straps or strapless tops or dresses

[dreamin_disney]

My dd13 bought a strapless top thinking she would be fine ifshe wore a lil sweater over it. I told her no. My concern is someone pulling it down. Is there such a thing as hook on straps? If not any tips on how to make some. I need black straps. I'm not great at sewing but willing to try. unless theres some clip on straps. Thanks

 

[englishteacha]

Well, you could easily make some straps out of wide gros-grain ribbon and just sew them in. In our middle school, strapless tops aren't allowed, so if a teen girl owned one she'd have to wear it somewhere other than school. Now, I'm not encouraging 13 year olds to wear strapless tops, but would you allow her to wear it at home?

 

[badblackpug]

Well, personally I don't wear strapless because I have, yet, to find a decent strapless bra. My 14 year old isn't allowed to wear strapless, or even spaghetti straps to school. Their dress code is straps must be at least an inch wide.

I guess I don't see the point of altering the top. If you are uncomfortable with her wearing it return it, and discuss with her making more appropriate choices next time.

 

[clh2]

I have a DD who is now 18. And I've had a bit of experience with this whole topic.

Luckily for me...DD likes to make sure the girls are secure.

There was one homecoming dress she bought, that she the style...and it looked great on her. DD WANTED straps added. Cost about $10 to have straps add by a seamstress. Worked perfectly, and the cost of the dress (on clearance) was $20, the straps were an additional $10 - $30 total - not bad!

Now - about bras. I personally - NEVER complained (although I may have cringed) about the cost of either having cups sewn into a dress, or for an appropriate bra for a strapless dress, or one that had spaghetti straps.

DD definitely needs support - and luckily for me - it was never an argument. But - I've always worked with the dresses that DD has purchased.

Now - to the OP - where is your DD wanting to wear a strapless top - with a sweater over it??? Is this just something for school? OR for something special. This never came up with DD - except for the "fancy dances" at school. I would have not allowed DD to wear something strapless anywhere else.

 

[dreamin_disney]

Well dd bought it with the intent of wearing a bra and tanktop with it so thats where the cover came up. I have no problem with her wearing tanktops. I just figured if i could add a thicker strap so she can wear a bra and just wear it as a tank top. The top is actually cute. Its NOT reveiling or tight it cute just strapless. She showed me with the tanktop under it and it looked cute but I thought maybe theres a way to add straps. DD is actually conservative in her clothes so she bought it with wearing a tanktop under it, the kind with the thicker strap tanks. She could actuially wearr it to school if i add the straps. I told her even with the tanktop under it i'd hate for a middle school boy to pull it down. I remember when tubtops were in, boys would pull them down. I never wore those i was conservative

 

[luvmy3]

My dd13 bought a strapless top thinking she would be fine ifshe wore a lil sweater over it. I told her no. My concern is someone pulling it down. Is there such a thing as hook on straps? If not any tips on how to make some. I need black straps. I'm not great at sewing but willing to try. unless theres some clip on straps. Thanks

that would be great if such a thing exists! My dd's dress for her semi-formal has rhinestone straps and of course when she was trying it on, one of them broke. I have no idea how to fix it without having dh solder it back together. There is no way I'd let her go strapless.
If you find out clip on straps are out there, please post!

 

[NotUrsula]

Replacement straps exist, but you are all trying to put them in the wrong place. The technique is to add the replacement straps to the bra, not the dress. Then you wear the strapless dress over the bra and let the decorative straps show. You also (of course) could sew some hook & eye fasteners to both the bra and the dress to stop any downward movement of the dress. (Though, honestly, if your daughter is in the sort of environment where kids do that on a regular basis, then she needs to find a new set of friends.)

http://www.brastraps.com/index.htm

And yes, they do have rhinestone, though it is a lot cheaper to just go to a fabric store and buy a new strip of rhinestone beading to replace the strap that broke. Just stitch it on by hand.

If you want to use straps like these on a dress itself, then the technique is to securely sew a 1/2" ribbon loop to the inside of the dress where the strap can clip onto it.

 

[dreamin_disney]

ok, if i have to sew straps the top is cotton just buy cotton fabric or would wide gros-grain ribbon that was mention work, i dont even know what that is.The straps need to be an inch wide for dd to wear this top to school.

