Thread: Shortening a Belt That's Too Long?

OK. Ozma's inspired me to perform some costume surgery of my own. (Though it's doubtful that I'll chronicle the experience in the same engrossing detail!)

The costume? A red and gold Tony & Robbie. The situation? Bought it on Bhuz, measurements were inaccurate, petite little 30"-hipped me ended up with a 38" belt. I've decided to keep it, anyway. The costume is so incredible and after a few small alterations, the rest fits like a glove. I am hell-bent on keeping it.

I've moved the hooks on the belt with considerable success at getting a proper fit. It doesn't look ridiculous and actually doesn't even look all that bad. But I do want to know if there's any way I can lop off 4" of the belt on each end (it closes in the center back), stitch it all back up, and end up with a final result that's not completely embarassing. Anyone attempt a similar procedure with success? Care to share any tips?

Hmmm...I've shortened belts successfully, but if you've already got a good fit why bother? Besides, you're so tiny it might give the set much better resale value if you leave it longer???

Wow, thanks for the speedy reply!

My theory was that the belt might lie flatter and have less of a "tuna can" appearance if it didn't have so much overlap action going on. Tony & Robbie belts are a bit thick with what feels like significant "cushioning" under the decorated layer.

I have done this before. The hardest part for me was having a bald area where the sequins all fell off from the belt being cut. I just wend back and re-sequinned the bare area.

For resale value, I would suggest not cutting it to your exact measurements, but just enough so that the overlap doesn't bother you. Maybe 35" or even 36"?

Oh, yes, if you think you might want to ever resell it, I think about 35.5" low hips would be about right (is it too early to ask to be in line?) .
I had a troupe mate cut a belt before, she said she sewed the sequins right beside where she was going to cut before she cut it to minimize sequin loss. Good luck with it. I still have a huge crush on that costume!

If you aren't worried about resale and still want to cut it, here is a good way to do it.

1. Mark where you want the finished edge to be with a safety pin.

2. Start to remove beads & sequins and inch or so past that in the area you will be discarding. Work your way back to the desired edge keeping the strings long. You can go past the line and do some rebeading if you like.

3. Knot threads so they are secure. Reapply any beads or sequins to fill in.

4. Cut interior of belt first, then the lining and base fabrics. Arrange fabrics and close with a whip stitch or hidden running stitch.

5. Add a new closure.

6. Admire handiwork.

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

Wow, thanks for the speedy reply!

My theory was that the belt might lie flatter and have less of a "tuna can" appearance if it didn't have so much overlap action going on. Tony & Robbie belts are a bit thick with what feels like significant "cushioning" under the decorated layer.

If you open the lining up maybe there is a way to reduce the underlayers/cushioning in the over lap area-depends on if it is beaded through all layers?
Do you think the audience will notice the tuna can effect or is it just because you can look down and see it? Can you readily see it if you're standing a ways away from the mirror? Or in a picture?

I remember pictures of this costume, it's gooooorrrrrgeous.

Maybe you could sew it together in the center back, and cut it apart at the sides, making it a two piece belt? You would lose a bit of the overall length in order to finish the cut sides nicely, and not only would the overlap be less than half of what it currently is on each side, it would be on the sides of the hips rather than the side of a cheek. I know for me, being small hipped, adding a little bulk on the sides is not a bad thing. If you ever wanted to resell it after that, you would have a stampede, as it would fit anybody in the small/medium range.