# Ladies - strapless short dress advice please **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 25, 2006, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-strapless-short-dress-advice-please/377864 "2006-10-25T17:43:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![samm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/858c86/32.png) [@samm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samm)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-strapless-short-dress-advice-please/377864/1 "2006-10-25T17:43:45Z")
Okay, I may be having second thoughts about the short, strapless dress I bought to tend bar in for a Halloween party. I have a strapless bra to go with it but it seems fairly worthless. I don’t want to be hiking my dress up all night and fearing the consequences of reaching for a bottle of liquor on the top shelf. Should I get a bra with those clear straps? Is there some kind of magic tape I can use to stick to myself and my dress? Secondly, what are the best bets for a short dress? I bought thigh-highs that would be cute with the dress, but now I’m having second thoughts on those too. Should I wear them with some cute underwear and hope no one ends up seeing it or should I wear opaque white tights that go all the way up? Should I wear the thigh highs with a pair of those boy-short type underwear? It is a cute costume (hello tips!), but I still want to at least pretend I have some modesty. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-strapless-short-dress-advice-please/377864/2 "2006-10-25T17:53:51Z")
Sorry, but we’re just going to have to see what you’ve got to work with so far before we can give any serious replies. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-strapless-short-dress-advice-please/377864/3 "2006-10-25T17:58:56Z")
Top shelf = top tips. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-strapless-short-dress-advice-please/377864/4 "2006-10-25T18:04:52Z")
Please do NOT wear one of those bras with the clear straps. The look completely stupid, and scream, “I’m trying not to look like I’m wearing a bra.” You could try wearing what I fondly refer to as stick-a-boobs. They’re adhesive boob support, shaped like a cup. [Like this.](http://www.barenecessities.com/Fashion-Forms-Adhesive-Bra_product_FashionForms1101_,search,.htm) Of course, you might want to nip into the ladies’ room if it looks like you’ll be gettin’ lucky. Sexy they aren’t, but they ARE invisible under clothing and guaranteed to stay put. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-strapless-short-dress-advice-please/377864/5 "2006-10-25T18:07:19Z")
I’ve used the adhesives. They work great (and I’m a D cup). I’ve also used the cheaper first aid tape solution (a few long strips of first aid tape and you are down right perky). Do not use duct tape. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-strapless-short-dress-advice-please/377864/6 "2006-10-25T18:22:29Z")
Gaffer’s tape - not duct tape. Also a little spray adhesive or double sided tape will help it stay up, other than that if you are feeling crafty some boning on the sides of the dress could help. I am a DD, this has worked for me in the past. Have fun. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![UntouchedTakeaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d78d45/32.png) [@UntouchedTakeaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UntouchedTakeaway)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-strapless-short-dress-advice-please/377864/7 "2006-10-25T18:23:48Z")
[QUOTE=samm] Okay, I may be having second thoughts about the short, strapless dress I bought to tend bar in for a Halloween party. I have a strapless bra to go with it but it seems fairly worthless. I don’t want to be hiking my dress up all night and fearing the consequences of reaching for a bottle of liquor on the top shelf. Should I get a bra with those clear straps? Is there some kind of magic tape I can use to stick to myself and my dress? Secondly, what are the best bets for a short dress? I bought thigh-highs that would be cute with the dress, but now I’m having second thoughts on those too. Should I wear them with some cute underwear and hope no one ends up seeing it or should I wear opaque white tights that go all the way up? Should I wear the thigh highs with a pair of those boy-short type underwear? It is a cute costume (hello tips!), but I still want to at least pretend I have some modesty. [/QUOTE] Do a search for “Hollywood Fashion Tape” - aka toupee tape. I think that might be the ticket. VCNJ~ ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-strapless-short-dress-advice-please/377864/8 "2006-10-25T18:35:51Z")
What is the costume, exactly? ---
**Author:** ![samm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/858c86/32.png) [@samm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samm)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-strapless-short-dress-advice-please/377864/9 "2006-10-25T18:42:35Z")
It’s “Tina the Target” [http://www.anytimecostumes.com/costumes/008000937.html](http://www.anytimecostumes.com/costumes/008000937.html) ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-strapless-short-dress-advice-please/377864/10 "2006-10-25T18:55:46Z")
