Replies

1. 
   karen_morris_ | Mar 04, 2002 01:32am | #1

   *
   Melissa, one option you have is to create a built-in bustier, inside the dress. Threads had a great article by Kenneth King on strapless bodice construction in issue 46, pp. 52-56, which tells how to do this.

   I've never seen sew-in bra cups with underwires. The bodice would have to be extremely tight to offer any support.

1. 
   Liz_Maynard | Mar 06, 2002 04:26am | #2

   *I've worked with several "big-busted" women. I don't think she can go braless without significant breast movement when she walks! The built-in bustier is a good idea. What about taping her breasts into support as the beauty pageant girls do? I had one large girl that taped and her breasts did not jiggle.

1. 
   karen_morris_ | Mar 07, 2002 10:29am | #3

   *Ouch...I wonder what kind of tape they use? Maybe the blue low-stick masking tape that's used for painting is an option. (It's on my brain, since I just had my wood floors sanded today and used the blue tape to protect all the woodwork; it doesn't leave a sticky residue.) This idea sounds like it would work, if it doesn't HURT....

1. 
   LizMaynard | Mar 21, 2002 04:15pm | #4

   Actually she used the grey "Duck Tape"--said it wasn't bad at all.

2. 
   NYFox | Apr 26, 2002 02:41am | #8

   Thanks, Liz for your advice. The bride nixed the idea of taping, but it got her to buy a good longline bra that works perfectly.

2. 
   NYFox | Apr 26, 2002 02:39am | #7

   Thanks for the advice, Karen, and my apologies for not responding sooner. I've used Kenneth King's article when making bustier tops for my daughter's prom dresses with great success. This bride's dress posed several problems, including the fact that the bride lives out of town, and she's only been home twice to try on the dress.

   I was successful in encouraging her to buy a bra, though, with a lot of help from her mother, and she spent $79 on a long line from Victoria's Secret that really does the trick - she feels secure, the dress fits better, etc. Next problem was that the dress still seemed to "flatten her out". Since I have to do alterations on the princess seams, I discovered after she tried it on that the bodice was boned. I took the boning out of the front, and all of the sudden she had a lovely shape...problem solved! Now to carefully remove beading and lace appliques to take it in.....wish me luck - this is a "labor of love" for a friend!

2. 
   crwritt | Mar 23, 2002 04:01pm | #5

   My Daughter solved a similar problem for herself by sacrificing an underwire bra and removing the straps after fitting and attatching it inside the garment. She kept the cups and lower band, and found it adequately supportive, since her bodice had spaghetti straps. Although people do use duct tape to substitute for a strapless bra, it takes technique, the girls I have talked to about it put the sticky side down on a towel first, then apply it to the skin. Unless you practice, the effect can be less than desirable. Still, can you think of anything less romantic than wearing duct tape on your  wedding day? I have seen, the lingerie store, very attractive self adhesive bras in flesh tone, silky material, with a molded cup,which seem somehow a whole lot more appropriate. How awful to have gray duct tape accidentally peek out from your satin and lace bodice on a day when a girl needs to be beautiful.

3. 
   ClaireDuffy | Apr 12, 2002 11:41am | #6

   I have seen a bridal designer who builds a bra into the bodice with cups to hold the breasts in place. Boning may also help and a very firm fit. If it is princess line you can run the boning down every seam. I hope that helps.