Show off your tops! :)

[East coast mermaid]

Ohhh it's so pretty! It looks like a tough mermaid ️

[Mermaid Galene]

Amazing!

[Emmadives]

Hi everyone! I'm getting so much inspiration from all of these great mermaid tops on here.

I've been working on designing mine but keep running into trouble. I started using an old bikini top but once I glued shells to it, the top became much less stretchy and flexible so that it wasn't covering up as much as it should! Unfortunately I had to remove the shell in the middle between the cups so that it could be more flexible, but this is essentially what my current top is looking like.

I want to keep working on tops, though, and play around with the materials more! I bought a really pretty ribbon with pearls dangling from it (you can kind of see it in the upper part of the picture) but am not sure what to do with it yet. I've been using a combination of sewing, hot glue, and super glue. What glues do you find work best in the water?

My tail is pink/purple so I wanted to have some of those colors in the top, too, which is why I picked the pink/purple shells.

[Mermaid Kelda]

I bought a really pretty ribbon with pearls dangling from it (you can kind of see it in the upper part of the picture) but am not sure what to do with it yet.

You could attach the ribbon to the bottom edge of a top, on the underside, so just the pearls show, and dangle down nicely

What glues do you find work best in the water?

E6000 is pretty much considered the best waterproof glue. Hot glue will dissolve eventually, and super glue goes brittle and can crack off because it has no flex. Sewing is a great option, but if you can't sew something, E6000 is usually the best choice. You can get it on eBay really cheaply and easily!

[Miyu]

I will say that for sewing, I love using clear nylon thread - it's practically invisible, strong, and I use it to literally sew EVERYTHING down - I don't glue anything

[Emmadives]

Thanks for the tips! I will definitely look into that glue, too!

[Mermaid Sirenia]

Just got a message from raven, my seaweed top is done! SO in love with it!

[East coast mermaid]

Hmm I can't see the image

[Mermaid Lilium]

as people seemed to really like my shell bra at merfest...





the shells were actually ceramic clam bowls (with a flattened out section) that I bought from a shell shop in town (the shop had turned them into mobiles, go figure lol) I used wood filler to build up the flattened sections and holes the shop had drilled, as I knew the texture would be a close match. aaand then spray painted them a satin cream with an outdoor friendly spraypaint. The halter neck wraps around after an initial loose knot, to form a necklace with a chandelier crystal =)

[Miyu]

That's so neat, Lilium!!

[Mermaid Lilium]

Thanks miyu!

Only downside to the top is... the shells are heavy to wear for long periods of time (especially sat up where it puts strain on my neck) and the shells are hard and rough so for example after wearing it on the sunday at merfest for about 4 hrs, I ended up with bruising and broken blood vessels on the inside of my arms. It's kinda a photoshoot only top lol

the plastic clam shells everyone's finding, where are you getting them and how big are they? Trying to find shells that at 7-8" wide to cover my 40c chest is annoying to say the least lol Considering ordering some silicone shells for my next top otherwise i'll do an abalone top if I can find nice polished ones that go with my new tail X_x

[Mermaid Fenicia]

Athalonthedeer can make them any size you need

[Laureen French Mermaid]

My tops i made not finished on these photos. But now they are finished ^^

Attachment 24244

My last top, glow in the dark ^^

Attachment 24245

Attachment 24246

[Miyu]

Oh noooo! Don't we all have that one gorgeous piece that's for photoshoots only?

I have the issue with weight on my neck as well, which is why I decided to use my back-lacing system for mermaid tops, so I'm not putting all the pressure on sensitive areas (I bruise if I bump something wrong, LOL). The shells I'm using now for Michelle's and mine tops are quite a bit heavier than I expected, but the lacing system completely relieves all that weight and pressure My first top wasn't so heavy, but I did wear it all day for several days at a pirate event this past summer, and I had to keep checking to make sure I still had my top on (because it was so comfy, and standard/costume bras are normally almost painful for me to wear).

Seconding the recommendation for Atalon-the-deer! Their deviantart is just so drool-worthy, I spend hours looking through that gallery. They offer some AMAZING vacuum-molded shells for tops! Atalon is for sure one of my favorite costume creators!



Laureen, I just love your glowing top!

[Mermaid Alea]

My first top! Lots of sewing but I loved working on it.

[Merenneito Nerissa]

The latest one I've made, I modified those pearls after that a bit.

[Mermaid Lorelei]

Hmm, I thought I'd posted my tops in here, but I guess not. Odd.
Anyway, here they are!

This is the first top I ever made. It's made with raw abalone shells, for a more natural mermaid look. Eventually I'll make one with polished abalone.


My octopus top from Mermaid Raven of Merbella Studios Inc. His name is George. :P


And this is a top that I made recently for Mermaid Harmony. :3

[Mer-gal]

Do you sell the abalone shell top on etsy? I think I think I saw it on there and I have been interested, but it is a little out of my price range. That's okay though, they are well worth the money by the looks of it.

[Mermaid Lorelei]

I do sell the abalone style as well as the lions paw variety. :3

[Mermaid Lilium]

These tops all look great =)

btw all I can find for the plastic shells are these with holes already drilled http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...A3CQTJ8AOJSG7M are those the ones you guys are using? :/ Can't find them without holes in them.