Thread: Bra Advice Please

I'm a UK 32G, and because I'm only five foot tall, this makes me look a little top heavy.
I wondered if any members have any costuming advice for this please? I'm not looking for anything professional....I'll just dance for myself, mainly, and maybe close family, but will be making a couple of costumes when I can gather the materials. :)
I'm looking to create a dance bra from a good quality underwired lingerie bra with substantial cups, and saw Shoshanna's excellent tutorial on it, but wondered if anyone has any ideas about decoration? Is it ok to go all out with beading, jewels and suchlike, or would understated be best?
When I made a costume some years ago (which no longer fits, so I will recycle the beading etc) I added fringing but found that, with being so short, it made me look a little dumpy. so think it's probably best to leave fringing out. Any feedback appreciated. :)

There are a couple of old threads discussing best bra styles for larger chests. This thread Flattering coin bra/bedlah styles for larger cups? is probably as good a place as any to start, even though it's technically about coins. To cut a long story short, don't go straight across with a wall of fringe (draws the eye's attention to how wide you are), and the more the embellishments stick up from the bra, the more you're adding to yourself. I'm not sure if this is mentioned in the DIY link, but it's generally advised not to follow the contour under the cups with a wall of swagging, same-length fringe, like some of the older costumes did. No matter what size you are, that makes you look droopy.

And here's a discussion about "too much," if you're worried about that angle Fringe Monsters--how much is too much fringe?

Thank you Tourbeau, good advice and I'll go check out those links. I did make the mistake of adding fringing along the bottom contours with one bra I made so, yup, agree totally, doesn't do anything flattering for the girls! I think too, because being quite short, the torso is short so fringing blocks off the view of 'flesh' if that makes sense, making me look less streamlined.

What ever the "theme" of the decoration on the belt, repeat it on the bra but on a smaller scale with a lighter hand.

I'm a fellow shorty pants and feel your pain. If I put fringe on my bras it's applied to the tops of the cups or in the case of a Turkish Workhorse overhaul, I'm creating a 1 1/4" border of jewels and sequins with the fringe applied at the bottom of the border. Make sense?

Otherwise if I'm jonesing for fringe on an otherwise simple costume applying a bit between the cups (no more than 3" wide) adds movement and interest without being overwhelming.

I'd avoid putting fringe all the way around the band. It looks AMAZING on the long torsoed, not so much on us. I had a silver bedlah that had it so that fringe got removed and added to the top cup fringe to beef it up.

Strap placement is very important whether you're busty or not, so much so that it can make or break an entire ensemble. Explore t-strap or cross-back styles (my personal favorite, very secure and comfortable though it's like putting on a straight jacket). Halter straps can put too much pressure on the back of your neck.

I have to add that the bra band is just as important as the straps. Make sure it's snug enough or there could be underboob or too much stress on the straps. Double hook those suckers and if you can add Velcro too. Don't forget to rehearse at least a few minutes in it before you perform because surprise weight fluctuations happen, fabric stretches and closures mysteriously pop loose.

Happy shimmying!