Thread: Tall, thin, un-breasty dancers: A costuming nightmare?

Hi,

Posting as I've been looking for a while for a first 'proper' costume, and I'm really having trouble finding anything at all that is anywhere near my size.

Virtually all of the costumes I see for sale have at least a C cup, and also underbust and hip measurements that would leave me rattling around inside of them like a pea in a tin can ..cr.:. And to complicate matters even more, I'm 6'1" and so need a skirt at least 41" long in order to not look silly.

So I guess what I'm asking is, do any of you also have this trouble (or at least the tiny with no boobs trouble)? How do you get costumes to fit? How far can padding and adjustments get you? Is there anywhere I can buy an off-the-peg bedlah that is a 32A/32 hip that is versatile, well made and not *too* expensive (under ~$300 / £150), or will I have to have something custom made or make it myself? (I'd be especially interested to hear of UK sellers)

So far all I have found that fits my description is the Pharaonics great loops which can be ordered in many sizes from Dahlal or Bellydance Store, but that is a bit more than I really want to pay for a first costume and I'd feel self-conscious dancing in something that fancy when I'm only a baby dancer really .

I'm a small-busted, tallish dancer and agree that it's challenging to find off-the-rack costumes in smaller cup sizes.

Have you tried searching the Bellydance Store by cup size? They do have a large selection of A and B cups. I have a bra that is probably a C cup that I've padded convincingly, but that's after developing my padding and bra-strap engineering skills on smaller bras. For a dancer new to costuming, I wouldn't recommend buying a much larger cup size in the hopes that padding will make up the difference.

As for band and belt sizes, keep in mind that with many costume styles you can overlap a fair bit without ruining the look of a costume. I have a small ribcage (30" underbust) and have 8" plus of bra strap overlap on most of my costumes. As long as the bra cups are not too wide for the front of your body, such that they go under your arms, the length of the straps in the back is not so important.

Belts, especially those that come in two pieces, can also sustain a fair bit of overlap. Is 32" your upper hip measurement? I have a 34" upper hip and haven't had trouble finding belts and skirts that work. If it's your lower hip measurement, that might be more challenging.

This won't help the OP at all - but I, of course, have to have ALL my tops custom made as I don't have the anatomy for a beautiful Pharaonics or whatever. Fortunately, I can wear off the rack belts, skirts, and pants, even though I'm 6 foot because I'm tall in the torso, and short in the legs.

Except for being short, I have similar measurements and feel lucky in regards to fitting costumes: It's usually simple to adjust things to fit a smaller body.

I costume many dancers with your exact measurements. It isn't challenging once you figure it out but hard to find off-the -rack stuff I know!

Putting on my Costumers hat (good thing I love hats! I have so many of them!)

As Ainsley mentions, most bedlahs are very adjustable. Look for costumes which are called B/C cup and learn to pad.

Belts are a little trickier, but I would look for a two piece because it's easier to adjust symmetrically. I am down to 37" and I have a couple of belts which are in reality 44". but because they come in 2 pieces, I have been able to adjust them.

Skirts: learn to sew or find a good seamstress. This actually applies to my whole reply. Most skirts are fairly easy to make, you simply need to be fearless and jump into it!

If you really want a costume which fits well and doesn't cost a lot, my suggestion is to learn how to either make them, or find a basic costume and adjust and customize. Don't be afraid to make an error. Because you can always sell it and try again. Not to self promote, but I have two self made costumes one of which would fit you with very little adjustment and one you'd have to pad the bra on. Neither are "professional" level as they are, but neither are they an embarrassment.

{{{HUGS}}}

The truth is that ready made clothing, like costumes, are a nightmare for all. Most women would benefit greatly by some minor tailoring to most, if not all, of their clothing.

Our costumes, because of how intimately it must fit our bodies, take that need up a notch...they also take the body anxieties up a notch because of how much more we need to be aware of the shapes of our bodies as we costume shop in comparison to most everyday wear.

Like regular clothing, special ordering (which isn't a guarantee), hiring a tailor or specialist, or learning to tailor or make your own helps. These things all take time and money, but the first and best step is learning how to buy well (find a body-double on Bhuz or buy from sources where you can try things on...) and make minor adjustments.

You aren't a body freak and you're not alone. We're all body freaks and we7re all together, which makes us the norm.

don't feel bad. most of us do major alterations to costumes. padding up a size or 2 is very common. belts & straps can usually be adjusted.

adding custom coordinating underskirts in the proper length is a fav trick of some tall dancers

you can find stuff to fit anybody. we all just have to get a bit creative.

