Bralterations!
I have high, narrow rooted, pendulous, omega breasts splayed on bottom with connected breast tissue at top. My roots are about 4 inches tall and my larger breast is about 14 inches around so I basically have all the projection. I am full on top.
The original bra produces nice rounded breasts but is wide set and built for wide average height roots. Under the lace is a satin non-stretch panel that is supposed to pull the breast forward. On my soft breasts it creates a line dividing my breasts which is sometimes noticeable. The lace can be scratchy under the armpit.
How I altered it:
On me ... the top of the cup has always had a lot of empty space, the straps were a little wide set, and the cups were very wide while the elastic top cut in. The gore was tall and my centerfull breasts pushed it out. My Sculptresse Pure Lace Moulded Lace T-shirt Bra (6931) was too small but I loved the wires. I decided would put those stiffer, narrower wires in this bra because I really needed a fitting seamless beige bra to go under my low cup white shirts (and if I can find even narrower wires for cheaper I will put them in for better forward projection).
First I cut off all the scratchy lace (in the future I won't because the alteration takes the bra out of my armpit and the lace hides the side sling seam). I cut about an inch or two off the cups (I drew freehand along the top of my bigger side with a pencil and cut, rounding it out, then held it up to the other cup and used it as a pattern to cut along), removing just the spacer fabric (which really has amazing construction, little threads holding each side of the fabric apart inside) and cutting down including the wire channels and gore. Because the Pure has shorter wires as well, I was able to make this bra a true plunge. I then hand sewed the satiny side sling along the top of the cup on each side to move the straps in a bit. This created a bit of a strange curve along the side sling, but it's not noticeable under clothes.
I hand sewed the wire channels shut at the gore. Then I pinned and machine sewed elastic fold over tape along the top which I had cut. I put it from strap to strap because some of the original finishing is scratchy. I've also considered sewing it along the underarm section, maybe when I have more time.
Finally, and I probably should have done this first, but I didn't because I didn't realize how wide the gore was, I sewed the gore together and sewed leopard print bows I cut off my Sculptresse bras onto the gore. While I don't love bows on most bras I just felt like this one needed some spicing up.
You can see my pictures for how great it looks on, and reduces all the cup gap on my larger side for my short rooted breasts. I don't have too much cleavage, but it doesn't show under any of my thin, white, low cut shirts and dresses, and I don't feel like I'm falling out in the middle though the gore is quite low. I'm going to have to get more narrow wires and some Elomi Amelias online for cheap and do the same thing when I need a new beige seamless bra. It's not beautiful or whatever, but so practical, and everyone needs at least one practical bra. Summer shirts here I come!
Total cost and time:
Cost of bra + $5 for 2 yards of tape (I only used 1 yard for the top however).
2 hours thinking, cutting, and sewing time. If you don't have a machine it might take longer to hand sew the fold over elastic along the top. I recommend lots and lots of pins as it is curved.
I have done the same alteration but with an even lower gore on my other Amelia with wires I bought from Sweet Cups, shout out to Ivp for telling me about them (those wires are not a perfect fit, a bit too wide, but they work) and I love them both. They are the best fitting, most comfortable, most attractively shaped bras I own. They have lots of projection and room for my breasts at the bottom, give rounded coverage, and don't stifle me at the top. I even get sexy cleavage in my lower one.
When I get another Amelia I will do a step by step with lots of pictures on my blog!
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Beige colorway
- This bra's measurements have been altered
- Altered band, Lowered cups and gore, straps moved in, new narrower wires.
This bra is not owned any more
Updated on Jul 17, 2016 Flag this
This is SO helpful!!! The fold over elastic looks great. In fact, I prefer this bra with your alterations :-) :-)