Thread: When do you give up on a costume?

I bought a burgundy/silver Joharah naked dress last year (I think it was my second Bhuz purchase!), and it needs some work to fit me: needs to be hemmed and there is nothing to support the bra (there is a pretty mesh halter thing but it wouldn't support me!).

Plus little things like removing or replacing some rhinestones (took a while for me to notice, they blend with the bling), fixing some of the bead tassels, etc.

My sewing is limited, I have no dummy to use for pinning, and when I lifted the mesh to see how much I could shorten the length that way...sigh.

I'm just not the right shape for this dress and I think it's too much work for me to make perfect. I loved it so and never wore it except to try on! ..cr.:

So what's your point when you give up?

(and hey, someone wanna buy a sexy dress? amount of work required is reduced considerably if you have a long torso...)

Originally Posted by yaalini

So what's your point when you give up?

Hi Yaalini

You sound like you are at the point where I would give up. When I've had a costume unworn for six - twelve months and it's becoming obvious that I cannot achieve the work needed to make it fit I will usually let it go, no matter how much I loved it at the time that I bought it. And yes it is hard to let go but seeing the beautiful costume in action on a person who it actually fits makes me feel better.

I've recently passed on two such costumes, a gorgeous pink Eman Zaki that I only fit into after a bout of food poisoning ..l;, and another unknown designer that I've never worn but simply could not get the bra padding right ... it fit everywhere else ..cr.:

But I am happy that they are now out in the world being seen rather than sitting in my sewing room. They look great on their new owners.

Before you give up on it, you might want to see if there is anyone in your community who can help you with this and would be open to a trade of some kind. If not, what are the measurements?

{{HUGS}}}

Depends on whether it will fit anyone I know.

I thought about hemming the bottom but really the mesh needs to be shorter in the middle or I can't wear underwear! .w.:

Guess I'll start taking measurements for my first swap post as a seller!

To quote Churchill.."never ever give up"
post some pix maybe we can help.

Mesh surgery isn't that bad, really. If your cossie is put together like most Egyptian ones, there isn't much serging or overlock stitches, if any, in them. We're talking straight stitches. I shortened the mesh portion of a dress I bought from Anala and it worked wonderfully! I've yet to tackle the bra, though I've rebuilt them before and it's a valuable learning experience. I suggest you give it a shot, with help from a seamstress friend if you can. Good luck!!!

I bought a costume that was the perfect costume for me. I loved it and while the bottom only needed shortening - which was a challenge for me but I did it. The top would never fit. I thought what it lacked was side boob coverage and pulling the cups together a little more. In the end I think my boobs and those cups were just shaped differently.

As much as it made me sad, my husband finally said - that can sit in your closet looking pretty or you can sell it and spend the $ on something you will wear.

Originally Posted by yaalini

I thought about hemming the bottom but really the mesh needs to be shorter in the middle or I can't wear underwear! .w.:

Guess I'll start taking measurements for my first swap post as a seller!

Could you wear matching boy shorts underneath? Also shira.net has an article about sewing undergarments into naked dresses and cutout dresses.

I would post pics and get input first.

I give up when it looks like the adjustments are going to take more time & talent than I really have ( which isn't much, LOL). Also I can only fool myself so long about how much padding can go into a bra, or how long of a bra-band I can truly deal with. Luckily I haven't made too many of those mistakes and if I have they are easily unloadable on the Swap Meet!

Post pictures! Maybe we can help or someone will want to buy it. Size?

I give up on a costume when
I can not make it fit me.
I realize that no matter how fabulous beautiful the costume is, it does not make me look fabulous.
It has deteriorated to the point of disintegration. As in while you are fixing one thing (ie, sewing on a strap or beads) something else is falling off (ie, all the other straps and beads).

I agree, please show us pics, we might be able to help

I've attached a crappy pic - you can't see the detail but you can see the design already sorta scrunched under the bra (the lighter part of the mesh is how the light caught my stomach, but you can see it's heading into dangerous territory...); I'm standing on tiptoe so you can't see how long it is when I'm flat footed.

The mesh is only in the front, back is that fun silver/burgundy zebra print.

