How to build up the bust area on a strapless bodice??
smockerlady
| Posted in Talk With Us on
Hi there,
Where can I find sound advice on how to build up ( with the use of boning and padding) the bust area on a strapless bodice.
Both myself and my teenage are small busted – 32″ and I am tackling her prom dress. A beautiful vogue pattern, but the bust area needs some help.
Years ago, I tried on a used dress – a Bob Mackie original. I remember that it had a bust all of its own………………but it looked amazing when I put it on; perfect fit and it stayed in place………………………what techniques, notions do I use to make a really first class, professional job of this dress for my daughter…………..and me too for future evening dresses??
Replies
Are you asking how to use boning? Boning is stitched to seam allowances and/or underlining. There is probably help online as to how to do this and where to put it. I often stitched bra pads to fit under the breasts and lift them up into the fullest part of the bust/bodice. And the front seams that go over the bust can be taken in to fit a smaller bust size. Make sure you lift those "ladies" up into the fullest part of the dress. I fitted many bridesmaid and prom dresses where the girls felt they didn't need a bra - but you have to have them bend over and lift the fullness of their breasts into the space in the bodice meant for them and then fit the dress well below the bust so they stay there!
A fairly recent Threads magazine article (Fall 2010?) addressed exactly this issue and showed how to construct an interior bodice for a fitted, strapless dress. The interior bodice fits very snugly and has all the shaping and padding/bust cups, and the fashion fabric bodice is fitted over that.
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