Caroline Labrie!

Caroline purchased this bra/belt set, which comes from Egypt, from Belle Orientale near Montreal. She had it custom-made to her size. It is the exact same style as Caroline's gold bedleh set but with a different style of fringe. With both sets Caroline removed the decoration that went around the waist because she is short-waisted.

For the skirt and gloves, Caroline purchased the fabric and hired a seamstress to make it for her. She fell in love with the teal color and the lace.

Because of the fringe, Caroline sees this costume as an appropriate choice to wear for performing at private parties or when using a very dynamic piece of music such as a drum solo or a pop song.

Caroline appreciates the versatility that a bra/belt set offers. It enables her to interchange different skirts and accessories for different looks.

She feels that the straight skirt is flattering because it gives a longer line to her body.

Click on either of the two photos to see this costume in more detail. Both photos were taken during a performance by Caroline's husband, Steve Désilets.

Caroline dances to a drum solo wearing another bedleh (bra/belt set) from Egypt. She isn't certain who the designer of this one is, but believes it may have been Yasser. She purchased it from Belle Orientale, a vendor near Montreal.

Caroline saw this exact same style in white and silver and thought it was a beautiful costume, so she ordered one to be custom-made for her in this color.

Caroline likes to dance drum solos in this costume because the fringe accents the moves and the bold color demands a dynamic performance. One of the things she appreciates about this costume is that the bra is well-constructed and gives excellent support.

Caroline purchased this costume in 2007 from a friend who runs a boutique in Sherbrooke, Québec. The friend went to Egypt on a shopping trip, and Caroline asked her to have this one custom-made for her by Amira al-Kattan, the designer for Pharaonics of Egypt.

One of Caroline's other friends had had this costume made for her when the two of them went to Egypt in 2004, in the same color. Because they were planning a duet project (which never came to pass), they wanted to have costumes in the same style but different colors. Caroline intended to have it made in green.

On a Sunday morning, Caroline's telephone rang. The caller was the friend in Egypt. She was at Amira's shop telling Caroline that Amira didn't have the necessary materials to make the costume in the green color requested. Caroline ended up speaking to Amira directly, in perfect French. She finally opted to have her costume made in the same color as her friend, except that Caroline's would have silver decorations while her friend's had gold.

Caroline uses this costume to dance to classical music such as "Ana Kull Magul el Tobah". She was drawn to this style because it is elegant and classic. As its name implies, to her it evokes memories of the dancers from the 1940's and 1950's.

Caroline feels this costume is flattering because of the way the hip line lengthens her torso.

Click on either photo to see this costume in more detail. The photos were taken by Caroline's husband Steve Désilets during one of Caroline's performances.

Caroline purchased this costume from Elise Olmi of Cicek Pasaj in Montreal, Québec. She saw another dancer wear this costume in a competition and wanted one like it, except in a different color, so she custom-ordered it. The costume was made in Egypt. Caroline isn't certain who the designer is, but suspects it may be Yasser.

Although this costume could be appropriate for dancing to classical music, Caroline tends to use it when she is dancing to pop music.

Caroline was drawn to this costume because of the decorated mesh in the sides. The rich blue color is one of the reasons why she feels this costume is flattering on her.

Click on this photo to see this costume in more detail. Photographer unknown.

This costume was designed by Amira al-Kattan, owner of Pharaonics of Egypt. Caroline purchased it from her when she went to Egypt for the second time, in the summer of 2006. She had become enamored with the style when she saw it on a U.S. vendor's web site, and decided to place a custom order with Amira.

Caroline likes to use this costume to dance to a classical piece or a soft folkloric song.

Caroline made this comment regarding why she likes this costume:

"What I liked about this dress is that it covers the big cleavage I have. Also, I really like the decorated fishnet on one side. I think it’s revealing but not too much… just enough to tease the audience. I also think this dress is very elegant."