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So I'm finally starting to get a belly (4 months) and I broke down and packed my regular clothes away since I'm only wearing maternity bottoms now, and some of my roomier regular tops.
Lately I've been wondering, if I want to perform, what the heck will I wear? If a performance gig falls in my lap, I'm worried nothing will fit and I won't have time to make anything.
I'm sure some things will fit (harem pants and elastic), and some may not. I've been thinking of making a ghawazee coat that is adjustable so that I can wear that now, later, and when I return to regular clothing.
What types of costuming obstacles have all you mamas had while being pregnant? I want to be prepared! Any advice?
Lately I've been wondering, if I want to perform, what the heck will I wear? If a performance gig falls in my lap, I'm worried nothing will fit and I won't have time to make anything.
I'm sure some things will fit (harem pants and elastic), and some may not. I've been thinking of making a ghawazee coat that is adjustable so that I can wear that now, later, and when I return to regular clothing.
What types of costuming obstacles have all you mamas had while being pregnant? I want to be prepared! Any advice?
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Re: pregnant and lookin' faboo
Thu, January 3, 2008 - 11:49 AMThank God for elastic! I was able to perform up until 35 weeks. I had some costuming that seemed to be a bit more giving. I had a coin bra that was too big (I had to pad it pre-pregnancy). I've just been able to make due. My Ghawazee coats no longer fit, but before/after performances, I would just wrap a dupata around me.
Good luck! -
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Re: pregnant and lookin' faboo
Thu, January 3, 2008 - 3:23 PMI'm just pulling things down lower under my bump. Had to sew afew mirrors onto a maternity bra though. Did you know you're not supposed to wear underwired bras due to tissue damage around the breasts?
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Re: pregnant and lookin' faboo
Fri, January 4, 2008 - 3:00 PMHUH? No underwire? Crap, uh, no I didn't! Thanks for telling me that! My coin bra isn't underwire, but most of my everyday bras are! -
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Re: pregnant and lookin' faboo
Fri, January 4, 2008 - 5:36 PMI think the no underwire suggestion applies to those who are breastfeeding as it can clog milk ducts and create mastitis (an infection).
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Re: pregnant and lookin' faboo
Fri, January 4, 2008 - 10:04 PMI wore an underwire throughout my pregnancy, and successfully nursed my child for 18 months. (After birth I wore only nursing bras.) -
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Re: pregnant and lookin' faboo
Mon, January 7, 2008 - 10:35 AMI'm pretty sure all (ok both) the nursing bras I ever owned were underwire... though avoiding wearing a bra for a few days is definitely something to do if you do have a clogged ducts (those suck). If your bra is big enough (which can be a problem with pregnancy and especially lactational engorgement) I wouldn't think it would be a problem...
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Re: pregnant and lookin' faboo
Sat, January 5, 2008 - 10:51 AMi performed at 6.5 months in a banded LRose dance bra...i have just ordered 2 more in a larger size because they are soooo comefy...i made a trumpet skirt to match because i think they are really flattering. -
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Re: pregnant and lookin' faboo
Sun, January 6, 2008 - 9:29 AMPerhaps the nice shop assistant told me about the underwires to help her commission??!!!
Whatever, underwires rub like **** now me boobs are getting bigger!
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Re: pregnant and lookin' faboo
Sun, January 6, 2008 - 1:37 PMI just found a Melodia "twist top" that is designed to support breasts like a sports bra would. It has a flattering cut & is one size fits all (up to a 38D i think it says). I have not recieved it in the mail yet to attest if it will adjust well to my growing boobs & even better fit after breastfeeding when everything goes back to semi regular size...but i hope so.
I can't afford to buy tops that will only fit for a short period of time. -
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Re: pregnant and lookin' faboo
Mon, January 7, 2008 - 1:46 AMooh - let us know - that sounds great!