BTW- its not ok for dd to wear strapless to school or anywhere but like i said she planned on wearing a bra , tanktop and lil cover up cardigan over it, i figure adding straps would be best.Her father and I are ok with her wearing it WITH 1 inch straps

 

[luvmy3]

Replacement straps exist, but you are all trying to put them in the wrong place. The technique is to add the replacement straps to the bra, not the dress. Then you wear the strapless dress over the bra and let the decorative straps show. You also (of course) could sew some hook & eye fasteners to both the bra and the dress to stop any downward movement of the dress. (Though, honestly, if your daughter is in the sort of environment where kids do that on a regular basis, then she needs to find a new set of friends.)

http://www.brastraps.com/index.htm

And yes, they do have rhinestone, though it is a lot cheaper to just go to a fabric store and buy a new strip of rhinestone beading to replace the strap that broke. Just stitch it on by hand.

If you want to use straps like these on a dress itself, then the technique is to securely sew a 1/2" ribbon loop to the inside of the dress where the strap can clip onto it.

Those crystal ones would be perfect but they cost as much as dd's dress did! Also it has a built in bra so she won't be wearing one underneath. I think I'll just have to find some ribbon and have a local seamstress replace the straps that are on there now. I don't dare attempt it myself, I can't even sew a button on right

 

[badblackpug]

I have a DD who is now 18. And I've had a bit of experience with this whole topic.

Luckily for me...DD likes to make sure the girls are secure.

There was one homecoming dress she bought, that she the style...and it looked great on her. DD WANTED straps added. Cost about $10 to have straps add by a seamstress. Worked perfectly, and the cost of the dress (on clearance) was $20, the straps were an additional $10 - $30 total - not bad!

Now - about bras. I personally - NEVER complained (although I may have cringed) about the cost of either having cups sewn into a dress, or for an appropriate bra for a strapless dress, or one that had spaghetti straps.

DD definitely needs support - and luckily for me - it was never an argument. But - I've always worked with the dresses that DD has purchased.

Now - to the OP - where is your DD wanting to wear a strapless top - with a sweater over it??? Is this just something for school? OR for something special. This never came up with DD - except for the "fancy dances" at school. I would have not allowed DD to wear something strapless anywhere else.

I have no issue paying for the bra, it just seems no matter how much I pay the strapless ones are either uncomfortable or ineffective.

Replacement straps exist, but you are all trying to put them in the wrong place. The technique is to add the replacement straps to the bra, not the dress. Then you wear the strapless dress over the bra and let the decorative straps show. You also (of course) could sew some hook & eye fasteners to both the bra and the dress to stop any downward movement of the dress. (Though, honestly, if your daughter is in the sort of environment where kids do that on a regular basis, then she needs to find a new set of friends.)

http://www.brastraps.com/index.htm

And yes, they do have rhinestone, though it is a lot cheaper to just go to a fabric store and buy a new strip of rhinestone beading to replace the strap that broke. Just stitch it on by hand.

If you want to use straps like these on a dress itself, then the technique is to securely sew a 1/2" ribbon loop to the inside of the dress where the strap can clip onto it.

I have a huge pet peeve about underwear, and yes that includes bras, hanging out. I know it may be popular to do, but I think it is incredibly tacky and sloppy looking. I have bought every type of convertible bra for my daughter and she knows that she must wear the bra that is appropriate for that top.

ok, if i have to sew straps the top is cotton just buy cotton fabric or would wide gros-grain ribbon that was mention work, i dont even know what that is.The straps need to be an inch wide for dd to wear this top to school.

BTW- its not ok for dd to wear strapless to school or anywhere but like i said she planned on wearing a bra , tanktop and lil cover up cardigan over it, i figure adding straps would be best.Her father and I are ok with her wearing it WITH 1 inch straps

I am not getting a clear picture here. I can't picture a strapless top with a tank under it. I got the little cardigan over it, though. I guess if you really wanted to add straps you could go with the little grosgrain ribbons. I actually have a top that comes with removable grosgrain ribbon straps.

 

[Feralpeg]

JoAnn's has straps you can buy and sew on. I did that for my daughter several times. Look in the area where they sell things like underarm shields, etc.

 

[NotUrsula]

...
I have a huge pet peeve about underwear, and yes that includes bras, hanging out. I know it may be popular to do, but I think it is incredibly tacky and sloppy looking. I have bought every type of convertible bra for my daughter and she knows that she must wear the bra that is appropriate for that top.
...

You're not getting it. This particular style of "straps that show" is actually a throwback to the 1950's, when this was a VERY common thing to do with a traditional corset under the dress. In fact, evening gowns that had sheer net in the bodice/shoulder area were often sold with a set of matching spaghetti straps so that you could put them on your corset. The bra is cut essentially straight across at the bustline, and the only thing that shows outside of it is the strap. Because of the way that it is positioned, it looks as though the strap is part of the dress. The point of doing it this way is that anchoring the bra is more structurally important for the fit of the dress, whereas a strapless bra is more likely to slip. Doing it this way your bra is not strapless, and the dress is better fitted and can come up further over the bra's top edge.

