Thread: THe Old Alter the Halter Trick????

OK ladies, I am in need of Guidence. I just bought a beautiful beaded gold costume. the bra is a Halter style, wich doesn't work for me, I have heavy boobs, and my neck refuses to hold them up.
I'd like to alter it to a cross back, so i get the same shape with out the neck pain. now i have already used the wrist straps to lengthen the existing halter straps. but my question is this:
How do I attach them to the bra? do i sew them to the band?
what worries me with this is once i sew the straps will i be able to get it on ? there is no stretch in the straps so how the heck am i going to get it on without alot of wiggling and writhing and outside help??
or do I put hooks on the straps and attach them that way to the band, or will they likely to come undone mid shimmy and send boobs flying??

if anyone has any recomendations or guidence/experience to share i would greatly appreciate it

I have done this on a few bras. I always sew the straps to the band, just because I am too afraid the twins will unleash themselves, to the horror of everyone. :) . I don't have much trouble getting the bra on, I just slip it over my head and get someone else to fasten the back, I am not sure if this is what you are trying to avoid though. One thing you could do-make the bra close in the front!! Just make sure you secure that in every way possible. Personally I have never done a front close bra, though I am sure it could work. It would be a way to avoid getting outside help closing the bra.

Lots of good ideas and some photos on this recent thread:
http://www.bhuz.com/forum/fitness-be...r-halters.html

Wow that thread sure is helpful! Thanks Zana! ...Off to go play with straps on a work in progress...

Lots of related info in Andalee's thread here:
http://www.bhuz.com/forum/fitness-be...ps-ladies.html
Note the great tips on elastic.

And one more while I'm on a roll:
http://www.bhuz.com/forum/fitness-be...oportions.html
Not specifically about straps, but good all-around tips on managing the boobage.

If I know anything at all about fitting costumes, I learned it on Bhuz or in e-mail from Bhuzzers!

I don't know if anybody has suggested this, but I altered a bra so that one strap hooks into a closure sewn inside of the cup (just a bit lower than where you would normally sew it to the cup, so it wouldn't show). That way I could put it on without help.

I have a few bras whose straps are sewn in such a way that I have to put it on over my head and then reach to the back to fasten. It's fiddly, but do-able.

My most comfortable bra has an alternative strap option that might work - leave the halter strap as is and then sew on straps attached to the back of the bra (slightly closer than for shoulder straps) and with the other end attached to the halter strap - just an inch or two either side of the neck closure. So when all done up, you have the halter plus two straps feeding off it and going vertically down your back to the strap. For me, this feels really secure and takes pressure off the neck, while the halter strap still helps give flattering cleavage! It probably helps that the halter strap is nice and thick.

Oh, and if you do decide to go with hook-on-straps, you can buy closures that hook then 'lock' shut. I think they're called lingerie closures? I can't find a picture on the web, but a large sewing shop should have them. Also, hook-and-bar fasteners for trousers close very flat and firmly, so should be less likely to unhook accidentally.

As an aside - I always do up my bras behind my back (always have done, I think it was a pubescent modesty thing) Is it just my wierd double jointedness that allows me to do this, or would it be helpful for me to suggest that with practice you can do the bra up behind your back which saves a lot of phaffing and shuffling.

Originally Posted by jewelbellydance

So when all done up, you have the halter plus two straps feeding off it and going vertically down your back to the strap.

This is what I most want to do so I can avoid changing the look of the halter in the front, and I'm just about to "take the plunge" with one of mine. Several people have recommended it, but someone somewhere also suggested that this might make the halter hooks less secure, so I'd like to double-check: did you have to do anything special with the placement of the secondary straps to avoid that, or does it just not have that effect?

Thanks, i new you ladies would know what to do.
Last night I sewed the straps to the back, and then tried it on and found i could actually get it on my self. so all is good, it turned out really well, it all fits good and snug. I feel totally locked and loaded in it now.
I really like the idea of adding strapps that come down from the halter to the back, next time i think i will try that.
also the thought of locking closures is great, I will definatly search those out.
on another note for added protection against accidental boob escapes, do any of you use the body tape? or the spray stuff? I have heard mention of it before? but i'm curious how well it actually works?( especialy for the blessed in the chest people) how strong it is, and where do you even put it???
ahh so many questions i have

Originally Posted by khalima

I don't know if anybody has suggested this, but I altered a bra so that one strap hooks into a closure sewn inside of the cup (just a bit lower than where you would normally sew it to the cup, so it wouldn't show). That way I could put it on without help.

Yes, this is how I do it. The straps are permanently attached at the back, but one (or both) hook to the cup(s) in front.