Thread: Does someone have to help you costume up?

I have to have another troupe member tie me into my costume bra because my bust is large. Is this usual? I cross the straps, get them through the loops, and hold the bra in place to give her some slack, and she ties it, then it fits and holds through an hour of class (and through a 10-minute performance).

I'm in a troupe, so there's always someone to do it, but not being able to strap in solo bugs me. ,f:: (or unstrap solo, for that matter)

Yes. If I'm not with the troupe, I have to take a friend with me.

Yes, I always have my husband or my sister with me on gigs to help drive, set-up and dress.

Never. I make many of my own costumes and always design them so I can get in and out myself. I dance in a troupe too, so there's usually someone to help, but I prefer to be self-reliant. I do dance at a restaurant occasionally and also a belly gram occasionally, so I like to be able to do my own thing without any assistance.

I don't *need* a dresser, but it sure helps with some costumes!!

With my more difficult bras, if I'm alone I have to put it around my waist backwards, do the fussy bits then turn it and put my arms through. Doesn't work for every costume, but it might work for a lace-up back, with practice.

I consider group dressing and pinning activities very bonding. (like a human grooming ritual!)

yes, because i'm a princess.

I've reworked a couple of my costumes so that they are "self-reliant".
But being a little bit larger busted, sometimes it's really hard to find a costume with support and the ability to put on by yourself!

And honestly, some costumes I've bought, I don't see how you could ever do it yourself---no matter how much you rework it!

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I don't *need* a dresser, but it sure helps with some costumes!!

With my more difficult bras, if I'm alone I have to put it around my waist backwards, do the fussy bits then turn it and put my arms through. Doesn't work for every costume, but it might work for a lace-up back, with practice.

I consider group dressing and pinning activities very bonding. (like a human grooming ritual!)

I'm not a princess, I'm like Shahla, don't like not being able to do it myself.

Group dressing IS bonding, but I hate being trapped in any clothing. *cringe* I thought a crisscross would hold up the girls better, but I don't know if I'll do that again. Maybe I'll go for a more conventional set-up next time.

It depends on the costume. If I'm doing a solo gig, I make sure to take a costume that I can put on alone. Its happened a few times where I forgot to think of it, so I just asked the waitress for help. Its never been a problem

Yea, for one of my cossies. There is a medallion and necklace that have to be put on a very specific way to hold the top in place and keep it from rotating about my neck. So someone, usually my wife, has to put the jewelry in question on me. I don't have a pair of girls to help hold things, so for this particular one, that's what must be done.

Unfortunately, its my favorite costume!

Originally Posted by zorba

I don't have a pair of girls to help hold things, so for this particular one, that's what must be done.

I would have thought that the girls would hold this one necklace in place but the darn thing floops all over anyway. Maybe it's too much necklace vs bounteous girls ... mutters: maybe I should do some re-designing ...

I am a bit ample chested myself so I relate! After needing Shahla's assistance for every costume change at a show last year (for which I still owe her a bottle of wine!), I made a promise to myself to adjust my cos's so that I can dress myself. I found it frustrating to have to ask for help; part of what I needed was pinning bra straps for back up, in case the hooks released (*giant* fear of mine). I've started sewing big snaps into my sets as well as hooks, including the shoulder straps, and find it very helpful.

No, and in our troupe it's a requirement that troupemates are self-reliant enough to get in an out of t their own gear for shows - it's really a requirement as some of our concert shows involve changes a couple or even 3x! Once we had so many costume changes for a theater show that we had a "dressing room helper" to help with super-quick complete, down to the skin costume changes. She was great and I'd love to have her laying out my costume, zipping up skirt, handing me guantlets and jewelry and fluffing out my hair,r:; but we compensated her (free ticket to show).!

When I was performing solo in clubs as a pro, it was considered unprofessional to ask other dancers to help with costuming - and we each had our own little "station" - chair in front of mirror. Self-reliance was key and it was a valuable thing to learn - for those solo gigs at restaurant where there is no one else in dressing room to ask.

I think also that by emphasizing costuming self-reliance makes troupemates more organized about packing costumes and accessories for a troupe gig. With newer dancers, I am the "mother hen" with extra pins, tissues, red lipstick and I help where needed but eventually they learn how to handle getting in and out of costumes; we do several large gigs a year so it's important that they do learn.

I'm making a criss cross on an ample set of boobs as we speak. I can get into it fortunately, but it does take bit of a squeeze. When the cross straps are closer to the sides, tigher or the lower band is tighter, you have more lift but it gets harder to enter the costume. It is a trade off in a way.

Originally Posted by tattood1

yes, because i'm a princess.

..l;,..l;,..l;,..l;,

My husband is the designated bra hooker, though there's a couple I could possbly get into myself using Lauren's method (the beads and sequins scratch up my boobs, though). He wants me to show my almost 12 year old daughter how to do it so she can help me, but her exact words were, "I don't even know how to put on a regular bra. And helping my mom put a bra on is kinda gross." ..l;,

No. It's the reason I've never gone for the cross-over back style, bcause if you can't get in and out of it yourself what is the point?

