Dina Lydia, Costume Goddess
Dina Lydia Johnson wears a lot of hats. And a lot of other things she’s designed and made herself. So many things, in fact, that many people simply know her as the “Costume Goddess.” But there’s a lot more to this Seattle fashion diva than funky outfits. Let’s inquire, shall we?
Q: Your Biznik profile lists a lot of skills: graphic designer, illustrator, photographer, writer, and dancer, among others. But the thing that really catches my eye is your title, Costume Goddess. How’d you come into that?
I’m originally from the East Coast; I moved to Seattle in 1996, after 6 years in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I started taking bellydancing classes in Albuquerque, where it’s very popular. I was a professional seamstress, so of course I started making costumes for myself and others. A friend named me “Costume Goddess” and I used that for my online advice column: “Ask the Costume Goddess”. Naturally I purchased the domain name. I feel a catchy name is very important for a small business.
Q: There’s something about putting on a costume that is incredibly freeing. I do it all the time myself, as an active participant in the Burning Man community here in Seattle. What do you think that is? What’s the appeal of costumes for you?
In a costume we are able to don a different character, like an actor, along with the clothing. That frees us from the constraints of our everyday personality. Even a minor costume piece can have an effect. An elaborate one has the power to change our persona in the eyes of others and ourselves as well.
To me, thinking up and constructing the costume pieces is an absorbing creative challenge. Then while wearing them, I enjoy the compliments and attention. It’s an ego trip of sorts, but the eye candy also gives pleasure to onlookers, so no one resents the grandstanding.
This is a natural for a celebration or holiday, but also appropriate for many political demonstrations. Many times I’ve seen suitably costumed participants bring smiles, cheer, and extra energy to their compatriots.
Everyone remembers the costumed one. An elected official who meets thousands of citizens will recall the person in a so-and-so costume. This is a big advantage. Also, it catches the eye of media types looking for novelty. Another advantage.
Q: It looks like you’ve found quite a niche with your book series, “The Costume Goddess Tells All.” Can you tell us a bit about the books, and how you came to publish them? Has it been successful?
I became known, through my advice column, in the international online bellydance community. Then I was asked to contribute a costume article to “The Bellydance Book” by a first-time small publisher. It was more like a whole chapter, in the end.
After that, I was convinced I should write my own costuming book. I had seen one self-published book on the topic, and I thought it sorta sucked, especially the crude drawings of figures, with arms as long as their legs, and hands that looked like mittens. Ugh! I knew I could do better, because I at least studied figure drawing in art school! And I have freelanced as an illustrator/graphic designer.
Long story short: every publisher turned down my beautiful proposal. I decided to self-publish this complicated how-to book.
I learned everything by the seat of my pants: digital photography, home modeling shoots, photo-retouching, dealing with a printer, setting up a commercial website, and so on. My sister, who is an editor, proofread the text.
I knew NOTHING about page layout. An acquaintance who said she knew Pagemaker agreed to collaborate with me on that. But she flaked out on me. I had to learn that too, at the last minute. The stress almost killed me…but I survived. Honestly, I had a 102-degree fever while doing the finishing details! My husband did, and still does, much of the legwork and helped me set up a business database and so on.
My first book was “Flattering Costume for Bellydancers.” Six more followed in the next five years. I’ve come out with a second edition of each, with even better photos and illustrations.
I have individual customers in about 20 countries, and wholesale to 7 or 8 vendors as well. So I can say it’s a success, but there’s no way I could make a decent living on the income of the book sales and the custom work alone. Luckily, my husband supports my creative ass.
Q: You mention that you’re a liberal activist. What causes are you passionate about, and how do you promote them?
The invasion of Iraq did it for me. I am an antiwar activist first. The other outrageous power abuses of the Bush administration go along with that. Before GW Bush, I never was passionate about political causes; or at least felt I was one person who had no power to affect important events. I had never been a “joiner”.
I marched in that pre-invasion “Not in Our name” demonstration. Then I found the Dean campaign.
I took a position of leadership in the local Dean campaign, because someone had to do it in my area. That was most unlike me. But I never looked back. I joined the local Dems and was elected a precinct officer…because Dean urges us to “become the party.” I host a Democracy for America group.
I joined my local peace activists and we demonstrate often. We lobbied Maria Cantwell’s office.
I participate on political blogs every day and keep myself informed.
Q: What inspires you creatively?
You might ask, what doesn’t? Almost anything can inspire a right-brainstorm.
I am enthralled by theater and dance. In the past, animals, still life, and faces fascinated me. Now political concepts enter into many of my creative endeavors.
Q: Have you been part of a business networking group before? What do you hope to get out of your membership in Biznik?
I tended to be a solitary worker most of my life…probably missing out on a lot.
In Albuquerque, I was freelancing as a caricature artist, so I joined cartoonists’ guild. It turned out most of the members were adolescent males, so I didn’t continue long.
I don’t know what I’ll get out of Biznik. I’m going with my hunch that it might be a fun and productive thing to swap stories and contacts with other creative self-starters.
Dina Lydia’s website is costumegoddess.com. Here’s just a sampling of what you’ll find there:
- Caricature gallery – fun!
- Costume Goddess Book Series
- Belly Dancers for Democracy – shake the vote!