Thread: Need bling adding advice...

Okay, so I drew a picture of this costume and had the wonderful professional seamstress Elizabeth Zilli make it for me, sans bling. Now I've started to bling it up. I'm made four squares - a sew on crystal wrapped with rhinestones - which are now pinned to the costume as per my original plan. (They aren't sewn yet, so they will be a little less skeewampus in the final project.) Now I'm considering how much additional bling I want and how to put it on.

I was thinking of looping three rhinestones strands all the way around the bum attaching at the slit with something similar up top, just keeping it very simple, but I don't know if that is too little. I still have several more square crystals and a roll of rhinestone chain.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on what you would do, how much bling to add and how.

Here are in progress photos:

i think the loops would be a nice touch. your bum needs some attention grabbing rhinestones! :-)

Totally hot costume, it looks great so far!
I'd probably add a bit more bling too, maybe something along these lines...

firefly, that's cool! and pretty much what i was thinking too!

Thanks, no job too small for the girl with time on her hands!

Take a tip from me. Using Rhinestone chain will rip your costume and cause shredding.

There is plastic rhinestone chain.

OK, well, what do I exactly call it?? ..c::

I have plastic backed rhinestone chain type thing on one costume, and even as the straps my prom dress (which yes I still have, though I am not exactly sure it fits anymore). BUT what do I see for sale most often, the scratchy metal rhinestone chain. Where be the plastic stuff??

Originally Posted by kharis_UK

Take a tip from me. Using Rhinestone chain will rip your costume and cause shredding.

I like this idea. (and mad props for the photo editing) It was along the lines of what I thought of, not too much more, since the fabric looks shinny too.

Originally Posted by firefly5

Totally hot costume, it looks great so far!
I'd probably add a bit more bling too, maybe something along these lines...

Originally Posted by resullivan

Where be the plastic stuff??

I actually saw it at Jo-Ann's the other day!

Check the section where the bridal/prom trims are :)

I think I also saw some at HobbyLobby.

I like firefly's idea, but use swarovski crystal beads for the swags to avoid the snaggy prongs.

Great visual aid, FireFly!

I would also go with making swags out of crystals for less chance of snagging.

Very nice seamstressing work and design concept. I love the elbow point details. A very gorgeous color of red, too! It's looking great, Shems!

Firefly's idea looks a lot like an Eman I have and I really like it. I would also stay away from the rhinestone chain - I've been really tempted to use it before but it grabs everything. I agree w/Sedonia to use crystal beads instead. Be sure to really reinforce the swags...I lost a strand (THANKFULLY in my bedroom so I could catch all the beads) so I ran extra strands of upholstery thread through the swags and those guys aren't going anywhere! They have 3 sets of thread running through them; I tied each set off individually so if one breaks there are 2 more backups.

Crystal bead chains would be wonderful!! I would also add to put a blob of glue on the knots to help keep chains from coming undone.

You guys are great. I love the photoshop editing firefly.

I'm honestly not worried about the rhinestone chain snagging this costume, the fabric is impervious to snags - its velvet with a layer of plastic shine on the top, I couldn't snag it if I tried. However you have a point that the chain does get caught on just about everything else. I just don't want to have to invest in that much $ into crystal for the swags right now. I do have silver seed beads, but I'm thinking no...

I think I'll play a little in photo shop myself and post some of my experiments here.

I think some bling is needed on the back of the top for balance. It will look a bit unfinished if you dont. Just a touch....

Firefly posted exactly what I was thinking too! I LOVE the basic design. LOVE it!

okay, the first solution might be the best one, but I can't leave it there without a little experimenting. So, I played a little on photoshop myself... any thoughts on these?

A


B


C


D


E


F


G


H


I

I like the very last one, I, the best--I like the long drape of chain from the bra and how it echoes the long slit, and what looks like another bit of hanging chain in the slit. For whatever reason, I'm not crazy about the curved loopy drapes with the sharp straight edges of the big rhinestones. It's somehow not harmonious to me.

i like C, F and I- although maybe more space in between the diamonds on the bra on I, looks a little cluttered.

funnily enough, now that I've sort of stepped back to take a look at these, I'm starting to lean towards A. What do you think of A?

I like B but on the bra, only have fringe on the center diamond.

{{{HUGS}}}

I like #1....it has a sharp line that echoes the big squares!

I like C the best! It's beautiful!

A's a little busy for me. I like F and firefly's rendition the best. I think because it looks a lot like a Sahar or Eman to me, I'm looking for minimalist bling to match with it.

I'm diggin' B.

Originally Posted by Safiyah

Firefly's idea looks a lot like an Eman I have and I really like it. I would also stay away from the rhinestone chain - I've been really tempted to use it before but it grabs everything. I agree w/Sedonia to use crystal beads instead. Be sure to really reinforce the swags...I lost a strand (THANKFULLY in my bedroom so I could catch all the beads) so I ran extra strands of upholstery thread through the swags and those guys aren't going anywhere! They have 3 sets of thread running through them; I tied each set off individually so if one breaks there are 2 more backups.

'jacking for a sec...

Safiyah, how do you find beading needles with eyes big enough to fit upholstery thread through?

...

Am I the only one who loves D...and does Elizabeth Zilli have a website?:)

I really like A too! I don't think its too busy.