Thread: how to fix bra w/attached sleeves? pics added :)

hello all wise and knowing bhuzzers :)

i bought a gorgeous blue costume from the studio i go to and it's *almost* a perfect fit. the bra has attached mesh sleeves so it's not a halter and so it fits a bit funky. i padded it and shortened the straps and it still isn't hugging the body as i would like. i noticed there is a slight gaping at the sides of the cups where the underbust band but idk how to fix that w/o dissecting the whole costume..i havent moved the hook in the back because it fits me fine where it is, and i cant make the straps into a halter style because of the attached sleeves (which i loooove).

it looks exactly like this one actually (cept mine is blue):

http://bellyshake.com/images/costume4.jpg


any suggestions? i'm planning on wearing this for a cane piece at our hafla coming up so it needs to fit nice and snug :)

I have no idea, but I looooooveee the costume and especially the attached sleeves! ,r:;

take the straps off of your body. Work the band. Pinch the fabric where it gaps..and then figure it out from there. The band must fit, alone, by itself, or the thing will never feel right.

Hm. Looks like a challenge. I say take the sleeves off, and reconfigure the straps to halter style. If it's still pooching at the sides, either a few carefully placed darts or maybe a bit of elastic?

As for the sleeves, I say turn them into a cute shrug with a piece of mesh fabric across the back.

Just my two cents, but I'm sure someone here could suggest something better if I'm totally off base.

I second the elastic idea: I converted one with the same kind of gap (no sleeves) to a halter, and it didn't completely fix it.
The elastic on the inside pulled the gap together.

oh wow, i didn't even think to try putting elastic on the band itself. i'll try that first. i was going to put some sort of strap across the back of the band but that would require more time and work. thanks!

and ana, the sleeves and the mesh on the sides are my favorite part of this costume ..g.:

and ha, in the first pic at the top u can actually see the gaping issue that's similar to mine, altho my gap isn't quite that large. glad to know it's not just my body that i wants to do that for LOL

Originally Posted by anala

take the straps off of your body. Work the band. Pinch the fabric where it gaps..and then figure it out from there. The band must fit, alone, by itself, or the thing will never feel right.

this ^
the back strap should hold the bra up on its own. if you can get 2 fingers under it, its too loose

also, can you move the front part of the straps slightly more to the outside of the cups?

be careful with elastic under the arms, you don't want armpit scrunchies ..l;,

very pretty costume

I agree w/Sabrina about armpit scrunchies. >.<

Those sleeves might be pretty attached to a shrug and separated from the costume entirely, that way you could work on the band issue and possibly do a halter conversion. I moved some bra straps with some very good results in fit!

I know some consider this major surgery, and I don't have your costume in front of me laying flat to judge and see what's going on. So a strap move in the front - as Sabrina is suggesting, is a simple, safe start.

On the dummy..the straps look too short. The bra cups are pointing to the ceiling. Where the gap is...I think you need a dart.

Originally Posted by anala

On the dummy..the straps look too short. The bra cups are pointing to the ceiling. Where the gap is...I think you need a dart.

yah it's weird, the underbust fits fine but the cups need to be tighter against the body for comfort..i'm gonna try the elastic on the sides first because i already shortened the straps and they're still a little off..if all else fails, my seamstress will have yet another project of mine hehe

On the mannequin, the straps do look too short, pulling the bra into the wrong angle and causing gaps under the arms -as if it were actually designed to be a halter with the band lower in back, but someone attached shoulder straps instead.

I would detach the straps in back and try on again to see if it lays better as a halter. If so, I would convert it to a halter.

You could make darts where the gaps are - but that's usually a major pain in the ass because of the beadwork.

Putting elastic there to pull it in may look unattractively puckered or bunched, depending on the size of the gap.

Sleeves can be attached to a halter strap; it requires a redesign of the sleeve cap. Then it's attached with ribbons; they can be beaded or covered to match. As below:





All this is in my book "Arm Costume for Bellydancers."

Would it help to adjust where the shoulder straps are attached? Move them closer together in the back to get more of the halter feel and move them out or angle them a little on the cups. My seamstress (fabulous by the way) is always messing with that first, and it usually does the trick. Then you can see if your costume's straps are too short as well.
Good luck.

Arm Book? Arm Book??? Need that!!! Where, where???

Originally Posted by anala

Arm Book? Arm Book??? Need that!!! Where, where???

