Thread: More boobs and bras and straps question

I am adjusting a dress for an upcoming performance and need some suggestions. The dress is neck halter style. The halter straps are curved rather than straight, so I can't convert them to shoulder straps or crossed straps. This is an Eman with chunky (heavy) beading on the bra and the I really need more than the halter around my neck to support the DDD boobs plus boob decorations.

The design of the dress doesn't lend itself to a second set of straps. I checked out some pics of ballroom Latin dresses with halter style neck strap and additional straps going from the neck strap to the back of the bra for additional support. Some used nude straps, others clear straps, and still others had straps in costume fabric.

Has anyone tried this or something similar? Ideas?

I was going to suggest either a second set starting where the first set attached. I have a couple of costumes like this. the other suggestion was exactly as you mentioned, attached at the back of the neck band about an 1/2 inch from the center and then forming a inverted V to the chest band.

I would embellish gros grain ribbons in a matching colour. Hope that makes sense.

{{{HUGS}}}

Could you run crisscross straps under the existing ones in the front and then just deal with them being exposed in the back? That way, the underneath straps could be doing most of the support work and you wouldn't have to depend as much on the neck strap. It's hard to suggest something without seeing the costume.

I had a Madame Abla bedlah once that had the straps from the back of the neck down to the bra band in the back. It was very comfortable and I do think it helped take some of the pressure off the back of my neck. I would try to make a strap system like that if you can match the fabric reasonably close. If not, then nude straps would be a good option. You could even bling them up a bit with some hotfix rhinestones or other jeweled bits.

Here is a closeup of the bodice area with halter straps. The halter straps are really wide where attached to the bra in front so I think I could run a second set of straps underneath them. I think I will try both options pinned in and see which feels better.

The picture of of original vendor's model. The dress itself is a looser on me through the torso but I could use a little more in the cups. I sewed elastic in the top of the dress around the back. The looseness is another reason for straps that attach to the bra in back so that I can tack the dress fabric to the straps to help hold it up.

http://www.bhuz.com/index.php?cmd=/p...view/id_20074/

So here is an additional question: if there a chest band in this dress? If there isn't, you may want to build on in. Then add the shoulder straps.

{{{HUGS}}}

Originally Posted by tahiradancer

So here is an additional question: if there a chest band in this dress? If there isn't, you may want to build on in. Then add the shoulder straps.

{{{HUGS}}}

Yes, there is a chest band. I just moved some hooks to make it tighter and added a second hook to one side (it has three bars on the other side so that I can securely have two hooked at the same time. Just tried it on. With the chest band tighter my neck feels better but I still think I need some shoulder straps of some sort to help keep everything hoisted. Also need to add some ruching alonge the top edge the cups and around the sides and back. Don't mind the cleavage but I have some nasty looking scars on my side under my arms from breast reduction surgery. Regular bras cover the scars but the dress back is fairly low and the scars show. I found some lovely coppery rust fabric that will compliment the copper part of the tie die. The dress is in Eman's green, rusty copper, teal tie die burnout velvet. Show is Sat. night. Tomorrow night I test out shoulder strap configurations and sew up the winner on Friday night. I already have some straps covered in green velvet so it shouldn't take too long to finish.

Will let you all know how it goes.

Originally Posted by shahla

I had a Madame Abla bedlah once that had the straps from the back of the neck down to the bra band in the back. It was very comfortable and I do think it helped take some of the pressure off the back of my neck. I would try to make a strap system like that if you can match the fabric reasonably close. If not, then nude straps would be a good option. You could even bling them up a bit with some hotfix rhinestones or other jeweled bits.

Shahla, I have some of those M. Abla bras with double straps and they are comfy and secure. I'm gonna experiment with this a bit to get it right.

Noussa costumes often have a halter with a narrow pair of straps running from the back of the neck to the chest band. They are WONDERFULLY comfortable and secure! Maybe if you search the swap meet there'll be pics of the back of some of them?

Wow that is a very pretty dress!!

Myself, I'd remove the halter straps altogether and replace them with the green velvet ready to go straps or made out of the copper rust fabric.

If the halter straps have to stay, I'd add a second set of X back straps, and hide them under the halter straps in front. I'd fasten the halter straps to the X straps so the X straps would carry all the weight. Nude X straps would look Ok I think.

Something that's worked well for me is to sew a strapless bra to the inside of the dress, even if it already has hard cups and a chest band.

Hope you get everything ready in time! I'm always working on my stuff at the last minute :)

Originally Posted by shahla

then nude straps would be a good option. You could even bling them up a bit with some hotfix rhinestones or other jeweled bits.

I like this idea too, nude straps decorated with jewels. I'd still remove the current straps and do an X back design.

Originally Posted by Souzan

Yes, there is a chest band. I just moved some hooks to make it tighter and added a second hook to one side (it has three bars on the other side so that I can securely have two hooked at the same time. Just tried it on. With the chest band tighter my neck feels better but I still think I need some shoulder straps of some sort to help keep everything hoisted. Also need to add some ruching alonge the top edge the cups and around the sides and back. Don't mind the cleavage but I have some nasty looking scars on my side under my arms from breast reduction surgery. Regular bras cover the scars but the dress back is fairly low and the scars show. I found some lovely coppery rust fabric that will compliment the copper part of the tie die. The dress is in Eman's green, rusty copper, teal tie die burnout velvet. Show is Sat. night. Tomorrow night I test out shoulder strap configurations and sew up the winner on Friday night. I already have some straps covered in green velvet so it shouldn't take too long to finish.

Will let you all know how it goes.

Are you "filling in" the back so the back of the dress is higher? If so, that's the perfect place to add a second chest band, hidden behind the fill in in back, and fastened higher up on the cups in front. That might help the bodice stay in place without excess weight on the straps

Lauren, thanks for the tip on the Noussa's. I like that look!

After trying her on with just the neck strap and dancing for a few minutes as a test, I decided I have to ditch the halter. My neck and shoulders were numb for a couple of hours and I couldn't get to sleep until 1 am. I herniated C5/C6 cervical vertebrae several years ago. The neck thing isn't going to work except as decoration. So I am going to try adding a second set of straps like Tourbeau, Tahira and Nitewindz suggested. Not sure I will need a second bra under this one but I do have two other dresses that I am working on doing exactly that to because the cups are a bit too small and all the decoration is sewn right through the hard cups. Easiest solution, tack a strapless bra underneath and fill in with ruching with a glamorous fabric and some extra jewels! Those two dresses both have long straight straps that can cross in the back. Yippee!

Strap solution: green velvet straps added to turn the neck strap into X back. To make it easier to get into, one strap will be permantly sewn and the other will have hooks at the place where the green extension strap attaches to the original strap. I am making chunky beaded medallions to cover the juncture on both straps and the hooks and heavy snaps will be hidden under it. The medallion will match the ones on the bra. So it will all look original. Thanks guys for giving me the inspiration to do this!