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Re: pregnant and lookin' faboo
Wed, January 9, 2008 - 1:19 PMOh, I love the twist tops and dance bras like L. Rose has...way comfy. When I was nursing last time (couple of years ago) and performing at Ren Faire our troupe used a black halter style swim top (not shiny, lol!), embellishing the bottom band and along the cleavage line. It looked so nice and was so much more comfy than underwire bras that we used them for all kinds of gigs!
The other thing I found really comfy and very useful (I don't know if you dance tribal, cab, or both) was a simple chiffon chemise-thingy with a cutout front (like a turkish vest that fits around the bra) - bit like a ghawazee coat I suppose, but with no seam down the front and very roomy rather than close-fitting. You can make them long with slits on the sides to allow for leg movement or shorter so it doesn't show much under the belt. Either way, it was a nice way to cover the belly but still shows torso movements really well. The only downside is that with my version you pretty much have to wear a vest with your bra to make it look right. I'm sure someone could come up with a more streamlined design on top which would negate the need for a vest.
If you look in my photo album I believe there is a picture of me doing a layback where I'm wearing it, so you can sort of get the idea of what I mean. I don't know if I have any better pictures. You could use black, white, or a color - the most important thing is to make sure the fabric you use is breathable, or else you're gonna get overly hot. A very light chiffon or thin cotton gauze works very well.
Somewhere out there I'm sure someone else is wearing the same thing or something similar, as I know I've seen pictures of another troupe in them at some point a long time ago.
Hope that helps! -
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Re: pregnant and lookin' faboo
Sat, January 12, 2008 - 3:08 PMAhlam, that is a great photo and option, I like that you have coverage without completely hiding the torso, and the sleeves are beautiful!
Twist tops are a great suggestion too, it sounds versatile. -
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Re: pregnant and lookin' faboo
Sat, January 12, 2008 - 5:46 PMAhlam, you have a good number of just *gorgeous* photos there!
We wore a similar item to Tribal Fest; we got them from The Goddess Garden where she calls them the "Sexy Sheer Beledi Chemise". See www.thegoddessgarden.net/mc_ga...s.html for ordering info and tribes.tribe.net/thegoddes...0066a1ae78 for a picture; plus there's a picture of us (House of Inanna) wearing them at TF on Kahlea's tribe site: tribes.tribe.net/thegoddes...32efb9eb3d and some more in my profile (people.tribe.net/9161a6ff-...92e2b989). -
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Re: pregnant and lookin' faboo
Mon, January 14, 2008 - 11:21 AMHi all! 5.5 months preggo here, and just performed at a hafla this weekend. I wore one of the melo twist tops with a ghawazee coat over it (posting pic). The only problem with the twist top was that I wore a regular bra underneath it, and it kind of rode up on me a little. I'll have to try it without a bra and see what kind of a difference that makes. I think my bra was just slippery. Besides that one little issue though, it was incredibly comfy and worked GREAT! -
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Re: pregnant and lookin' faboo
Mon, January 14, 2008 - 1:17 PMI wore an l rose tie top both during pregnancy and after and my melodia pants until 7 months. though baby was low enough and "complaining" enough during that lst time that I had to pull them waaay down on the way home... glad we didn't get pulled over. LOL! oh, this was the oler style fringe w/o elastic at top. for my 8 month performance, i made some tribally full pantaloons - 4 yds- and put in extra elastic. i safety pinned closed so they'd be adjustable and was able to cut off the excess for a post baby performance. for 8 months pregnant i also made a halter but don't recommend the atira's fashions pattern for D cup... it was wierd and had to tape places... also don't recommend that! my extra stretchy sensative pregnant skin came off w/ the tape! the hari tari wrap top I bought at pittsburgh's culture shop worked great, but don't wear it now that i'm nursing. Melodia tie tops have been pretty perfect for nursing. i do wear a non underwire bra underneath. going to try making a costume bra w/ firm cups and sides and covering... it's for a show w/ costume changes anyway and will have the melo top on later when w/ baby AJ.
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