Thread: styling for body type..big boobs and thick waist

I've already googled a bunch of styling sites about what tops to wear when you have big knockers.. but how about slimming a thick waist?
Or maybe tips on how to photo to minimize a waist that doesnt have a lot of curve to it?

And large breasted women which bra/costumes do you find most flattering for dance? I'm finding thin straps to be a bit painful and it looks 'scarce' on top..

I think you could add to your hips with ruching or a belt that's straight across and that would make you look more curvy. Thin straps with large breasts just make them look disproportionately large to me. I posted on product reviews about a strapless bra. That shape is flattering on me.

i'm finding the same with tank tops with thin straps..makes the boobs look too big lol

i need a visit with Tim Gunn on that style show. he'd be horrified by what's in my closet, time to plan a trip to Honolulu for some real shopping

Originally Posted by jesennia

I've already googled a bunch of styling sites about what tops to wear when you have big knockers.. but how about slimming a thick waist?
Or maybe tips on how to photo to minimize a waist that doesnt have a lot of curve to it?

And large breasted women which bra/costumes do you find most flattering for dance? I'm finding thin straps to be a bit painful and it looks 'scarce' on top..

On costume bras, try to go with more coverage and thicker straps. My best ones are serious workhorses - built like armored tanks. If it is soft or delicate looking, it probably won't work. Most flattering for me is a modified halter design. A regular halter is not good for me, but if modified I can wear it pretty well. You can modify with additional straps or by making the halter strap wider/more across the shoulders than neck.

Personal preference, but I don't do the dina-style bras usually - I like something that enhances, but *covers* all the relevant bits.

I've heard awesome stuff about bellas for larger bras and my paganini costumes are beyond comfortable and awesome. For reference, my underbust is around 29/30 and my bust is around 40/41.

Wrap style dresses and tops are awesome for slimming a thick waist as they nip in right at the thinnest section of your torso. I have a straight up and down build and they work well. Also think fitted the puffy styles are horrible with a big chest because it looks like you're wearing a sack.
Halter styles and V- necks also work great on busty babes.

For belly dance: solid bra with good coverage, minimal fringe, no fringe on the sides of the rib cage, long-ish vertical fringe in center of cups. Maximize the hip area with hip poufs or padded belts or a full skirt. Dresses with side cut outs that mimic an hourglass shape or a piece that goes diagonally from the rib cage to the hip area are good too. Lucky you if you have a long torso, I have big boobs, narrow hips AND a short torso. I have long legs, though. You can focus attention on the legs, that's another strategy.

What everyone said, especially heavier straps and wrap dresses.

Hey, thats my body type!!!

Peplums, deep vee necklines, belts at the natural waistline, ruching or drapes at the hips.

Trumpet skirts or some hemline action goin' on helps pull the eye down. Asymetry. Padding the butt and hips. Spanx. Sweetheart necklines. Avoid round necklines, high necklines, oval necklines. Go for something with some angle.

For costuming, I try to add something around the hip area to try to get even the illusion of hourglass. I have a wonderful Hannan dress that actually has hourglass beading added to the dress front and back and hourglass shaped cutouts. It was custom made for another dancer with similar body shape, then she lost weight and sold it without wearing it. Her loss, my gain!!!!

Also for costuming, try adding decoration to a mesh body to draw the eye around the torso. Or wear a lose mesh overtunic with costume bra underneath and costume belt on top. Open on the sides so that you can see skin but outline of the torso is indistinct.

Souzan

Originally Posted by dunyah

For belly dance: solid bra with good coverage, minimal fringe, no fringe on the sides of the rib cage, long-ish vertical fringe in center of cups. Maximize the hip area with hip poufs or padded belts or a full skirt. Dresses with side cut outs that mimic an hourglass shape or a piece that goes diagonally from the rib cage to the hip area are good too. Lucky you if you have a long torso, I have big boobs, narrow hips AND a short torso. I have long legs, though. You can focus attention on the legs, that's another strategy.

thanks everyone

thats me, big boobs, not as long a torso as i'd like, not super curvy hips (but good buttage) and long legs

off to find wrap tops
any favorite online store sources? we have nuthin on big isle

i'm finding the soccer mom a few inches past the shoulder hair length is no good either..love wearing extensions until it grows out. i'm tempted to march into the salon where that ***** cut off 3 inches of my hair and give her a one sided mohawk and scream I SAID A TRIM!!

You could also tuck a veil into the sides of your belt to add width to the hips.

Originally Posted by jesennia

i'm tempted to march into the salon where that ***** cut off 3 inches of my hair and give her a one sided mohawk and scream I SAID A TRIM!!

I'm feelin' ya there, jess. I asked for a trim once and the woman cut my nearly waist length hair to a couple inches below my collar bone. I cried for weeks and did not go back to a salon for years. I can't seem to get it to grow that long again. It grew when I was pregnant. It was such a traumatic experience. As far as tops go, if you are showing off the gals nobody is going to notice if you even have a waist.

I just found the coolest website yesterday. myshape.com - Home

You can sign up for a free account and enter your body measurements, style preferences, etc. They then set you up with your own "shop" and even suggest what size you should order for that particular item. I kinda thought it was like "What Not to Wear" and Tim Gunn in a website.

I've been spending a lot of time on that site in the past 24 hours! They have some really great sales that they are running right now. :)

what a cool site and marketing idea..

ooooh I did it. I am a "P" and looking at the selected styles I see they are the looks that I gravitate to and look best on me. Nice site.

Souzan

costume-wise, ditto what folks have said about armor-type bras with not-thin straps. pharaonics bras are great for me. for the halter issue, I just got a costume from sedonia and she did the cleverest thing: she took those useless arm bands that come with every pharaonics costume, and attached them to the halter strap and the back band (think an upside down V) to take some of the weight off the neck. it's AWESOME. as soon as sami goes down for a nap today, I'm altering my great loop to match.

but I have to scream the praises of bella!!! I'm a 32E/F, and the bras she sent me are so fantastic. they have a deep plunge but deep cups so the boobs are safely contained. the cup edges are lined with wire so you can shape them to fit even better. the straps are delicate, but with the cut of the bra, they don't look out of proportion. and the cross back way she does her straps is so incredibly comfortable (especially after years of heavy halter straps) it's not even funny. and very supportive - they will hold you together even if the back strap hook was to come undone.

a dancer with a wide waist and short torso who always looks fabulous is aziza. so check out what she wears.

when were you guys gonna let me in on the secrets of shapewear? after being disgusted by a quoted shipping to hawaii price of 15 bucks i went to macy's today and found something similar that sucks in my gut for me.

and..drum roll..button up shirts that fit

MACY'S is having a 50% sale

Originally Posted by jesennia

when were you guys gonna let me in on the secrets of shapewear? after being disgusted by a quoted shipping to hawaii price of 15 bucks i went to macy's today and found something similar that sucks in my gut for me.

and..drum roll..button up shirts that fit

MACY'S is having a 50% sale

Hey, I did say SPANX, didnt I? You can get them at Target under the name Assets. Made by the same company. Same thing, different label. And reasonably priced too!

Originally Posted by Souzan

Hey, I did say SPANX, didnt I? You can get them at Target under the name Assets. Made by the same company. Same thing, different label. And reasonably priced too!

i thought it was an offer hehehehe :) j/k these are another brand but i'm able to eat the brownie and not care!