Thread: Sheer dress question *Update*

I'm dancing a cane choreo tomorrow night & my costume is a sheer turquoise paillette dress, coin hip scarf & turban headband.

When I bought it from Dahlal, the model was wearing black leggings/pants & a black bra top underneath & it looked good. The black bottoms I have. My question is about the top. I don't want to muster the bdance .p:: so help me here.. An actual hard cup black bra (a solid one, with none of that lacy stuff anywhere to be found on it)? Or no?

Just my aesthetic, but I would prefer to see it match the color of the dress, both leggings and plain bra.

Not sure how I feel about the bra question -- maybe OK if it can't be seen much and nobody can tell, although personally I think I might feel odd with that.

Here's another suggestion: probably won't have time to get your hands on one before this show (unless you're lucky enough to have a really good dance supply store in your area), but for future reference, underneath my sheer paillette dresses I wear one of those bellydance jumpsuit affairs -- it's basically pants and bra top with power mesh covering the midriff. Mine has flesh-covered mesh, but they also come with mesh in the same color as the rest of the garment. Mine's black, but I think they come in a variety of colors.

that would be my preference as well - i think it'd look much sleeker - but this was very last minute (as in, this week - to help out, my one performance turned into 3 & this choreo is one of them). all i have on hand is black. i plan to look around at lunchtime & tomorrow morning, but unfortunately i'm in a crunch. workshop tomorrow afternoon & dancing tomorrow night.

Can you find a sports bra and some opaque tights in a good color?

If the dress is sheer, you could probably still see the "hardware" on the bra straps in the back. So the sports bra and tights might be a good option. Skirts can look pretty under those dresses too.

Originally Posted by JeanneLF

Not sure how I feel about the bra question -- maybe OK if it can't be seen much and nobody can tell, although personally I think I might feel odd with that.

Here's another suggestion: probably won't have time to get your hands on one before this show (unless you're lucky enough to have a really good dance supply store in your area), but for future reference, underneath my sheer paillette dresses I wear one of those bellydance jumpsuit affairs -- it's basically pants and bra top with power mesh covering the midriff. Mine has flesh-covered mesh, but they also come with mesh in the same color as the rest of the garment. Mine's black, but I think they come in a variety of colors.

dance store here doesn't carry those - i'd have to order one. dance store here stocks primarily children's stuff. some adult dance shoes & leotards.

I just really don't want people to be like Whoa, she's wearing a bra and be one of those poor souls other dancers sniggle about (like the ignorant souls who show up in chiffon skirts with only underwear on beneath it), but at the same time I'm hesitant to go with a stretchy sport-like top instead.

Can you wear a black half top or even get small sized hanes tank tops (sold at drug stores) and cut one to show your stomach, then wear over a black bra.

If you have an American Apparel near you I would check to see if they have matching color leggings and tops.

posts crossed

plain sports top i can look for. but that & tights in the same color i don't know i can find. i'm in a very small town, my options are limited. closest city with options is an hour & a half away (one way). i'll look, but realistically i don't have high hopes for matching. the general opinion is black won't look very good then?

dang, dahlal took the picture down (guess i got the last one) so i can't show what it looks like. the multicolored paillette one appeared much more sheer than the colored ones, but i see now that's all the more reason to match to the dress color.

tanya, no american apparel - we have academy sports. i'll check there for a top & some sort of leggings. i've gotten trunks to wear under my harems there before. good idea on the tank top - what about a close fitting knit one over bra?

I think black could work. I think black and turquoise are pretty together.

Originally Posted by TexasRuya

the general opinion is black won't look very good then?

Black is better then nothing at all

i've worn a black lycra top tank top, and folded the excess lower fabric up under my boobs. i wore a real bra underneath for support. a cheap and easy to find option!

Definitely thumbs down on the lingerie bra. You can always tell.

Is the dress cut low enough that part of the top underneath will show through? It seems like when I wear folkloric dresses that have a V or slit neck, a bit of whatever is underneath always peeks up, especially if I have a higher-cut sports bra or half tank underneath. If that is the problem, perhaps you could hotfix a few turquoise stones onto the bra to make it look more matchy?

If you have access to a Target store check their lingerie. We bought what resembles slips that reach our ankles in various colors. The straps are over 1" wide at the narrowest area. The front and back are each one piece, nothing fancy but a lovely fabric. We have turquoise, black, emerald, red, gold, etc. We also wear them under our thobes. I think they were less than $15 each. For some reason I think the sign stated they were nightgowns but they resembled long slips. If you can sew they cannot be difficult to make.

If you decide to wear the black tights, leggings or pants another option is a tank-top in the same color.