Now, as a nod to the modern "straps that show" trend, stores do sell conventional elastic straps that are meant to be doubled up, but the traditional straps of this kind are spaghetti-strap style, very often created with either satin cord or beads.

 

[luvmy3]

JoAnn's has straps you can buy and sew on. I did that for my daughter several times. Look in the area where they sell things like underarm shields, etc.

Thanks for mentioning that. I just checked their website and they have straps for bridal gowns that would work perfect. I'm going to run up there and see if they have them in store.

 

[badblackpug]

You're not getting it. This particular style of "straps that show" is actually a throwback to the 1950's, when this was a VERY common thing to do with a traditional corset under the dress. In fact, evening gowns that had sheer net in the bodice/shoulder area were often sold with a set of matching spaghetti straps so that you could put them on your corset. The bra is cut essentially straight across at the bustline, and the only thing that shows outside of it is the strap. Because of the way that it is positioned, it looks as though the strap is part of the dress. The point of doing it this way is that anchoring the bra is more structurally important for the fit of the dress, whereas a strapless bra is more likely to slip. Doing it this way your bra is not strapless, and the dress is better fitted and can come up further over the bra's top edge.

Now, as a nod to the modern "straps that show" trend, stores do sell conventional elastic straps that are meant to be doubled up, but the traditional straps of this kind are spaghetti-strap style, very often created with either satin cord or beads.

No, I'm thinking I could still tell that the straps ran under the dress and weren't attached to it. It's really a HUGE HUGE pet peeve of mine. I couldn't do it, it would bother me too much.

 

[dreamin_disney]

I am not getting a clear picture here. I can't picture a strapless top with a tank under it. I got the little cardigan over it, though. I guess if you really wanted to add straps you could go with the little grosgrain ribbons. I actually have a top that comes with removable grosgrain ribbon straps.

lol! the tanktop under a strapless comes from a 13yr old mind-lol! She's conservative but loved the strapless top but she would never wear it by itself so she thought of wearing a bra(she never goes without it) and a tanktop so she isnt bare. Then i thought there might be add on straps or a way to add some on. The top is cute

If my mom was still alive she would have already added straps-lol!


To the poster who said dd needs to find new friends if i'm worried about middle school boys pulling it down, she isnt into boys yet but there are boys that can be silly. I'm only afraid if the what if, not that she would wear a strapless top by itself. She was thinking of wearing it with a tanktop under it. My though was no what if a biy pulls it down or it rolls down even with a tanktop. Why....cuz when i was younger I did see some boy pull down a girls tube top, which she had bandaids to cover her you know whats.

Thanks for the strap info i will be looking for those and if those are sturdy or i can sew straps on then we will be happy campers

 

[akhenaten]

No, I'm thinking I could still tell that the straps ran under the dress and weren't attached to it. It's really a HUGE HUGE pet peeve of mine. I couldn't do it, it would bother me too much.

I am with you on this one!
OP I would have a seamstress or tailor sew on straps.

I Did not let my DD wear strapless until HS prom.. and them we went to a tailor who fit it perfectly to her body. A pet peeve of mine is girls who wear strapless that do not fit and are constantly tugging the dress up...

 

[NotUrsula]

Slightly OT, but it's interesting how ideas of appropriate modesty seem to roll in waves. When I was a kid in the late 60's/early 70's strapless tops were quite common for little kids, and no one thought anything of it. I can remember wearing them to school with a shirt over it tied at the waist. I wore strapless dresses for special occasions quite often, and terrycloth strapless "playsuits" were par for the course as swim coverups.

I've encountered schools these days that don't allow sleeveless tops at all, not even the kind that go right from the neck to the outer edge of the shoulder. Overkill, I think.

Back then, boys would do boneheaded things such as try to pull down a dress, but in today's zero-tolerance world, a kid who did that at school or on the bus would be looking at an expulsion for sexual harassment.

 

[canadianjovigirl]

I dont have an issue with strapless tops, but the schools have the rule that the shirts must have straps 2 finger widths wide and thus my girls wear a tank top under their strapless tops and got the idea from the justice store where its all about layering and i'm good with that as they mix and match so much and everything is covered.............

 

[Missy1961]

Well at least we'll know why this thread got bumped up 4 years later.

 

[mjkacmom]

If she's wearing a tank and regular bra under it, what's the problem? Is someone did pull it down, she still has full coverage.

We had straps added to dd's dress for a dance last year, and most of her friends did, too. But it sound like this is a more casual dress.