Thread: Big Busted gals help me!

A friend of mine who is well far bustier then I has asked me to fix a costume bra for her.
The bra is a halter with these thin shoulder straps, that would probably support someone with a smaller chest but will do her no good. If she uses just the halter it's way too much weight on her neck.

My idea is to reinforce the shoulder straps by creating buckram straps covered in matching fabric and attaching the existing shoulder straps to the new, stronger, wider ones.

Here's the problem I was looking at the placement of the narrow straps. They seem too high up on the bra given the halter strap placement. Here's a sketch(can't find the costume online) and the blue represents what I'd like to do.
Since I can't try it on myself I was wondering if any of you boob-a-licious ladies could give input.

Just be careful that the new straps don't tilt the cups oddly. If your friend is really large, turn the straps into ones that cris-cross in back. This helps support the girls without breaking her neck. I know, I'm a 44H.

Should I move the strap placement? I'm only asking because when she put on the costume the cups seemed to sag outwards, not creating cleavage or lift. I don't want to mess with the halter (save for tightening the hooks) but the straps are so close to the halter I feel that the outer edges of the cups aren't supported.

I so wish I could find a bra like I'm talking about.

Thanks for the help!

ETA: looking for a similar bra is making me insane cause there are so many costumes I want on the bellydancestore!!!

I'm concerned it will still be a lot of strain on the back of the neck.
Can the new straps 'cross' in the back, and attach to the bra band (look like an X in the back).
Is she available for pin fitting, before you do anything?
:-)

Maybe if you are adding straps to the outer edge of the cup, make them stretchy? Either out of a coordinating stretchy fabric, or else a tube of fabric with a few inches of elastic at the cups? Enough to pull it in for more support, but not enough to make it so the cups tip and spill everything else out in the middle?

I can try to make the straps cross, but then I'll have to take off the existing straps and bead new ones entirely, also the bra is part of a dress and i don't want to ruin the line.

If the straps are wide enough and strong enough would that alleviate the neck pressure?

Do any of you use regular strap costumes?
I think I've seen her wear non criss crossing straps.

My main concern is that the cups aren't pushing the girls where costume bras are supposed to push them.

ETA, I fitted her with the neck strap and rib band yesterday, they both need to be taken in a bit, but even when tightened the bra seemed off.

Okay after looking at at least a thousand Hanan's I've come to the conclusion that the little straps were added by the vendor. They were made differently and seemed to be an add on. I can't find a single bra anywhere on the internet that looks remotely like what my friend had.

I have tow costumes with 4 straps. Halter and over the shoulder. (for ref, I'm a 34DD) In both cases, the straps start in front at basically the same place. It;s where they go in back which is the important part of the equation. Halter for cleavage, over the shoulder for support. And, yes, when I am not dancing, the halter is undone. . .

{{{HUGS}}}

Originally Posted by tahiradancer

I have tow costumes with 4 straps. Halter and over the shoulder. (for ref, I'm a 34DD) In both cases, the straps start in front at basically the same place. It;s where they go in back which is the important part of the equation. Halter for cleavage, over the shoulder for support. And, yes, when I am not dancing, the halter is undone. . .

{{{HUGS}}}

Where should they go in the back, should they narrow into more of a V shape?

I'm sorry I have so many questions, I've never worked on anyone else's costumes (just my own and I'm very familiar with my own boobs and their issues ..l;, )

No, they shouldn't narrow in the back unless she has narrow shoulders, They should go exactly where they would go if they were a standard over the shoulder bra. I am trying to find an example for you, but not finding anything. I'll see what I can dig up at my storage space today. I have a gig tomorrow and need to get costumes.

{{{HUGS}}}

you can also make an x back by:
1. making 2 long shoulder straps
2. connect the strap fronts to the outside of the high point of the cups, closer to the side
3. sew the back ends of the straps to their *won side of the back strap* but close to the ends of the back strap. When worn, the straps will cross but is still easy to get into.

can you sew the existing straps on top of the new straps, down the center, for sufficient decoration?

I can try that, I think my main issue is that the cups (they are full cups not Dina cups) seem to be turning outwards, and there for not giving cleavage and lift.

Sometime you need to break the cups apart at the bridge between the cups and reset the angle of the connection itself. I like a lot of lift..but not so much cleavage. For me -it is enough to have em without screaming here they are!!!

Originally Posted by anala

Sometime you need to break the cups apart at the bridge between the cups and reset the angle of the connection itself. I like a lot of lift..but not so much cleavage. For me -it is enough to have em without screaming here they are!!!

This seems like the most likely solution, sigh, this is going to be a PROJECT now and not just a quick fix ,r:;

Boobs can be great weight on your shoulders....sigh....

Well, at least I'm learning about a different body type.
My issue is hemming I have to hem everything like at least 10 inches.
But boobs, wow I thought they were awesome for free drinks, I never realized that they had such "gravity" :P

yes...and no one knows the color of your eyes, you have a snack tray for latter....oh, I could go on..and on...

Tee-hee, is it bad I feel like I'm turning into a 12 year old boy and am now fighting the urge to blurt out loudly BOOBS!!!!

But I don't want this thread de-railed. When I have the bra in my hands I will post pics for further analysis.

Originally Posted by _Tanya_

Tee-hee, is it bad I feel like I'm turning into a 12 year old boy and am now fighting the urge to blurt out loudly BOOBS!!!!

speaking of feeling like a 12 year old boy; I checked out this thread thinking it would be much more interesting

Sorry, Dude...they just aint!

Originally Posted by anala

Sorry, Dude...they just aint!

aint what?

(your posts always confuse me just a little, but then again I have my slow moments)

much more interesting

Boobs that is.....

Originally Posted by anala

much more interesting

Boobs that is.....

oh
well, boobs are always interesting IMO, but I was just making a joke; I didn't really know what to expect by the thread, but sometimes I see thread titles on Bhuz I don't see anywhere else online and I get curious. (Like the I am not a candybar thread)

knew it was a joke...was making one back! ;=)

Originally Posted by anala

knew it was a joke...was making one back! ;=)

see
I'm so easily confused sometimes online

No-one's suggested the additional back straps solution yet. Adding a couple of straps at the back that go from the halter straps to the back of the bra:

(where the dotted lines are).

This takes the load off the back of the neck, and allows the back strap to carry the weight of the girls more.

You could remove the little over-shoulder straps, if you wanted to keep cleaner lines to the top. They aren't doing anything useful, so they are only there for decorative reasons.

Has anyone mentioned crossing them at the back, also, the if the straps are a bit thicker at the shoulder and the neck that can help. Nothing worse than cheese wire straps.

If there is a lack of support, I would also suggest looking at the band, which should be taking the strain, not the straps.
I am a 32 DD and I have used the crossover on bras I made, it works very well, they go, nowhere :D

The back strap is an interesting idea, however given the line of the dress I'm not sure it would work.

I'm tightening the hooks and reinforcing the existing shoulder straps with doubled up grossgrain ribbon covered in matching fabric with matching beads, sequins etc.

As for the cup issue, I am going to build a bridge between the two cups slightly above the existing connector, which should pull the cups together when worn.

I will however do a fitting before I install it, I'm hoping the tightening of the bra along with the additional support of the staps will fix the issue.

But please keep the ideas coming, they will be useful for others, and myself if I ever take on another project like this.

Thanks all!!