What am I doing wrong? (L. Rose U-top)

[Ainsley]

Okay, this question shows how inept I am at even something as simple as wearing clothes.

I have one L. Rose U-top (size small) and one L. Rose beledi dress with a medium neckline (made to measure). With both, I have the problem that the U comes up really high on my bustline -- almost halfway up my bra cups and a couple of inches in on either side -- rather than sitting below the bust as I would like it to.

I've tried pulling the U to where I would like it to sit, but it just rides back to its original position.

What am I doing wrong here?

Here are the L. Rose models looking happy in U-tops that fit:




And here's me looking somewhat confused in a U-top that is clearly in the wrong position and that I can't quite figure out:




Sorry the photo's so huge! You can see how the fabric comes in at the sides. It's not an insurmountable problem with this bra because the fringe disguises how high it rides on the bottom seam, but I'd like to be able to wear the top with fringeless bras.

Help! Save me from my own ineptitude!

[Azhia]

Heehee, you're too cute! I want to save you! I couldn't tell you looked confused, you are smiling right through your confusion. :0)

Hm, it's odd. Short of wearing it backwards, I don't see how you are doing anything wrong. Perhaps the fabric is not cut out enough on the sides for the breasts/bra to come out all the way?

[Lilladancer]

It looks to me like you are very petite through the ribcage and the top is simply too big for you. Was it made to your measurements? The tops on the models look very snug and fitted, and yours looks a bit loose.... (but that's a very pretty photo!)

[Taj]

Hm. I doubt it has anything to do with "ineptitude" and more to do with the shape or weight of your breasts. I've noticed the same issue with my LRose U-tops. I wonder if it takes a larger or heavier bust to keep the neckline where you want it.

You could try pinning it in place. I've looked at pics of myself in my medium-neckline beledi dress and thought "That's odd" and then just shrugged it off. But then, I hate fussing with costumes!

[Safiyah]

are you very narrow in the chest? I have one but haven't worn it in a long time...I think i had the same issue but wore it with a coin bra so I sort of "tucked" the u top out of the way. I'll try it on later just to make sure but I'm pretty sure you're not alone!

[sabrinabellydancer]

i agree. it has nothing to do with ineptitude.
the top is cut in a way that is too covering for your petite frame.
you can probably have it altered easily.
btw: love the skirt in your pic

[clueless23de]

I have a very wide bust but small boobs and my Utops do this too. Aggrevating! Maybe we should try the ones that only have elastic on the bottom and not the fabric?

[Ainsley]

Wow! Thanks for all the quick replies. Lilla, because you mentioned it, I went and checked the tag on the top, and it's actually a medium, so it probably is a little roomy. I remember now that I had ordered up a size because I have a dance bra in small that's too tight around the bottom (but it has elastic rather than the fabric under the bust).

That said, my beledi dress was made to my measurements and still has this problem. I don't think it's my small bust size in and of itself because, even if I had a chest big enough to push the neckline out of the way, the fabric would definitely wrinkle quite a bit around the edges.

Sabrina, that's a good idea. I should check about having them altered. The skirt is L. Rose, too, but they don't make these anymore. I'd been wanting one for years and finally snagged this baby on eBay!

[jasani]

One thing I noticed. The U tops in the pictures are not "banded" on the bottom. Your top has a band and not an elastic band. That makes the difference in how Laura (sp?) cuts the U top. When ordering from L Rose, you should tell her your needs. I think she uses the U top pattern in the beledi dress too.

Actually I am a 38D and her tops do the same thing to me as well. I always have to tell her to cut the top in order to fit my frame. Never assume that something is going to fit you as good as it does on the pictured model.

[zumarrad]

I haven't ever tried one of these, but can I just say that as the possessor of fairly large and heavy bosoms, I have tremendous issues with cutout tops riding up instead of staying down where they "should" be. I think it has a bit to do with the nature of stretch fabric and perhaps the, um, exact chestal position of my boobs.

[tahiradancer]

Answer to this problem: Safety pins or snaps. That is what was done with my beledy dress to keep it from creeping up on the sides. And it's an egyptian dress!