The belly dance store has quite a few of the designer Egyptian bra/skirt type costumes in very long lengths.

They have a search form where you can filter certain sizes. I just entered A cup and 41 inch length and 23 costumes came up.

But if you are looking in a less expensive range, then you are going to have problems. They tend to come only in middle of the road sizes, and even then they tend to have fitting issues.

I'd say save your pennies until you can afford and feel worthy of a gold or silver great loop set, then order one. It would make a very versatile first costume, and they resell well should you ever need to get rid of it. Learn to sew skirts or find a seamstress who can make you some skirts in your length.

I have the opposite skirt problem. I need a 33' skirt and there are many costumes that cannot be shortened at all without losing significant amounts of beaded/sequined trim.

When I first started dancing I bought a bedlah that was a little too big and took in the belt. I also had to pad the top because it was too big, and everything I read online encouraged less busty dancers to pad. I felt ridiculous wearing that costume because that was not my body. Who was I trying to fool?

I took what I learned from making alterations to that first bedlah and made my own with cups that were my size and a belt that didn't need a few inches of overlap. I was a lot happier with the results. Converting a regular bra into a dance top isn't too hard, but it is time consuming. Decorating takes forever too, but it was worth it to me.

I recommend that you make one (or have someone help you make one) to keep costs down until you can afford a custom made costume if that is your ultimate goal.

I have a small underbust and a small bosom, so I do pad. The distance between the cups and the width of those cups across my chest are the most important. My bra bands tend to overlap a lot, but that gives me more area to hook and be secure and as long as the cups aren't extending under my armpits and aren't extremely deep, I don't look like a little girl trying on mommy's bras. I like my cups to be close together, so I can create a little more "voluptua" from my less than ample bosom, by creating a little padding shelf for my girls.

I also have a longish lean torso and narrow hips. I find that V shape belts just accentuate my narrow hips, so a gentle V curve like the front of a gold loops or straight belt looks best on me. Definitely look for two piece belts that you can overlap on both sides. But because of my long torso, I can wear belly chains and waist straps to accent my smallest area, and they don't look out of proportion.

I find mermaid skirts, costumes with a little ruching on the butt and hips, or costumes that are fitted on top, curve around my bum and then flair out give me a nice hourglass shape. Narrow belts with no "bum cup" look less flattering on me.

L Rose Designs is a good choice if you don't want to embark on a sewing adventure just yet as they will custom make you a skirt to your length. I'm not certain if they ship internationally, but they do have a wide range of options.

Originally Posted by ssipes

I'd say save your pennies until you can afford and feel worthy of a gold or silver great loop set, then order one. It would make a very versatile first costume, and they resell well should you ever need to get rid of it. Learn to sew skirts or find a seamstress who can make you some skirts in your length.

That is one of the best pieces of advice I have ever heard. In the interim, you could get a skirt and choli from a moderately priced vendor like Mode Mystique and bling it up yourself if you need to perform before you are ready for a proper set.

Thanks for the advice everyone ..g.:
I'm nervous about buying something advertised as a B/C because even if it is OK to have a lot of overlap in the back straps, since cup sizes are so variable and (as far as I can tell) the cups are larger on bras with larger backs even if they say they are the same, I'm scared that they will be so huge and wide they'd end up in my armpits.
I'd personally be more comfortable not having to use too much padding, for the reasons Karnak said. I think I'd feel a bit like a cross dresser .w.:

It's looking like the Plan is to get a nice super-long skirt from L Rose, and either try to fashion myself a simple yet shiny bedlah or throw caution to the winds and splash out on a Pharaonics (ooooooh the temptation!).

Ooh, another random bra/boobs-related question... I've heard it said that those Dina-style bras are good for the small-chested. Are you inclined to agree?

