournal.com]

I actually made myself a robe...though it ended up being more like a Turkish coat...out of all kinds of loud, colorful scraps for Burning Man, operating under the same principle.

However, there is one major problem with this otherwise-sensible proposal:
- It is good, and to my way of thinking nigh-necessary, to have a bike on the playa.
- You can't ride a bike in robes. (Or at least, I was overwhelmed in Fail when I tried.)

If a bike is not a concern, I believe that Cariadoc's Miscellany has a pattern for making an aba (the overrobe that's still in use today, AIUI). PDF is here; you want Section IV.

[eccles.livejournal.com]

Knock Obi Wan over the head and nick his hoodie! Too accurate for sand people.

[buddhagrrl.livejournal.com]

This made me think "white cotton" which made me think "dharma trading co"...

Not what you asked for but if you don't feel like sewing and can sort out the women's vs men's sizing:

basically a t-tunic:

http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/2577335-AA.shtml?lnav=clothing_women.html

over pants:

http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/2577335-AA.shtml?lnav=clothing_women.html

[lyadann.livejournal.com]

ahhh! I'm sososo jealous! hee - I read your post and I exclaimed, "Aargh! Josh is going to burning man!" and Derek had to come over and see what I was talking about :-)

[awfief.livejournal.com]

Is the question where to find Bedouin stuff, or where can you find comfortable, loose, flowing, boy clothing? 'cause if it's the latter, you can always get a few mumus.

[solipsistnation.livejournal.com]

Specifically Bedouin stuff. And I found Saudi Arabian mail-order, which is neat.