Ok, I lied, it's not a clam bra. It's this one:
But it is free!
Here's the scoop: I'd like to sell these on Etsy to fashionable mermaids looking for something other than the "found object and fishnet" style bra, or matching silicone scaly tops. Nothing against those, they're lovely! Just not to my taste, and I'm sure there are other mers out there who just want to go for something a little different. So I've put my 10 years of bellydance costuming to use and created a completely hand-sewn design that is both affordable and durable enough for chlorine, salt water, or even the Monongahela River (OK, maybe not the last one). Not a drop of glue here-- everything is hand sewn using very tough filament thread. Also, no plastic! All the beads are either shell or glass or polished stones. It's heavy and luscious and dripping with luxury! This particular bra design would retail in my shop for $195.
So why am I giving this beauty away? Two reasons. First, a practical one: I want to ensure they're as durable as I think they are, so I need a tester who will swim with it regularly and simply wear the heck out of it. I send you this for free, you beat it up, and you take pics after a few months to show me how it's holding up. Treat it as you would a normal bra: rinse and drip-dry after use, and hand wash (only if you have to) with a mild detergent like Woolite. The second reason is that this particular bra had push-up padding inside. Apparently that padding contained a gel-like substance that got pierced by my beading needle and is now staining the fabric. Of course I only noticed this out AFTER the entire bra was complete. Rather than pick apart the hours of beading and redo it, and not feeling right about selling it with this small but significant problem, I decided to give it to a tester. (I'll line it first. I have no idea what the goo is, but it is coming from a standard commercial bra that had no warning labels about harmful materials inside, so I'm assuming it's harmless to skin.) The stain's more noticeable in photos, with the flash, than in person. Unless someone has their nose in your cleavage, it's not at all obvious especially with the beaded swags above. And I'll finish trimming those little threads on the ends of the fringes, too...oops!
Interested? Reply below. It's a 36B, with original straps still attached. Normally I'd take them off and replace them with something more decorative, but I didn't for this one after noticing the goo. I can still do that if you want, for a small fee, but it won't be as adjustable after that; you'd have to alter it yourself. With heavily decorated bras, I generally recommend that you go for a bra one cup size larger than you are-- so I'd recommend you be a size A or a small B.
I'll pay for shipping from Pittsburgh (unless you're international, in which case I'll ask you to pitch in half. This isn't a light top). Your ONLY obligation is to wear it as often as you can, and send me detailed pictures after 2-3 months of heavy use. You keep it forever! The feedback's part of the deal, so please take it seriously. If there's more than one interested person, I'll choose by lottery.
Oh-- and if you want one of these to match your tail, let me know! I'm planning on making these with matching belts-- sturdy beaded bands designed to snug up and hide gapping waistlines of tails, with optional silicone backing for a better grip. As soon as I have tested my belt design on my own tail, that is! Or heck, you could wear them as professional-quality bellydance costumes. They don't have quite as much sparkle without the sequins and rhinestones, but they'll hold up to the harshest shimmies, I guarantee. I have two others on hand, one completed bra in hot pink (size 36A) and one blue morpho-themed bra (36C) in progress.
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love the scale design!
just sayin'
Originally Posted by PearlieMae
good luck with finding someone!
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