Well endowed but petite - advice on costume

Chani · 10-09-2007, 11:10 PM

Hi Group,

I am low on funds but fortunate in that I can sew and I'm looking at making my first belly dancing costume.

I've been researching a lot and my challenge will be finding a suitable top to fit my large breasts. I figure I should work out the top first as the rest of my costume should be easier. I see many beautiful tops to buy or make that I fear wouldn't offer me the support I need or enough coverage so that I wouldn't risk falling out. I've looked at websites where they show you how to cover a bra with fabric and decorate it. Is this a good idea? I think I can manage to do a good job of this but worry it look too bra-like? Is it better to make a top from scratch.

Also, despite having big boozies the rest of me is petite and I'm not very tall. Usual fashion rules dictate that I should try to minimise my top and emphasise my lower half to try to balance my figure out. This is good news since the bottom of belly dancing outfits can be wide. I plan to go easy on the top decoration keeping things streamlined (rather than lots of dangly bits or loads of coins) and go all out on the bottom.

Am I on the right track? Any advice from other well endowed ladies or those with costuming skills would be appreciated.

Chani

Shanazel · 10-10-2007, 12:53 AM

I am a proponent of buying the very best hard shell bra you can find and going from there. I take off the straps and cover the cups and sides with fashion fabric, decorations, and add new straps. You can also take off the sides of the bra and just rebuild from the cups out, but I found reinforcing and covering the original sides gives better support. Don't go too far toward streamlining the bra and baroquing the hips- boobs are good to have, after all, and deserve a few perks (no pun intended, but only because I am supressing my instincts).

Chani · 10-10-2007, 02:02 AM

Hi Shanazel,

Thanks for that advice. By a shell cup do you mean ones with the straps attached to the bra cup closer to the sides (armpit) rather than more centered above the bra cup? I agree about the boobs. Don't worry. I'm thinking to not add bulk with my top adornment but I certainly won't be holding back the glitz.

Chani

Kharmine · 10-10-2007, 02:19 AM

Chani, do you have a small waist? A long torso or a short one?

As a fairly petite person myself I know it's a challenge keeping the proportions equal. I usually wear one color to elongate my short body.

Chani · 10-10-2007, 02:32 AM

Hi Kharmine,

Yes I have a small waist and narrow hips. I''m slim and 5 foot 2 inches tall. Not realy long or short torso - you might say I was well proportioned...IF I had A-B sized breasts but I happen to be an E cup on a good day and that's a stretch sometimes as I am breastfeeding and they can vary pre or post feeding. I agree that one colour is best to legnthen.

Chani

Chani · 10-10-2007, 02:35 AM

Looking around I notice most dancers are wearing halter neck tops. I feel I will get more support from two straps but it does look more like a bra. Halter is very pretty.

Chani

adiemus · 10-10-2007, 03:08 AM

You can have two straps but also a neck/collar piece to make it look pretty, or you can have the two straps joined in the back with a cross piece (like the cross-bar of the letter H).
The book I've referred to a lot is Dawn Devine Brown's one on decorating the bra...if you're a sewer, her books are great references, also the Costume Goddess's books and tips give you heaps of options for optimising size/shape.
I've heard that wearing a halter if you have heavy breasts can be quite hard on the C7 verte-bra (pun intended!!!) at the neck, so it's best to have additional support if you can make it pretty.
Another note: I am making a bra at the moment, and replacing the stretch straps with firm ones (no jiggle!), and making them quite wide but using ruching to make them look pretty and less 'bra-like'. Pix will follow once I have it all finished!

adiemus · 10-10-2007, 03:36 AM

I really like this style of top, not sure how it will hold up under shimmy conditions, but for the more amply-endowed (me! me!) I think it might be quite flattering, provided I put an underwire or some sort of support under the boobs.

Shanazel · 10-10-2007, 05:01 AM

A hard shell bra is one that has cups that look like something a Valkerie would wear- solid, stiff, heavy duty cups. I've heard you can reinforce a less sturdy bra, but I have never tried it because I could usually find what I wanted from specialty foundation companies ot Frederick's of Hollywood- are they still in business? They used to sell great foundation garments along with ome of the tackiest lingerie known to woman.

Chani, you DO NOT want to depend on a halter strap for support. Such agony, I cannot tell you... I used to get a headache and my neck hurt like hell for days when I wore the halter styles. My nursing bra was an H- yeah, that's no typo- and when not nursing my DDD cup ranneth over, so I ain't just whistling Dixie when I insist on this. (Thank goodness for good plastic surgeons- I am a born again C.) Do not, I repeat, do not depend on the halter strap for support. If you need to wear regular straps or straps crossed in the back for a bare shoulder look, wear them. Nothing is worth endangering those precious verte-bras (Good one, Adiemus!)

Chani · 10-10-2007, 05:59 AM

That's good advice re: the halter style. I have experienced that pain after wearing one for hours - I used to have a halter cocktail dress and while it looked hot it did cause that ache so I know what you mean and thanks for the reminder. I like the idea of modifying the back to make the finished product less bra-like. There is a shop near me that does sell all the bits and pieces to make your own underwear. I hadn't thought of that. Thanks for all the great tips.

