Thread: How to Stop Bra Cups from Gaping?

I just received my Bella costume today. I tightened the band and shortened the straps to fit me.

It fits perfect and I even have a decent amount of cleavage but when I start dancing in it, the cups start to gape at the top.

I don't want anyone to give that kind of show, so any ideas on why it is doing that and how to fix it?

It may be that the straps need to be connected in a different spot on the cups. Usually moving them closer towards the center of the bra will fix that sort of thing.

Originally Posted by shahla

It may be that the straps need to be connected in a different spot on the cups. Usually moving them closer towards the center of the bra will fix that sort of thing.

Yup, I have to do this quite a bit with my costumes.

Stuff it from the bottom and from the sides too in a crescent shape. Also toupee tape works well to keep the cup "sticking" in place.

Originally Posted by gretchendances

Stuff it from the bottom and from the sides too in a crescent shape. Also toupee tape works well to keep the cup "sticking" in place.

What's a good source for toupee tape. I've got a beautiful costume that I have a similar problem with.

Local Wig shops... I bought the stuff I use on amazon.com.

If you like the look and line of having the straps out wider on the cups, as i do, you can sometimes just add another fine strap slightly closer to the centre of the cup and attatch it to the strap higher up the proper strap close to you neck. I often use a strand of matching beads or diamantes.

Originally Posted by mathkitty

What's a good source for toupee tape. I've got a beautiful costume that I have a similar problem with.

What about padding the whole thing? Will that help? My private areas are already dangerously close to the top. I'm afraid if I pad the bottom, they will be pushed out of the top.

I used to add a a thin pretty trim that had elastic in it to the top edge. I don't know if you want to do that to a Bella. You could whip stich the elastic to the underside edge so it doesn't show. It works really well.

you know, I have the same problem with my bellas. the shape of the cups is fantastic and they fit really well, but after I start to dance, I'll glance down and see that the tops of the cups aren't as full as they were when I started, and I panic that maybe I've got some underboobage going on. but they're still in there. it's very mysterious.

I wonder if it has something to do with the shape of the cups? I just did a quick scan of my pharaonics, eman and anatolya imports bras (all of which I have never, ever had a problem with) and the profile of the bella bra is different from *all* of them: the bella cup is evenly round, like a half a cantaloupe or a cereal bowl, whereas on all the other bras, the curve under the breast is more flattened than it is on top. does that make sense?

to fix it, I was thinking of trying body adhesive (toupee or hollywood tape, or what was that roll-on stuff somebody posted about a while ago? I need to find that and try it) on the BOTTOM of the cups. if you've got room to pad your new bra, I wonder if filling in the bottom curve of the bra somewhat with something pretty firm might be the trick. you could also (in addition) run some adhesive along the top inside edge of the bra to see if that helps keep things together.

depending on your cup size: I have a friend who is, well... I'm not sure if she fills an A cup. her bella bra gaped out to the point where you could see clear down inside the bra!! there was no option of padding it to the point that her skin would snug up to the bra edge - there was nothing to squish! - and padding the whole thing just would have made the bra set on top of her chest and keep gaping. I suggested she try making a little stuffed tube of fabric in the same color as the bra and tacking it along the the inside of the top of the bra. that way, at least, the view would be blocked. I don't know if she tried it or not.

let us know what works. and I'm curious if this is an issue with the shape of the bella bras...

oh, and - you can get double sided garment tape at the fabric store. hollywood tape comes in precut strips on little sheets, or you can get another less expensive kind that comes in a roll.

Originally Posted by elisagamal

you know, I have the same problem with my bellas. the shape of the cups is fantastic and they fit really well, but after I start to dance, I'll glance down and see that the tops of the cups aren't as full as they were when I started, and I panic that maybe I've got some underboobage going on. but they're still in there. it's very mysterious.

With lingerie bras, to get a proper fit, you start wearing on the widest hook and they are still uncomfortably tight until you wore them a few times. Maybe bellydance bras grow in the ribcage with wear too? Another thing is that sweating can make you smaller.

So outside moving the shoulderstraps and padding, tightening the back band may help too.

Originally Posted by Bellissima

Maybe bellydance bras grow in the ribcage with wear too?

Yes they do so! I alway do my new bra's a slight idea to snug or replace the hooks after the first show i had with a costume.

Other idea is to add some elastic to all straps like Bella does at the top of skirt - always helped me getting it the way i want it to.

Originally Posted by Bellissima

With lingerie bras, to get a proper fit, you start wearing on the widest hook and they are still uncomfortably tight until you wore them a few times. Maybe bellydance bras grow in the ribcage with wear too? Another thing is that sweating can make you smaller.

So outside moving the shoulderstraps and padding, tightening the back band may help too.

on my bellas, it's not a strap tightening issue. seriously. they just fit differently. it's almost like, in my other bras, gravity keeps the girls in. with the bellas, compression (snugging the bra to my chest front to back) keeps them there.

I already tightened the band and the shoulder straps and it was still doing it.

Today I bought some clothing tape, clear straps and padding... Hopefully I can get it to work.

Im afraid the clothing tape is going to come off when I start sweating though. Does it stick well?

I sweat like crazy and the tape sticks to me...

it sticks.

I just tried padding them more and putting tape along the top. No luck. They are still gaping. This is strange, because if anything, they are almost too small for me. They should definitely not be doing this

I put both of the bra straps around the neck. I think it is fixed now. Thank goodness!

move the straps and pad it up =)

I owned a Bella for a while and totally didn't notice until someone pointed out to me that Bella wires the cups along the top! (Forgive me if I am already pointing out the obvious to you... I personally was quite surprised to learn of this, LOL). So you can press down on the tops of the cups to conform to your bustline, and the wire keeps it in place. I wish all costumes had that feature!

Originally Posted by Anjela

I owned a Bella for a while and totally didn't notice until someone pointed out to me that Bella wires the cups along the top! (Forgive me if I am already pointing out the obvious to you... I personally was quite surprised to learn of this, LOL). So you can press down on the tops of the cups to conform to your bustline, and the wire keeps it in place. I wish all costumes had that feature!

LOL! I tried that but the wire wasn't strong enough to actually hold it where I put it.