Thread: costume with tie back - will it work?

I was looking at a gorgeous costume (bra/skirt) on bellydancestore.com but the bra, it... ties in the back (?!) . No hooks!! Can this work successfully? I want the costume but I'm wondering if it's a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen. Does anyone have experience with this kind of costume?

I wouldn't trust it on my body, and I need good support, being a D cup. I recently bought a coin bra with ties in the back and I plan to cut the ties and install hooks. Especially since I will be wearing a vest over the bra, don't want a lumpy knot in the back.

Originally Posted by dunyah

cut the ties and install hooks

aha!!! that could work!!! I need support too... and I am looking at this costume thinking... ?!?!

thanks!

What about installing a set of proper straps that are actually load-bearing, while keeping the ties as decorative/backup (especially if knot is pinned securely)? Maybe even making the proper straps so that the tie straps cover them? I have a coin bra I have done this with. It preserved the look of the thing, while the load-bearing straps repositioned the bra for maximum fit and support and are secure (so far. Inchallah.) It didn't take very long to do, either, and was simple. Basically, I attached the new straps at the place where the ties attach, though the design of the thing lent itself well to that (and yours might not), and sewed on two alternating hooks to the new straps, IYKWIM -- one hook and one eye on each strap, corresponding to the hook and eye on the other, so you have two hooks for fail-safety.

wondering if it's a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen

In a word, yes I bought a pretty coin bra that had tie back and neck straps. My teacher suggested I wear a second bra under it, just in case... glad I did! Luckily it was only a student recital. Halfway through the drum solo, something didn't feel right... looked down and saw the top of the coin bra sagging down, exposing the second bra (whew) and realized it had come untied behind the neck. Somehow I managed to continue dancing while retying the strap without taking off my zills. At first, no one even realized I was having a costume malfunction, but when they did, that's all they remembered. After I was done, during the critique everyone congratulated me on keeping my cool and being able to tie a bow with zills on, but my actual dancing was completely forgotten! First chance I got, I converted the bra straps into hook closures, with velcro for additional security.

The problem with ties is that if it's tied in a bow, it can come undone. If it's tied in a knot, it may be impossible to untie. Tying the thing on insanely tight doesn't help and can interfere with mobility. More on that later

I'm a D cup, so I sew regular bras inside my tie back tops/bras. I use the tie straps to cover the underbra straps, leaving a "tail" to tie in a decorative bow. Usually I can find a bra with narrow enough band to hide behind the straps, but when I couldn't, I cut the straps off and replaced them with wider straps. So far, no "malfunctions" with any of them (knock on wood).

Back to wearing tie-ons tied super tight. In January, one of the girls from another troupe that was dancing in my show wore a tie on coin bra. She is a slender small cupped girl, and wanted it tied on tight enough to "muffin" on her. She did a back bend onstage, she does fantastic amazing backbends. The tight neck strap pulled on the top, and it slipped up, twisting the back strap and dragging it higher on her back. She straightened up, but could not pull the top back down into place, because the back strap was so tight to start, and now being rolled up, was even tighter. She came off stage, but the straps were knotted, and the tension pulled the knots crazy tight, we had to pick them apart with a pocket knife, and the straps were worse for the wear.