Also, as someone who hasn't ever been much of a troupe dancer - far too divatastic here - nearly every gig or performance I have ever done has been solo, and I can't exactly front up there and ask someone to do up my bra! When I *was* in a troupe we were doing community gigs more than anything else, and we usually turned up individually at least partly clad in costume.

I consider it a matter of immense pride that I've managed to get myself into Tunisian garb without help. And that's a REAL achievement. Hint: doorknob.

Originally Posted by Bellissima

I'm making a criss cross on an ample set of boobs as we speak. I can get into it fortunately, but it does take bit of a squeeze. When the cross straps are closer to the sides, tigher or the lower band is tighter, you have more lift but it gets harder to enter the costume. It is a trade off in a way.

I, uh, apparently made mine really difficult in the name of lift.

My straps are my ties: the straps go from the cups up over my shoulders, cross, go through a loop in the chest band and then tie. So I need to grow a couple extra arms, or brace the girls against a wall or something. Or practice!

What alternatives do I have (avoiding halters)? All my normal bras are regular over-the-shoulder-and-down-to-the-chest band. Can I use normal bra hooks/eyes in a costume if I have big breasts? Is there something that works better?

I'm all ears (not really all boobs) ..l;,

I have never had good luck when someone helps me. They use the wrong hook, don't pull something straight, whatever.
I have one bra that is a halter with a cross in the back, and I just have to remember how to wiggle into it. Even without the hooks, once I'm in it, it will NOT move.

Originally Posted by SandraDances

I have never had good luck when someone helps me. They use the wrong hook, don't pull something straight, whatever.
I have one bra that is a halter with a cross in the back, and I just have to remember how to wiggle into it. Even without the hooks, once I'm in it, it will NOT move.

You have a point with that.

What is a halter with a cross in the back? I thought a halter was a strap from one cup to another that goes around the back of the neck. Is this something different or am I being dense?

Put the hooks of your cross straps at the top of the cups instead of at back joining the chest strap.

I have one set that has the crisscross in the back and it is a monster to get into sometimes. I perform at tiny restaurants with alarmingly tiny changing areas. I would not be able to fit a second person in those spaces if I had the luxury of bringing another pair of hands.

Let me see if I can explain this well.
Think about altering your costumes so that they have 3 hooking areas. One in the back on the ribcage band and two to secure your straps to your bra cups.

So when you perform you'd clip the one in the back, then you'd pull each shoulder strap up and over your shoulder, checking with your fingers to make sure they aren't twisted, and hook each one to the inside of a cup.

Are these hooks stronger-than-the-usual hooks? Or shall I use the normal run-of-the-mill fabric shop hooks?

Oh, and you described it very clearly, thanks!

Wouldn't it be as easy in that case to just sew the straps onto the back? then pull the cups into place, then pull them over, smooth 'em and hook 'em?

What about snaps? I usually use a combo of both snaps and hooks to hold everything in place.

actually criss cross is all i can do alone.

i put it on & while it's still around my neck & hook it.

then pull it down & stuff the girls up.

i have one the has a hook in the back. the straps have 2 hooks. so hook it together like a regular bra. swing it around. throw straps over shoulders. feel around hook them.

Originally Posted by nadyasidhe

I would have thought that the girls would hold this one necklace in place but the darn thing floops all over anyway. Maybe it's too much necklace vs bounteous girls ... mutters: maybe I should do some re-designing ...

Its probably a simple case of "Physics wins every time.".

Originally Posted by ozma

I have one set that has the crisscross in the back and it is a monster to get into sometimes. I perform at tiny restaurants with alarmingly tiny changing areas. I would not be able to fit a second person in those spaces if I had the luxury of bringing another pair of hands.

Let me see if I can explain this well.
Think about altering your costumes so that they have 3 hooking areas. One in the back on the ribcage band and two to secure your straps to your bra cups.

So when you perform you'd clip the one in the back, then you'd pull each shoulder strap up and over your shoulder, checking with your fingers to make sure they aren't twisted, and hook each one to the inside of a cup.

Holy crap. That is just too easy. The two that I have made have criss cross straps cause I have one droopy shoulder so regular ones just fall off my left shoulder. But the criss cross ones are almost impossible to get into on my own. Going to look at my criss cross ones to see about doing this......

As stated above.... two of mine I really can't do on my own. Well, I can if I have and extra 20 minutes to flop around and curse loudly. I usually have friends or other dancers help out the the hooks.

Originally Posted by maranajla

I found it frustrating to have to ask for help; part of what I needed was pinning bra straps for back up, in case the hooks released (*giant* fear of mine). I've started sewing big snaps into my sets as well as hooks, including the shoulder straps, and find it very helpful.

Just happened to me last Wednesday. I will never shrug off the need for the extra pin again. (Didn't want to ask for the help!)

Originally Posted by nadyasidhe

Are these hooks stronger-than-the-usual hooks? Or shall I use the normal run-of-the-mill fabric shop hooks?

Oh, and you described it very clearly, thanks!

Wouldn't it be as easy in that case to just sew the straps onto the back? then pull the cups into place, then pull them over, smooth 'em and hook 'em?

Back or front, whichever you find easiest and most comfortable.

I'm not sure which run of the mill hooks you use, so that adventure is all yours.