Funny you should ask! My how-to books are sold on my website, here:
Costume Goddess books
Arm Costume is number 4.

Let us know how this works out cuz this cossie idea has got to be awesome.

the gap i have isn't as big as the one in the pic above..so what should i start with? moving the straps further back or trying the elastic first?

I say depends on how the cups feel. If they feel good, the elastic should be easiest to try and easily removed if it doesn't do the trick.

well the cups just aren't sitting tight across my chest as i would like and they have padding in them (which i'm thinking i should take out now because i'm looking too disproportionate :-/ cuz the cups fit me fine, i just thought padding would help the trick but nope!)
maybe i should take a pic later tonight and get yall's opinion?

Sounds good. I'll look for it.

Originally Posted by zfejzic

well the cups just aren't sitting tight across my chest as i would like and they have padding in them (which i'm thinking i should take out now because i'm looking too disproportionate :-/ cuz the cups fit me fine, i just thought padding would help the trick but nope!)
maybe i should take a pic later tonight and get yall's opinion?

Yes, pictures would help alot.

pics!!
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...bluebra001.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...bluebra002.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...bluebra003.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...bluebra004.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...bluebra005.jpg

alright so please advise, i just bought some extra elastic so i'm prepared to do some fixin' up!! :)

i really don't want to remove the sleeves if at all possible because i like them the way they are and i doubt i will have enough time to go get some blue mesh to make it into a shrug :-/ and sorry i didn't wear it with the skirt, too lazy! lol

Darts...sorry dude...darts....

oh no! is there no way a piece of elastic would fix it? how exactly do i dart it? (stupid question, but never done it before)

I've had this exact gappage. I believe the side straps have been attached to the cups at the wrong angle, at least on the costume I had this issue with. The straps *should* be attached so that when the bra is laid flat, the straps are angling slightly downward. If they're attached straight out, there will be too much fabric at the top of the sides.

Several options I've used successfully:

- Moving the straps outward on the cups. Works great if the cups are a little too small, but I think on your costume it would cause the cups to stand away from your skin too far.

- Darts. Yes, it works, but it's bulky and awkward.

- Cutting away/reattaching the straps at a better angle. Works great if there's plenty of fabric to spare and no beadwork at the side seams. OR if you're comfortable re-doing the beadwork.

- Elastic. Works best on lightweight costumes with only a slight gap. Your issue would need heavyduty elastic, firmly stretched into place...but it could work. I wonder if it would be possible to gather the fabric up slightly, THEN put elastic in?

I do the darts from the inside (under the lining) and cut away the fold. Decreases bulk, but re-beading/stabilizing is necessary. Pinch the gap so the cups sit right...thats the dart - now remove the chest strap lining to the edges of the cups and pinch the fold to the inside. Sew the pinch real hard and cut away the excess, sequins and all. Reattach lining and stabilize the beading on the sides. Not for the faint of heart...but effective.

Originally Posted by anala

I do the darts from the inside (under the lining) and cut away the fold. Decreases bulk, but re-beading/stabilizing is necessary. Pinch the gap so the cups sit right...thats the dart - now remove the chest strap lining to the edges of the cups and pinch the fold to the inside. Sew the pinch real hard and cut away the excess, sequins and all. Reattach lining and stabilize the beading on the sides. Not for the faint of heart...but effective.

This is pretty much how I 'cut away/reattach the straps' but I do it right where the strap joins the cup.

Yes, scary but effective. A permanent, no-worry solution.

If the band itself was cut weird, or attached to the cups at the wrong angle, this gap happens. I wish I could have fixed this issue with a strap only adjustment...shur would have been a lot easier.

I'd wonder if those sleeves could be attached differently so the shoulder straps could be made into a halter. I had a noussa with sleeves that attached to a halter strap and it looked great, but they were pretty stretchy. Then the bra strap could sit lower and lose enough gap that a little elastic could work.
I might see if you could fold the "dart" into the cup (under the lining or put something soft over it to avoid sequin scratches..) Not that it's a perfect fix, but a possibility if you feel really uncomfortable about cutting and needing to re-bead....

Originally Posted by anala

If the band itself was cut weird, or attached to the cups at the wrong angle, this gap happens. I wish I could have fixed this issue with a strap only adjustment...shur would have been a lot easier.

Sorry, I was talking about the back straps, not the shoulder straps. I should have said 'band' I guess.