Sometimes a slight adjustment is all it takes from taking a choli with a good fit to a choli with a GREAT fit.
Most of our choli tops require no adjustment for a comfortable, supportive fit. Usually the only thing necessary to get a good fit is to take a few moments to play with the top neck ties the first time you try it on. Getting the neck ties to the right amount of tautness often is all that is needed.
Once you have those neck ties set to wear you want them you can leave them tied and only undo the rib ties when taking the choli off. The next time you go to wear your choli, simply pull the choli over the head with those neck ties still tied, reach around the back and tie the rib ties and voilá.. you are ready to dance!
Adjusting the Fit
Occasionally some dancers will have a particularly long or short torso. For this rarer situation you can play with moving the top set of neck ties, either a little higher up the back of the choli or slightly lower down the back of the choli to get the most ideal fit.
-Cut off (or use a seam ripper to remove) the ties at the shoulder only. The ribcage ties will not be changed.
-Reattach the ties slightly lower or higher on the back of the choli to get the perfect amount of support and fit.
If you have any gaping at the back of the choli, simply pulling the bottom of the choli down the torso a small amount. This usually takes care of of any slight gaping.
Adding More Coverage
You can add a couple stitches just above the front seam of the choli where the two halves meet in the center.
Feel free to use a sewing machine or hand stitch these 2 halves together (both options will work equally well).
This will draw the two cups closer together and reduce the amount of cleavage for most dancers.
Adding Lift & Support
Bra Support Cups
Our favorite trick for adding lift & support to choli tops is to use bra support cups under the bust. This is an ideal option If you have only one choli and will sometimes be wearing it under a coin bra.
These padded inserts come in a variety of shapes and sizes and add support and lift.
They are easy to use and no sewing is required! Simply put your choli on as you normally would, lift the breast and slide support cup underneath!
Ideal for small to medium breast sizes.
With this option you can easily add or remove the cups as needed (like when you are layering a padded coin bra over the top- you may not want double padding from both the bra cup inserts and the coin bra).
Check out our bra pads and other support and modification products!
Adding A Bra Inside The Choli
Although, in most cases it is not necessary, some dancers prefer to install a bra into their choli. To do this you will first need a bra that does not stick out of the choli either in front or back (except at the hook and eye portion).
Step 1:
Attach the bra to the choli at the front center with small hand stitches.
To find the right placement, you may want to put the bra on, then the choli on over it. Adjust until the bra and choli line properly.
Pin in together at the center seam, then remove the choli/bra and sew at the pinned section.
Step 2:
After you have sewn the center of the bra to the center of the choli, put the choli/bra back on. Hook the bra closed and adjust the bra straps to desired fit. Tie the choli ties at the neck and the ribs as you would want them normally tied. Make sure the bra ties do not peek out from under the choli.
Pin the bra strap on both sides at the shoulder seam of the choli.
Take off the choli/bra and sew the bra straps to the choli at the pins in the shoulder seam. After sewing put the choli/bra back on. If you find your bra straps have a tendency to slide out and be visible from underneath the choli you can tack (small hand stitches) the bra straps to the choli in additional places, as needed.
Step 3:
-With the choli on, fold back the bra's ribcage straps (the hook and eye section) at the point where they stick out of the choli in the back.
-Pin folded edge of straps just inside the edge of the choli top. The bra's straps should not peek out from the choli at all.
-Remove the bra/choli.
-Securely sew the folded bra straps to the choli.
Hint: if you sew along the already existing choli seam your sewing will be less visible. You can cut off the excess bra straps if you wish.
In Closing..
Typically most tops will not need adjusting. Please be sure you love your choli top and plan to keep it as we cannot accept exchanges or returns on any tops that have been adjusted or modified in any way.
These tips are meant to help get the best fit possible for dancers with all types of curves. You can use these choli adjusting tips on any of our cotton lycra choli tops, velvet choli tops and lace choli tops quite easily.
May your days be filled with dance… and well fitted choli tops!
Jennifer
Text & images © 2002- 2018 Tribe Nawaar, Content written by Jennifer Secrist Goran of Tribe Nawaar. If found elsewhere, either in pieces or in entirety, it has been stolen from our site.
