Bra issues with new dress. Please can you help?

[TickledOnion]

I have bought this gorgeous dress that I am totally in love with.

I can't go braless and wear a 30FF so can't find a backless bra. I have bought a normal bra and bra back converter. They look OK (not as good as a normal bra), but the bra shows a lot around the arm holes. And the bra converter squishes me around my waist and tummy so it no longer looks smooth under the dress. So I guess I also need some control pants.

MIL has suggested that I get a dress maker to alter the back so it is a bit higher. Is this a terrible idea? If I do this I could look for a normal bra that is lower under my arms. Do these exist? Any ideas what styles have lower sides?

I can sympathise as I can't wear backless - would never go braless. Was thinking you could easily stick a panel of fabric in a backless dress (have considered this myself) but then had a look at the pic you linked to ... I'm not sure how you could alter it, unless you removed the cowl? I would take it in anyway and see what they say.

Find your nearest Bravissimo. Take dress. Explain situation. Stand back in awe as they sort you out.

Hi OP your dress is beautiful!
I have a very talented dress maker friend who recently altered a few backless formal dresses for some ladies who felt that their backs were a little past their prime and the three solutions that she came up with were :-

1. Add further layers of chiffon cowling in to raise the back but still leave the design feature

1. Add a beaded panel to raise the waist - this would mean a normal bra can be worn

1. An insert of dancers netting to fill the back - this is a nude/skin tone material that a lot of dancers costumes feature as it is quite a heavy coverage material that look see through but isn't!

Also I'm pretty sure that a skilled seamstress could add some secret support or cups to the dress that might allow you to go braless but still have the reassurance of being supported

Good luck

Second the take the dress to Bravissimo. I'm a 32g and they found a bikini top which would go under my dress without showing and still give support.

I tried bravissimo already. They have the low back converter but they don't sell low back bras or basques. At the time I didn't have my dress with me so I didn't realise that the bra showed at the sides but there weren't many bras that fitted ok with the converter. I could try again with the dress.

I hadn't thought about getting a dressmaker to add support to the dress. I did wonder about asking them to alter the converter strap. It's the same thickness as a bra strap so it digs in as it needs to be tight. If they could make a thicker one that might look better.

what about this-i haven't found an in stock 30ff although it looks like they were made. very.co.uk has it on sale in a 32f which would probably work. I suspect that a sister size in this would be better than a low back converter

www.ultimo.co.uk/shop/new-miracle-backless-body-dd-g-cup-1111

Statistically - I love you. I've ordered a 32F. Just hope it fits.

I tried it on the Ultimo body today and it was no good. Very short in the body so the cups were so low they provided no support. I've ordered a different size but I'm not hopeful.

I'm now thinking an altered swimming costume might work. this or this