Thread: Scaffolding for ladies of "blessed" proportions

Originally Posted by khadiya

I've always want to know know how anyone, of whatever size chest can dance in those things. Isn't all that flopping about uncomfortable?

I love the hard structure of costume bras. (as long as they are not of the Madonna in the mid 80's variety) They feel so firm and supportive. Better than underwiring anyday.

Having said that without or with the most delicious underwear, I hate those tops with a vengence...how they ever became thought of as belly dance wear is beyond me.
What's wrong with a good choli topi ( yes like those on farida) or a properly upholstered bra in a good standard bedlah?
Butterfly tops can all f**(*) off into the far horizon taking gold slippers with them!

Give me a good solid well fittiing Egyptian bra anyday and i'll show you someone who has a (very substantial)chest under their chin despite being nearly 50-yay for good solid engineering.!!!

Originally Posted by lizajuk

Having said that without or with the most delicious underwear, I hate those tops with a vengence...how they ever became thought of as belly dance wear is beyond me.
What's wrong with a good choli topi ( yes like those on farida) or a properly upholstered bra in a good standard bedlah?
Butterfly tops can all f**(*) off into the far horizon taking gold slippers with them!

I thought the same thing, but as a bit of a newbie thought I might be missing a point somewhere They don't seem to "fit in" with everything else available.

Speaking of cholis, I am going to have a bash at making one today, wish me luck ,r:;

Outstanding! Thank you for the advice.

(so, now I have the phrase 'sticky tickets' stuck in my head, cuz I just like the way it sounds)

I thought the same thing, but as a bit of a newbie thought I might be missing a point somewhere They don't seem to "fit in" with everything else available.

Nah, you haven't missed the point, they are pretty, but ultimately naff. Look much better with jeans on some teenybopper at the local seedy club.

If, you're going to do the two piece thing a proper costume or a comfy choli (which are just great to wear) are much more of of a long term investment.

Hi! I'm a 34-36DDD and for under my costumes (we wear folkloric costumes), and in practice I wear my normal bra, but altered. I replace the adjustable portion (or any elastic part), of the shoulder straps with a nice soft non-stretch velvet. This works to reduce the bounce effect amazingly well. My sports bra doesn't give me 1/2 the support this does nor is it as comfy. The only thing is that the back strap ends up being rather high on the back so I have to take it off like a shirt. If you want to wear the bra without a top over it (decorated for stage), perhaps do the same thing but halter style or criss-cross. That might make the back strap sit lower.

Hope this helped and boy do I feel your pain!
Michelle

These are great ideas! I'm definitely trying out the velvet bra strap and the kissing fishes taping.

I often back up costumes (depending on the bra strap width) with the Frederick's Smooth Sensation bra. I wear a 38K/L and their largest, the 42F Smooth Sensations bra (two at a time to contain my puppies) tacked into my costumes works to deliver some extra oomph and support.

When it comes to custom made costumes, I recommend both Bella or Hanan for the very, very endowed. Both were able to craft bras from scratch and created several of my absolute favorite costumes. And if they can make one for me at a 38K/L, they can make one for most of you. Amira of Pharaonics made me a beautiful costume as well, but one which I need to wear my own bra underneath to wear.

I have a ton of pictures of my gold Bella dress on my website, but am in the middle of editing the gallery and don't have photos of the Hanan's up. Here's a picture of one of the the Hanan's, so that you can see the fabulous uplift. It's nice when the girls are lifted enough that you can actually see my abdominal isolations


This is toward the end of my performance. As you can see, it needs a little help keeping them stabilized long term (gotta try that fish taping), but definitely held the girls up for the duration of my performance.

Oh, yum.

Did I read right that you're already considering wearing a choli underneath? I have used the Pattern Maker software (the free, princess-seamed bodice) to make a choli with a back. I subtracted the ease and made it in stretch fabric. I put laces in the back purely for decoration, and a band with elastic under the bust. I did have to alter the armscyes a bit and add gussets to make it danceable, but it worked out pretty well since I can wear a nice, supportive bra underneath it.

Originally Posted by ThespiSis

Did I read right that you're already considering wearing a choli underneath? I have used the Pattern Maker software (the free, princess-seamed bodice) to make a choli with a back. I subtracted the ease and made it in stretch fabric. I put laces in the back purely for decoration, and a band with elastic under the bust. I did have to alter the armscyes a bit and add gussets to make it danceable, but it worked out pretty well since I can wear a nice, supportive bra underneath it.

I love the V neck, so much better on busty ladies, I have a velvet round neck choli and it makes my bust look enormous!

I've kinda done one now (although the lovely offcut I had in my stray fabric box wasn't enough to cut the back and front, so I have only done the front and need to buy fabric for the back!). I don't use pattern software, I use metric pattern cutting or cut and drape, for the choli I cut and draped - I had to do this to my dressform:

hehe, the one I have made has a band under the bust, and then a crossover design that is heavily darted so it almost has fitted cups.

I am going to do another today, a wrap top, in jersey fabric for practice. I bought a lot of jersey, so I shall probably make 2 tops (a wrap and a tie front) and some melo style practice pants.

Just keep looking...I am 5'2" and used to be a DD and I have a short torso. Stay away from overly fringed bra--you just look like the fringy boob monster. I found that halter style costumes, if not worn forever, give the most support and stay put.

I had never made a pattern before, so using the pattern software and then altering the pattern was an ideal solution for me. I'm planning to use the software to make a fitted galabaya as well.

Okay, if anyone wants a challenge...

I wear a UK 32G, I can wear 34ff but the tighter band is more supportive. I think my size corresponds to a US32H-J. I have a short torso and am not very slim, just have a small ribcage.

My figure is kind of like this, but with more of a potbelly.


What sort of costuming options would suit me?

I can sew very well, but have never made bras by the way. I can make tops and dresses both knit and woven to fit me perfectly.

Bellisima,

One thing that will help balance out your figure, make your torso look longer, and draw the eye away from the pot belly is to have flared skirts with lots of decoration near the hem. My upper body is a lot bigger than my lower body and it really helps me to look more even by choosing skirts and pants with flare. Optical illusion helps.

Souzan

Thank you Souzan!

Any ideas for bras and tops?

I have a DD, although I'm 5'10" tall, I know how it feels to get a bra top that lets the girls run wild.
Here's my solution....
I get a cheap padded bra, DD cup. Cut the top half of the cup off, cover it with fabric, stretchy is good. I sew these cups on the bra cup of the costume, this makes proper size cups, I'm all covered, no girls gone wild here!
I then take the hair band that the costume came with (because I look like a dork in them!..c:: ) and sew it over the top on the new bra cup section so it matches perfectly! If you cover the new cup section with a gold, silver or matching fabric it doesn't matter if it shows a bit!
I have discaoved that my head is as big as my boobs!

Miasia-

Youre my hero...I want to play in your costume closet!!!

Nilaja