Thread: Using a "Gel Bra" in Making a Costume?

Has anybody ever tried making a belly dance costume bra using a gel-filled bra as a base? If so, what was your experience?

Were you able to push your needle through the gel? If so, did the gel leak? Any other tales of success, caution, or woe?

Originally Posted by *Shira*

Has anybody ever tried making a belly dance costume bra using a gel-filled bra as a base? If so, what was your experience?

Were you able to push your needle through the gel? If so, did the gel leak? Any other tales of success, caution, or woe?

That sounds kind of risky to me! I always preferred using a hard cup bra then stuffing with foam. The foam is soft and squishy and can conform to your body better than padding.

Originally Posted by norma

That sounds kind of risky to me! I always preferred using a hard cup bra then stuffing with foam. The foam is soft and squishy and can conform to your body better than padding.

That's what I've always done too. Problem is, the nicest-looking push-up bras I'm seeing on the web these days all contain the gel. It's hard to find nicely shaped ones without it these days. So I'm starting to think about taking the risk....

It seems to me I remember reading a thread on here somewhere where somebody had used a gel filled bra and it leaked all over her nice work. If I were going to try this, I would try pulling a needle/thread through the bra before I began the work of covering it. At least if it leaks, all you've lost is the cost of the bra.

I've been using the Push-up Plunge Strapless bras made by Gilligan & O'Malley. They're padded (not with gel) and have a nice shape. I buy them at Target for about $15.

YES! it leaks!!! don't do it!!!! i did, and i was sorry!
you need dish-soap to get the crap out!! it's a mess!!! don't do it!!!
i tested it and i didn't notice the leak until the next day because the hole was so small, but it did leak, everywhere! i was lucky that it leaked on my base bra and buckram, and that i hadn't put the velvet on yet. it was a close call.

what i do (and i recently found out Dahlal does the same thing when they pad a costume) is buy the pads from jo-anns, then i carefully cut the foam, pull out the gel pack, and replace it with a layered discs of felt, then sew up the incision and insert into the bra. if the gel isn't in a plastic pouch that can be removed you'd need to use a different bra.

if you mean solid silicone like what these are made out of it'd be different tho, but i don't think that's too common. http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/p...RODID=prd59632

Originally Posted by raqFariha

YES! it leaks!!! don't do it!!!! i did, and i was sorry!
you need dish-soap to get the crap out!! it's a mess!!! don't do it!!!
i tested it and i didn't notice the leak until the next day because the hole was so small, but it did leak, everywhere! i was lucky that it leaked on my base bra and buckram, and that i hadn't put the velvet on yet. it was a close call.

Thanks for sharing what happened to you! I had a feeling that someone out there must have tried this! Glad to hear the situation wasn't as bad as it could have been!

Originally Posted by *Shira*

Thanks for sharing what happened to you! I had a feeling that someone out there must have tried this! Glad to hear the situation wasn't as bad as it could have been!

you're welcome. sorry for the..... big.. reaction. but it was very nearly a total disaster with fabric i couldn't buy more of etc. i don't want it to happen to anyone else. ^_^

LOL I actually did this last week. I bought a gel filled bra cup, but forgot it had gel in it till there was this wet spot that I couldn't figure out how it got there. Then I realized it was the gel, so I threw it away and just bought new ones. You have to give wide clearance to the gel pouch and just sew around it.

I had a student use one accidently, didn't know till she was half done and hit the gel. It leaks and stains!

I wouldn't use gel padding. One of the dancers that performed at a local event had hers pop minutes before going on stage. Luckily the lighting wasn't that intense and her top was a dark color but when in regular lighting, you could see the leakage.

Originally Posted by ZanaRaqs

I wouldn't use gel padding. One of the dancers that performed at a local event had hers pop minutes before going on stage. Luckily the lighting wasn't that intense and her top was a dark color but when in regular lighting, you could see the leakage.

glad it worked out better than it could have.

in some cases this would also result in "deflating boob syndrome"

Originally Posted by raqFariha

you're welcome. sorry for the..... big.. reaction. but it was very nearly a total disaster with fabric i couldn't buy more of etc. i don't want it to happen to anyone else. ^_^

No need to apologize - your passionate reply made me smile! And, that passion convinced me that I shouldn't try! So, thanks!

Depending on the design, if you decorate the outer layer before attaching it to the base, or if you cold-glue your embellishments on, it should theoretically keep the gel layer intact. Won't help if the gel leaks on its own later, though...