Thread: Bedlah for busty small person - help please!

Here's one for the costuming experts out there: I would be eternally grateful for some costuming input from those with more bedlah experience than myself. My first question is: if you wear a 32-34DD street bra, would you order what the bellydancestore calls a DD or a D? Also it seems like most of Dahlal's costumes run in what they call C/D - would those work in some cases? I'm familiar with using headbands, etc to extend bra size but would prefer not to do that if I can. Is Pharonics the only brand that labels their cups with a number? Also, many of these have a larger upper hip than mine - 34. Can you usually get away with getting a larger waisted belt and adjusting it?

My second question is: what style(s) would you recommend for a flattering look on someone who has funny proportions like myself (30 underbust and bra size 34DD natural boobs that have been through pregnancy - lol), relatively high waisted at 27 , upper hip 34 and lower hip 37, height 5'2". I'm thinking that bras with alot of fringe may not do me much good, even a "great loop" style.

There aren't any vendors nearby where I can just try things on so ordering something online is a bit more risky and I'm not a professional dancer so I can't justify custom ordering a Pharoncs or Bella although I dream of doing so!

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Thanks, pamelayvette for your advice! Bhuzzers rock!

Did someone give advice?
I would like to know the answers to your questions as well, they are good ones.

I've got similar measurements, but I'm long waisted with less-than-long legs. I've had my share of custom order disasters! sometimes it takes a lot of trial and error to find out what works for you.

that said - what helped me the most was to call up dahlal to see if they had a costume style I liked, in whatever color, in whatever size they had close to mine. I'd have them mail me the costume, and I'd try it on to see how that shape worked with my body, and then sent it back. I lost the shipping fees, but I'd rather lose that than spend several hundred dollars on a custom costume that I end up not being able to wear. if I liked the costume, I'd then order it in the size and color I wanted.

it's also helpful to try on your friends costumes. I'm lucky to be friends with alimah, who rotates through a good dozen or more bellas every year. I've tried on tons of them, which really helped me know which styles I had the best chance of success with when I was ready to order a couple for myself.

by now, I can just look at a costume and know immediately if it will work on me. and if I know a model's measurements and bra size, I can tell by a body photo if it will fit.

so that's your question #2. btw, a great loop will look awesome on you. I have never, ever seen a figure it didn't flatter.

question #1: you'll probably want an egyptian #5 cup. you might be able to swing a deep #4. pharaonics #5 cups have tended toward the shallow side the last few years, so I wouldn't recommend going smaller. a dahlal c/d would likely be too small - especially if it's one of those dina style cups. at the bellydance store, you'd probably be safe with a D cup, but I'd ask them to measure the insides of the cups, pressing the measuring tape into the cup.

you could ask audrena or dahlal to mail you a #5 cup bedlah to try it out - it really is worth the shipping fee just to know for sure what your cup size is. while american importers label bras with letters, all egyptian bras are the numbered ones. well all know that a 38D is very different from a 32D! so the letters don't really help without a band size reference (I assume 34/36 if it's not given).

with your figure, you *may* find the occasional readymade costume that fits well, but for the most part, expect that if a bra has a large cup size, the bra strap and belt will end up overlapping several inches. which is fine and workable.

you might want to check out bellydance with k. she has often had big top/small bottom costumes in stock.

Thank you so much Elisa! Awesome advice and gives me good bit of info to work with. Regarding the online shops, I had not considered taking that approach. It does make alot of sense to forgo some shipping fees in order to find a great costume that runs several hundred dollars. Why didn't I think of that?! lol!

For cgoltry who was asking about the other advice given, I can paraphrase that it's best to make sure the bra fits above all & also that with bra/belt combos, it's better to get a two-piece belt which can be more easily adjusted than a one-piece. For fringe on the top, less is more as it can add bulk. Fringe that comes down between the cups gives a longer line.

All good tips - thanks!