Chani

10-09-2007, 11:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
Chani Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 139	Well endowed but petite - advice on costume Hi Group, I am low on funds but fortunate in that I can sew and I'm looking at making my first belly dancing costume. I've been researching a lot and my challenge will be finding a suitable top to fit my large breasts. I figure I should work out the top first as the rest of my costume should be easier. I see many beautiful tops to buy or make that I fear wouldn't offer me the support I need or enough coverage so that I wouldn't risk falling out. I've looked at websites where they show you how to cover a bra with fabric and decorate it. Is this a good idea? I think I can manage to do a good job of this but worry it look too bra-like? Is it better to make a top from scratch. Also, despite having big boozies the rest of me is petite and I'm not very tall. Usual fashion rules dictate that I should try to minimise my top and emphasise my lower half to try to balance my figure out. This is good news since the bottom of belly dancing outfits can be wide. I plan to go easy on the top decoration keeping things streamlined (rather than lots of dangly bits or loads of coins) and go all out on the bottom. Am I on the right track? Any advice from other well endowed ladies or those with costuming skills would be appreciated. Chani

10-10-2007, 02:19 AM	#4 (permalink)
Kharmine V.I.P. Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Foot of the Rocky Mountains Posts: 1,248	Chani, do you have a small waist? A long torso or a short one? As a fairly petite person myself I know it's a challenge keeping the proportions equal. I usually wear one color to elongate my short body. __________________ What if the hokey pokey is really what it's all about?

10-10-2007, 03:08 AM	#7 (permalink)
adiemus Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Posts: 977	You can have two straps but also a neck/collar piece to make it look pretty, or you can have the two straps joined in the back with a cross piece (like the cross-bar of the letter H). The book I've referred to a lot is Dawn Devine Brown's one on decorating the bra...if you're a sewer, her books are great references, also the Costume Goddess's books and tips give you heaps of options for optimising size/shape. I've heard that wearing a halter if you have heavy breasts can be quite hard on the C7 verte-bra (pun intended!!!) at the neck, so it's best to have additional support if you can make it pretty. Another note: I am making a bra at the moment, and replacing the stretch straps with firm ones (no jiggle!), and making them quite wide but using ruching to make them look pretty and less 'bra-like'. Pix will follow once I have it all finished! __________________ He wahine, he taonga- Every woman is a treasure(Maori proverb)

10-10-2007, 03:36 AM	#8 (permalink)
adiemus Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Posts: 977	I really like this style of top, not sure how it will hold up under shimmy conditions, but for the more amply-endowed (me! me!) I think it might be quite flattering, provided I put an underwire or some sort of support under the boobs. Attached Thumbnails __________________ He wahine, he taonga- Every woman is a treasure(Maori proverb)

10-10-2007, 12:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
Shanazel Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rocky Mountains USA Posts: 4,654	I am a proponent of buying the very best hard shell bra you can find and going from there. I take off the straps and cover the cups and sides with fashion fabric, decorations, and add new straps. You can also take off the sides of the bra and just rebuild from the cups out, but I found reinforcing and covering the original sides gives better support. Don't go too far toward streamlining the bra and baroquing the hips- boobs are good to have, after all, and deserve a few perks (no pun intended, but only because I am supressing my instincts).

10-10-2007, 02:02 AM	#3 (permalink)
Chani Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 139	Hi Shanazel, Thanks for that advice. By a shell cup do you mean ones with the straps attached to the bra cup closer to the sides (armpit) rather than more centered above the bra cup? I agree about the boobs. Don't worry. I'm thinking to not add bulk with my top adornment but I certainly won't be holding back the glitz. Chani

10-10-2007, 02:32 AM	#5 (permalink)
Chani Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 139	Hi Kharmine, Yes I have a small waist and narrow hips. I''m slim and 5 foot 2 inches tall. Not realy long or short torso - you might say I was well proportioned...IF I had A-B sized breasts but I happen to be an E cup on a good day and that's a stretch sometimes as I am breastfeeding and they can vary pre or post feeding. I agree that one colour is best to legnthen. Chani

10-10-2007, 02:35 AM	#6 (permalink)
Chani Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 139	Looking around I notice most dancers are wearing halter neck tops. I feel I will get more support from two straps but it does look more like a bra. Halter is very pretty. Chani

10-10-2007, 05:01 AM	#9 (permalink)
Shanazel Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rocky Mountains USA Posts: 4,654	A hard shell bra is one that has cups that look like something a Valkerie would wear- solid, stiff, heavy duty cups. I've heard you can reinforce a less sturdy bra, but I have never tried it because I could usually find what I wanted from specialty foundation companies ot Frederick's of Hollywood- are they still in business? They used to sell great foundation garments along with ome of the tackiest lingerie known to woman. Chani, you DO NOT want to depend on a halter strap for support. Such agony, I cannot tell you... I used to get a headache and my neck hurt like hell for days when I wore the halter styles. My nursing bra was an H- yeah, that's no typo- and when not nursing my DDD cup ranneth over, so I ain't just whistling Dixie when I insist on this. (Thank goodness for good plastic surgeons- I am a born again C.) Do not, I repeat, do not depend on the halter strap for support. If you need to wear regular straps or straps crossed in the back for a bare shoulder look, wear them. Nothing is worth endangering those precious verte-bras (Good one, Adiemus!)

10-10-2007, 05:59 AM	#10 (permalink)
Chani Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 139	That's good advice re: the halter style. I have experienced that pain after wearing one for hours - I used to have a halter cocktail dress and while it looked hot it did cause that ache so I know what you mean and thanks for the reminder. I like the idea of modifying the back to make the finished product less bra-like. There is a shop near me that does sell all the bits and pieces to make your own underwear. I hadn't thought of that. Thanks for all the great tips. Chani