Yes!!!! I was reading through all the posts thinking all the while you should try a Dina cup and then you ended up asking about it. Okay, so I am technically a C...but I am a VERY small C...like 30 C (which are kind of hard to find, so I settle on a 34B even though the band is a little too large). I also have a tiny ribcage, so often I have some major issues with a lot of the typical egyptian hard shell bras-they are often too wide and end up under my arm pits, but Dina cup are soooo flattering on me. So it sounds like they might be very good for you, too:)

Originally Posted by Serpentina

Thanks for the advice everyone ..g.:
I'm nervous about buying something advertised as a B/C because even if it is OK to have a lot of overlap in the back straps, since cup sizes are so variable and (as far as I can tell) the cups are larger on bras with larger backs even if they say they are the same, I'm scared that they will be so huge and wide they'd end up in my armpits.
I'd personally be more comfortable not having to use too much padding, for the reasons Karnak said. I think I'd feel a bit like a cross dresser .w.:

It's looking like the Plan is to get a nice super-long skirt from L Rose, and either try to fashion myself a simple yet shiny bedlah or throw caution to the winds and splash out on a Pharaonics (ooooooh the temptation!).

Ooh, another random bra/boobs-related question... I've heard it said that those Dina-style bras are good for the small-chested. Are you inclined to agree?

Originally Posted by Serpentina

Thanks for the advice everyone ..g.:
I'm nervous about buying something advertised as a B/C because even if it is OK to have a lot of overlap in the back straps, since cup sizes are so variable and (as far as I can tell) the cups are larger on bras with larger backs even if they say they are the same, I'm scared that they will be so huge and wide they'd end up in my armpits.

Actually, I don't think that is true for the Pharaonics bras (someone correct me if I'm wrong). Its totally true of lingerie bra sizes (a 32B cup is not the same as a 36B cup, but it is my understanding that the Pharaonics bras come numbered 2,3,4,5, etc. and the actual cup measurements are fairly consistent. The B/C, C/D designations that are given on the bellydance store site are approximations for those who have middle of the road underbust measurements.

My guess would be that you'd want a number # 2 bra, which she would probably designate A/B. I have a number #3 great loop and I wear lingerie bra sizes ranging from 34B to 36C.

You could call them up and tell them your concerns and maybe give them more of your measurements (for example, the distance across both cups that you'd need so as not to have the cups in your armpits).

I have also used LRose Designs and can highly recommend them.

Originally Posted by Serpentina

Ooh, another random bra/boobs-related question... I've heard it said that those Dina-style bras are good for the small-chested. Are you inclined to agree?

STRONGLY disagree. I'm an A-cup and have sworn off Dina bras because I may as well write "If I Had Boobs, This is Where My Cleavage Would Be" in permanent marker in the space between the cups.

Also, the hardness of the cup on a lot of Egyptian bras also makes them nearly impossible to pad. Turkish costumes like Bellas, OTOH, have soft, pliable cups that can withstand insane amounts of padding and conform better to the shape of my body.

And they gap like crazy unless you're willing to perform major surgery on the bra to make it fit snugly against your chest. Sometimes, even with adjustments, they still don't fit right.

Dina bras definitely seem best on B/C cups.

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

STRONGLY disagree. I'm an A-cup and have sworn off Dina bras because I may as well write "If I Had Boobs, This is Where My Cleavage Would Be" in permanent marker in the space between the cups.

I like how you worded this. No wonder I hate low-cut anything!

Originally Posted by Karnak

I like how you worded this. No wonder I hate low-cut anything!

Seriously. I think the best M.O. for A-cup dancers is to avoid showing too much between the bra cups. I do best with bras that have a very minimal plunge. This way, you can pad and get some volume and uplift without calling too much attention to how little you have. You don't want to overpad a bra that's too big for you, but you do want a perfectly proportioned, size-appropriate bra that doesn't show too much.

Also, I'm very intrigued by this one type of bra that Bella has done for Sandra - it's cut almost entirely straight across almost like a bandeau, with the halter straps originating from the center of the bra instead of the outer edges of the cups. This could be very flattering on a dancer with a modest bustline.

Here's a photo:

Pink and Gold Bella

Also, since I don't have a whole lot up top and tend to prefer more modest bras, I have given myself carte blanche to wear booty-hugging, cutout-laden skirts that show as much leg as humanly possible.

Oh - and if you've got the extra money to spend, Legend's bras are like a non-invasive boob job. I don't know what it is, but they're padded to the gills (I actually had to remove padding!) and the cups themselves conform very nicely to the body. I look like a B/C cup when I put on my Legend costume, which is a first!

I had a problem with the fit the first time I tried to order my Legend costume, but they fixed it perfectly. I don't know if this was a fluke or if their bras really do run big, but I'd recommend sending them one of your regular bras for reference.

I'd just like to say that the bra on my Eshta costume is not only beyond comfortable, it gives me the most amazing cleavage! Her padding is a feat of engineering brilliance!