Caroline Labrie!

Caroline bought this bedleh (bra/belt set) from Gihan Zakaria, proprietor of Belle Orientale near Montreal, Québec. When Gihan received this costume from the designer and saw the style and the size, she contacted Caroline to offer it to her. Caroline decided to go for it even though she was not sure whether she would like the match between leopard and turquoise. It’s new to her to like the leopard fabric.

Caroline uses this costume for modern and pop music. She thinks the turquoise vertical “line” in the front of the skirt gives her more height.

Although her husband does not like this costume, Caroline said, "I’m really comfortable in this costume. It’s my first Hanan but I think I am going to buy more from her."

This costume was made in Egypt. Caroline doesn't know who made the bra/belt set, but the skirt, gloves, and headpiece were made by Amira al-Kattan, the designer who owns Pharaonics of Egypt.

Caroline bought the bra/belt set from a local Québec supplier, Gihan Zakaria from Belle Orientale near Montreal. It was custom-made for her. She bought the skirt set used from a dancer in the U.K.

Because of the fringe, Caroline thinks this costume is a good choice for private parties or when using a very dynamic piece of music. She bought it because gold is a "neutral" costume color that can be worn with any skirt. Interestingly, she has received many compliments about the way she looks in this costume and for that reason now never interchanges the skirt.

Caroline purchased this dress from a supplier here in the province, Gihan Zakaria from Belle Orientale near Montreal. Although it appears at first glance to be a bra/skirt set, there is actually a section of net connecting the bra with the skirt.

Caroline had seen a similar dress on the Belle Orientale web site and asked Gihan to have one custom made for her in the color of her choice. Caroline also included in the custom order the ankles and headpiece - these items did not come with the original dress that she had seen on the web site..

Caroline likes to use this costume for dancing with a veil, shamadan (candelabrum), sagat (finger cymbals) or Isis wings. This costume is the one she reaches for when she wants the general "look" of wearing a bra/skirt set but wants to be more covered. She likes the fact that this dress creates the illusion of separates.

Caroline likes this costume because she feels the line of it is very flattering to her body type. The dress has many decorations, and it sparkles brightly when worn under stage lights.

Click on either of the two photos to see this costume in more detail. Both photos were taken by Sabrina Paquet.

This dress was created by popular Egyptian designer Amira al-Kattan, Pharaonics of Egypt. Caroline purchased it in 2004 when she went to Egypt for the first time. She reaches for this costume when she is planning to dance either a classical piece or a soft folkloric one.

Caroline was drawn to this costume because of its elegant lines and decoration. She feels like a queen when wearing it. She finds that the diagonal line of the mesh cutout creates a flattering line.

Caroline reports that she has received many compliments when wearing this costume. People think she looks thinner.

Click on either of the photos to see this costume in more detail. Both photos were taken by Sabrina Paquet.

This costume was created by Amira al-Kattan, the designer for Pharoanics of Egypt. Caroline purchased it in the summer of 2004 when she went to Egypt for the first time. She had previously seen the style on a vendor's web site and fallen in love with it. For the sake of versatility, Caroline requested that it be made as a 2-piece set with a net over the midriff.

Amira invited Caroline to put her confidence in her and let her design something flattering. The resulting design included a very high slit in the center front of the skirt. Caroline felt this was too revealing, and asked her to close it a bit. The next time she returned, the slit was gone, replaced with decoration. Caroline feels the color is particularly flattering for her.

Caroline wears this costume for dancing in the classical Egyptian style.

Click on either photo to see this costume in more detail. Both photos were taken by Sabrina Paquet.

Caroline bought this dress in 2006 when she went to Egypt for the second time.

The first time Caroline saw this costume occurred when she was watching the Ahlan wa Sahlan 2001 video. Nour, one of the performers, was wearing this exact dress, also in black. Caroline says:

"Since then, I always wanted to have it made for me but I was not sure about the mesh (the dress is a made of mesh). I thought it might be too revealing for my shape. But every time I lurked on Audrena’s website, I always returned to look at this one. So when I met Amira in 2006, I asked her if she remembered this old style of dress and she said, 'Yes! It’s the most beautiful dress I designed!' I asked her if she would be willing to 'clear it up from the dust' for me and she was very happy to do it."

Caroline uses this costume for performing to Egyptian classical pieces such as "Nibtidi Mneen al-Hikaya".

The thing that original drew Caroline to this style was the mesh - it's elegant and sexy. She feels that the black color is particularly flattering for her because it makes her look thinner.

Click on either photo to see the costume in more detail. This photo was taken during a performance by Isabelle Dussault.