Thread: I need some opinions on this costume - NOW FINISHED

I've been working on this costume FOREVER. For some reason, it's been painful in the making. The design in my head just didn't come out the way I expected it to and it's been a struggle to make it work.

The skirt and belt are done. The skirt has a finished waistband and the belt has been lined and has hooks, so I'm good there. What I'm struggling with is the bra. Particularly the back view. I like love the vintage feel this costume has and I think the coloring is really good on me. I think the bra band needs more and I need someone else to look at it and tell me what you think.

I was thinking from the back that the bra band looks too plain. My hair comes down to my bra strap and covers it a little but not the whole thing. I have my hair pinned up for the photos. Perhaps some more AB crystals with gold and blue beading around them placed randomly? That was my thought, but I'd love to hear other ideas. It's a little hard to tell in the photo, but the bra cups and the straps are gathered, so I don't think I want to hide that with more beading, but the bra band needs a little help.

I do plan on making accessories for this. I'm thinking poofy sleeves and a headband with some matching beadwork.

Your costume is beautiful!!! I love it!!!

The beading you have on the halter straps, might look pretty on the back.

:-)

I wish I coud make something like this! I think it's quite pretty.

Oh that is coming along very nice. As soon as I looked at this my eye was drawn to the belt, it's nice. I have to say that the bra is not making me feel the same. I think it would look pretty like the spiraling jewel. Have three appliques up top on one side and three on the bottom and continue the design around back along the strap. Does that make since?
You are doing fab.

wow...what a gorgeous costume. it looks very professional.

I wouldn't go too nuts in the back but maybe a couple small circles might do the trick...something like the ones you have on the front but much smaller and more spaced out. this way you have a theme.

Originally Posted by Zobeida

I wouldn't go too nuts in the back but maybe a couple small circles might do the trick...something like the ones you have on the front but much smaller and more spaced out. this way you have a theme.

That's exactly what I had in mind. That is basically what I did on the straps. I should take some closeup shots, but there is an AB crystal in the center of gold beadwork.

Thank you all for the compliments and keep those ideas coming. I've already ripped out a significant portion of the beadwork and re-did it once, so I'm not really open to tearing it apart again, but I do want to hear what add-on's you can suggest.

I agree the bra doesn't look really balanced with the belt.

I think the balance is off because the belt is predominantly gold. The top just needs more motifs. I would add more gold across the top of the cups as well as the motifs on the back of the bra band. Lovely work!

Girl you got talent! It is beautiful, I could never ever make even a quarter of what you could.

Hugs,
Amani

It is difficult to be certain but is the upper area of the cups shirred? If yes you could balance the amount of beadwork on the belt with more of the same motifs on the bra repeated over the lower half of the cups. The shirring could be the upper cup decor. As far as the back strap - it is a nice, wide area for a few smaller version of the circle motifs. Maybe stitch the additions together then pin them to various locations. That way you are not committed to a specific location or pattern.

Thank you all for your help. The bra definitely needs more beadwork. I'll get started on it and post pictures of my progress.

Originally Posted by Zobeida

wow...what a gorgeous costume. it looks very professional.

I wouldn't go too nuts in the back but maybe a couple small circles might do the trick...something like the ones you have on the front but much smaller and more spaced out. this way you have a theme.

I agree with this. What a lovely costume. I love the proportions of it and that blue is incredible on you.

I think it's beautiful! That color really looks stunning on you.

I agree with you about the bra, though. The back band does need some more and I actually think the front needs some more around the top of the cups. But that belt!!!!! Gorgeous.

Originally Posted by shahla

so I'm not really open to tearing it apart again, but I do want to hear what add-on's you can suggest.

I agree the bra doesn't look really balanced with the belt.

Can you get more of the crystal jewel things that are in the center of the circles? You could place them around the bra. That would look nice.

I suggest circles in the back, or even bringing the additional colors to the back of the bra, you already have dark blue beading I would try to add some of the gold back there. I only say this because the back band is so wide, if it were narrower you wouldn't need decoration.

But it looks amazing!

Originally Posted by Michelle75

Can you get more of the crystal jewel things that are in the center of the circles? You could place them around the bra. That would look nice.

I have lots more crystals so, yes, I can do that and I think that's what I'll do. I also need to add some more gold beading.

I love this costume, but the main problem I am having with it is the balance in size and color of the belt and bra. The belt's circles are very large and have large amounts of that nude color. The bra on the other hand, has no nude accents and the circles are much smaller. So while I think this costume is fantastic, I just think it needs a little something extra to balance out the top and bottom.

Very nice. The balance thing is obvious but, if something seems a little "off" it can be the actual thing that makes it interesting. Me too I would add sth. on the upper rim (?) of the bra, maybe where the straps meet the bra. The fabric is beautiful and it suits your tan perfectly.

A wide skirt (romantic!) always goes nicely with long sleeves, maybe just a long triangle attached to a short armpiece, on both arms. Even if sleeves can really be in the way on some occasions and you'd prefer not to wear them, on others they really make the costume perfect.

Andalee hit on a very good point about no nude accents on the bra. I've got an idea. I'll make faux nude cutouts along the bra band just like or very similar to the belt. I cut out some nude fabric and laid it on top of the bra band. I think once it's in place with beads all around it, it will tie in with the belt much better. I'll put crystals in the middle of the circles, just like the belt.

I think it still needs more gold beads and crystals on the cups, but even just the addition of the nude circles on the bra band, it's looking better already.

YES! the nude circles on the bra band will look awesome! and for more vintage goodness, you could also add more fringe, coming from below the bra-band circles or on the bra straps (which would be a lovely accent when you shimmy)
take my fringe-monster mania with a grain of salt, though, and follow the gut feeling :)

I finally finished this today. Complete with accessories. The necklace and earrings I got from Latifa on the retail swap meet.

Preeeetty.

That is beautiful! Well done.

That looks super awesome Shahla! Great job!

That is *beautiful*! What a show stopper :tongue:

Beautiful work! Well done!

So pretty! Nice work!

very pretty. I agree with the above. Just fill in the nude part of the circles with some blue/gold to balance it out.

oh...drool!!!

Beautiful job! It's just gorgeous.