It's not a V- or slit-neck style. Just a rounded/crewe neck style. For the bra or top to show I'd have to actually cut down into the dress and modify it to do that. And then it wouldn't look so good. Closest I can think to compare it to is sorta like a sheer paillette galabeya. That 'one size fits you and 4 of your closest friends..at once' style.

Originally Posted by TexasRuya

It's not a V- or slit-neck style. Just a rounded/crewe neck style. For the bra or top to show I'd have to actually cut down into the dress and modify it to do that. And then it wouldn't look so good. Closest I can think to compare it to is sorta like a sheer paillette galabeya. That 'one size fits you and 4 of your closest friends..at once' style.

In that case, you probably don't have to worry about embellishing it to make it look less Hanes-y, unless the dress is very sheer in between the paillettes.

I actually wore a tank top and melos under a paillette dress and it went over well. I think black sports bra / tank which is either rolled up or cut off / sports top and leggings would be fine.

{{{HUGS}}}

I wouldn't wear tights under a sheer dress, they're even more 'underweary' than a bra.

It would be AMAZING if you could find a turquoise tank to wear over your bra and cut off, plus some matching leggings or shorts. That would be most similar to what you'd see in a pro costume. (a pro costume would probably use a turquoise costume bra with covered hardware and turquoise dance trunks/hot pants).

If turquoise isn't an option, my next fave would be the same in black.

Leggings are fine in a pinch, though.

Is the dress similar to this?

Then black sports bra and leggings would work great! As I said, I have worn something like this with a full tank and melos to great effect.

{{{HUGS}}}

Dye a slip?

tahira - yes, very similar to those, except actual dangly paillettes and the color in the pictures appears not quite so sheer.

edit: see below post

I paid extra for 2nd day shipping

So sorry to hear this. I can pay for 2 day, but in my area..it never happens. We are too remote from the nearest airport..ahhhh...80 miles??!

crisis averted! thank goodness! my husband left to pick up a take out order for dinner & when he came back saw a tall box on the far corner of the porch behind the chair & rake also on the porch. the mailman must've just left it there 'hidden' from the neighbors. so it's here - heart attack & feelings of ill will gone. whew! ..c::

it's very pretty, turquoise sheer fabric with a silver thread all over adds to the sparkle. paillettes are beaded & dangle from that. sequined around the hem and neckline. the neckline on this is not the crew/scoop though like i saw in the pictures. it does have a v to it. would look great with a decorated bra underneath because you'd just barely see the top of the cups. but i'm thinking for tomorrow tack it together at the top so it's a 'keyhole' opening instead & wear a tank over a bra underneath. tried my black yoga pants on with it & it looks fine. just have to get a top tomorrow.

Mine is red and the first time I danced in it I wore a black full slip. Later, I found a slinky, fitted, sleeveless cocktail type dress a Macy's. It is red and since it had a snag in it I got it for $9.00! It works great.

Mine is royal blue with multi-color paillettes. I found a royal blue tricot nightgown to use as a liner to get a more traditional galabeya look.

Glad it worked out for you!

Talk about crafty costuming on the fly .w.: Here's how the tank top worked out tonight:

So I rushed around this afternoon after a workshop to find a tank for tonight & I did find one with thin straps at Kohl's in the junior's dept (go figure). It has bra cups built into it, so I was okay with the thin straps.

Then I went to Michael's & found some cheap acrylic stones, but also grabbed a small bottle of appliqué glue & 4 appliqués that I thought may look better but wasn't sure which would adhere with the glue. The appliqués are big & small flowers, alternating solid turquoise & leopard print, all with turquoise rhinestone centers. I was so pressed for time today/tonight I was gluing them to the tank in the dressing room while people ahead of me were dancing (and in between my 2 solos). The appliqués worked well, so I left the stones off.

I wore the tank normal (not tucked up). It was long enough (and 'grippy' enough) to cover the top of my pants even with my arms raised repeatedly. The center of the V-neck on the paillette dress perfectly framed one big turquoise flower between the cups (hurriedly glued on while wearing it & about 2mins before performing in it), so it was the only one almost fully exposed & the edges of the rest just peek out. After the show I got so many compliments on it & two dancers told me how professional the top underneath looked (the flower embellishment). So, it's a keeper! I'll tack the appliqués down with thread, though, in case the glue ever decides to give up, lol.

Pics!

Originally Posted by Linnyg

Pics!

as soon as I get my hands on some from tonight I'll post an action shot. I'll try to remember to take a pic tomorrow of it laid out together, too. right now I'm in dire need of a shower & some food. ..g.:

Originally Posted by TexasRuya

as soon as I get my hands on some from tonight I'll post an action shot. I'll try to remember to take a pic tomorrow of it laid out together, too. right now I'm in dire need of a shower & some food. ..g.:

..l;,..l;,