I'm also thinking the top isn't super flattering from that angle, once you stop looking at the neat haltery piece the eyes kinda drift to the not-so-pretty...I thought about cutting up the armbands to make drapey sleevey loops but I haven't touched them.

I'll try to get better pics...

Yaalini, I think if you took out the upper chest mesh you could pull up the bra higher. If you have enough strap you could just do the over the shoulder style, angling them to the center back a bit to keep them from sliding down your shoulders. It's a very pretty costume on you, and I have no idea what you're talking about---you're lovely!!!

Ha, thanks! I was actually thinking of folding the mesh into the bra so I pull the bra higher and keep the halter look (I have grosgrain ribbon in burgundy I was going to line the halter with to actually make it supportive)

I actually like the look of the upper chest mesh, so I hope you find a way to keep that. I think the costume looks very nice on you, it's a great dress. Hope it works out for you, with all the input from the Bhuz costume goddesses you can probably make it work!

it's beautiful on you! it just needs to move up your body a little. love the chest mesh and the overall beading on the dress is flattering!

The back makes me look like I have a BOOTY. unf unf.

Actually what I need are friends with mad sewing skills, patience, time, and the desire to work for...probably less than how much it would cost for a pro seamstress! ;-)

I'm terrified to attempt a hem (there's beading at the bottom and since the solid color is also sheer a fold may not work (it might, but I would be doing this by hand and it might be uneven).

Also terrified to attempt tucking the mesh into the bra at the neck and the design below the bra - the cups are super hard so I'm not sure I can attach it...

I just don't want to ruin it!

I remember this dress and I almost bought it!. The reason I didnt...not enough fabric under the arms. In other words...if the mesh would have started under the pits and come up to cover more of my side boobage and great big shoulders..I would have been all over it. Now that I am the semi official dress ICU doc, I would do this (or have some one do it for me). Open the arm thingies and use them as a borders on either side of the mesh boob dam and run grosgrain ribbon under that opaque portion to haul the girls up higher. Think Hollywood halter style. Rhinestone chain can be used over the new area to shape nice folds in the fabric to keep it from looking too heavy. Once the dress is hauled up, I think the length should be ok for you. Yes...the cups are hard, but get a thimble. The dress is red...so a little blood on it wont ruin it! Do it!!!!

Thanks for posting the pic! I can see why you are hesitating about letting go of it. It looks lovely on you! I'm sure you'll find a way to fix it up with all the advise you're getting here.

Agree with everything Anala said. You can do it! The dress is lovely on you.

Could you possibly try ruching the dress along the seams? I've done this to make my skirts shorter, and it usually looks nice.

You know, I've been pondering that idea too (I've been commanded to not sell the dress yet, heh).

Ruching can be done by hand fairly easily, right?

First I need to get the cup issue worked out, then I will know how much I need to shorten still...I think the cups might break my needles! :-)

I've always done it by hand with a needle and some strong thread.

yaalini, first and foremost you need to be in confident in what you wear when you dance. if you feel you can make the dress work for you cause you love it enough to put effort in it, go for it! but no matter how pretty, if you feel it isn't for you...let it go :( hope that was helpful?

Originally Posted by nitewindz

I give up on a costume when
I can not make it fit me.
I realize that no matter how fabulous beautiful the costume is, it does not make me look fabulous.
It has deteriorated to the point of disintegration. As in while you are fixing one thing (ie, sewing on a strap or beads) something else is falling off (ie, all the other straps and beads).

I agree, please show us pics, we might be able to help

ditto to what nitewindz said! :)

Yaalini, did you see my Chocolate Peacock rehab thread? It started with the "help me save my dress" thread

I did! I wish you could come to my house! :-)

Originally Posted by anala

To quote Churchill.."never ever give up"
post some pix maybe we can help.

O I dunno Anala At 63 years old ,I have given up on two pieces..g.:

Originally Posted by lizajuk

O I dunno Anala At 63 years old ,I have given up on two pieces..g.:

????63????

*looks at pic again*

She's gotta be fibbing her age. She looks NOWHERE near 63!