{{{{HUGS}}}

[ambriehlmagycblade]

I make costumes myself, and I hope that this will help you in the future. I have made a lot of underbust tops myself.

If you order another L. Rose U-Top, you need to make a note with your order. Let them know that the U cutout never fits you quite right, and basically, draw a little generic person with breasts, and mark some measurements on it.

~Measure yourself from the top of the shoulder, where the U would start, and measure down how many inches it takes to be underbust for YOU.

~Measure from the outside of one breast, to the outside of the other. This will show how wide the U needs to be cut to fit YOU.

[ruta21030]

even with all the suggestions (i've tried them all, i sew, thankfully), every U-top, be it vest, or ghawazee coat has issues with the fabric, even the more sturdy lined fabrics..............

i personally think it may be part size, but more likely the stretch in the fabric.....nature of the beast.....i've got a pretty broad ribcage, but not quite so..............blessed as other dancers............just a 'b'......so i know that's part of my issue..........

and as suggested before, safety pins are our friends............i panic if i forget them :p

[ambriehlmagycblade]

One of the tricks I learned with safety pins, is to lay them out on a newspaper, and spray paint them to match whatever costume. I have ones that are painted black, green, etc. and they are much less visible if one would ever peek out during a performance.

[steffib]

Originally Posted by ambriehlmagycblade

One of the tricks I learned with safety pins, is to lay them out on a newspaper, and spray paint them to match whatever costume. I have ones that are painted black, green, etc. and they are much less visible if one would ever peek out during a performance.

I found colored safety pins at JoAnn, and now have a color-coordinating safety pin for pretty many emergencies ;-) But, using spray paint sounds cool for the colors - I haven't found white pins, for instance. Thanks for that tip!

As for U-Tops: I suspect it may be a matter of body shape and proportions. I have made my own ghawazee vests. I started with a vest from Ebay that fits quite well, I adjusted some seams, then traced it and actually did adjustments similar to the ones the photo suggests: I made the "hole" a bit wider to avoid bunching at the sides; under the arms, I also enlarged the armhole just a bit to fit my shoulders. I suspect that LRose came up with a pattern that makes the U "hole" big enough but not too big for most bodies, because it's easier for those with wider needs to pin things away than for those who need a smaller "hole" to cover up gaps.

[Samirah-NH]

Originally Posted by steffib

I found colored safety pins at JoAnn, and now have a color-coordinating safety pin for pretty many emergencies ;-) But, using spray paint sounds cool for the colors - I haven't found white pins, for instance. Thanks for that tip!

Great tips! Both the painting of regular safety pins and the colored pins at JoAnn's. I'll have to look for those. Thanx!

I haven't tried a u-top yet, but suspect I'd have the same problem as Ainsley... likely not enough boobs to keep the thing in place. The models in the pics are always way more endowed than myself.

[rakgirl]

hey Ainsley.
I miss you guys & NY already.
It looks pretty good to me.

[Taj]

I'm pretty sure the model in that first pic has some pinnage goin' on.

[Ainsley]

I'll have to see what I can do with pinning when I have some time to play around with it. Maybe if I fold some fabric under so it doesn't look bunchy? I'll have to look for multicolour pins at Joann's -- great suggestion for regular skirt-to-belt pinning, too!

rakgirl -- I miss you, too! It was like a dream wasn't it? Dance all day, every day, with great instructors, great classmates, and no drama. How can I be back in my normal life already?

[Ishtar_Asha]

I have a small frame but rather full boobs so I don't have that problem.

However a classmate of mine with a relatively smallish chest does have that problem.

I think heavier busts just keep the material down?

[meissoun]

I don't think that it has to do with breast size.
I have a U-top and I wear it with one of my less padded bras. I've performed in this several times and it stood in place without safety pins.
See: http://www.bhuz.com/index.php?cmd=/p...ssoun/id_3858/

Probably the size of the U-top is just wrong. For me, it looks a bit too big for you.

MEISSOUN