Yikes. Good tips, indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-strapless-short-dress-advice-please/377864/11 "2006-10-25T19:19:04Z")
With that dress, go for the thigh-highs. Preferably the kind with the horizontal stripes. ---
**Author:** ![MissRancher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@MissRancher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissRancher)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-strapless-short-dress-advice-please/377864/12 "2006-10-25T19:32:23Z")
[QUOTE=Dangerosa] I’ve used the adhesives. They work great (and I’m a D cup). I’ve also used the cheaper first aid tape solution (a few long strips of first aid tape and you are down right perky). Do not use duct tape. [/QUOTE] Do you wrap the tape all the way around your body? I tried it one time and the tape would not stick or hold me up or do anything useful. As for stockings, I like the white fishnets in the picture. Thigh highs would be good too. Although they never stay up on me. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-strapless-short-dress-advice-please/377864/13 "2006-10-25T19:39:43Z")
… and maybe a fake blindfold? ---
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-strapless-short-dress-advice-please/377864/14 "2006-10-25T20:34:12Z")
[QUOTE=samm] It is a cute costume (hello tips!), but I still want to at least pretend I have some modesty. [/QUOTE] Since, being a guy, I’m probably your target tipper, I’ll offer my thoughts. I think the clear-strap bra would be good, since it’ll help keep you from fiddling with the dress all night. As for underneith, I still think one of my favorite things was when I saw two cute co-eds wearing sun dresses with cut-offs underneith. Caveat lector. Just don’t end up with your goods showing on an amateur-porn site. ---
**Author:** ![samm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/858c86/32.png) [@samm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samm)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-strapless-short-dress-advice-please/377864/15 "2006-10-25T21:04:01Z")
**js\_africanus** , are you talking about cut-off jean shorts? I can see how those might be cute with a casual sundress, but I don’t see them working with a satiny frilly dress. I have tried duct tape in lieu of a bra in the past and had poor luck. I guess I will try the stick-a-boobs and there was a website for the Hollywood Fashion Tape but I don’t know if I have time to order that before this weekend. I’ll try some spray adhesive too, can’t hurt. **Ethilrist** , that’s a good idea about the blindfold but what would I use, black mesh material? It would still make me kind of blindfolded and I think I would end up taking it off after 10 mnutes of getting in to work anyway. ---
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-strapless-short-dress-advice-please/377864/16 "2006-10-25T21:08:23Z")
[QUOTE=samm] **js\_africanus** , are you talking about cut-off jean shorts? I can see how those might be cute with a casual sundress, but I don’t see them working with a satiny frilly dress. [/QUOTE] I love boyshorts, too. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-strapless-short-dress-advice-please/377864/17 "2006-10-25T21:10:58Z")
Samm- how big are the girls? That really matters in regard to what will work. I swear I’m not a perv. I promise. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-strapless-short-dress-advice-please/377864/18 "2006-10-25T21:14:21Z")
[QUOTE=samm] **js\_africanus** , are you talking about cut-off jean shorts? I can see how those might be cute with a casual sundress, but I don’t see them working with a satiny frilly dress. . [/QUOTE] They have this underwear for girls called soemthing like “dance panties”. It looks very much like a conservative bikini bottom made out of normal nylon/cotton panty material. For that outfit, you want pink. 😉 Yeah, the dudes will get a little thrill when you bend over, reach up, etc, but you won’t expose anything the dudes at the beach haven’t seen. I think you’ll need a bigger tip jar, too. 😉 We want pics, of course. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-strapless-short-dress-advice-please/377864/19 "2006-10-25T21:17:43Z")
Oh, the panty thing: why not get frilly boyshorts? Of course I can’t find a picture right now, but you know the ones I mean. Pink ones would look cute under that- or red. Or [these](http://www.fredericks.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=Holiday2002&category%5Fname=Panty&product%5Fid=43699) are pretty damned cool too. ---
**Author:** ![samm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/858c86/32.png) [@samm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samm)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2006, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-strapless-short-dress-advice-please/377864/20 "2006-10-25T21:47:22Z")
I think I will do the frilly boyshorts if I can find them, should be easy enough. Sorry, I wasn’t going to click on the Fredericks link from work **Diosa** , I’ll have to wait til I get home. 😉 I am “only” 36C. I put that in quotes because I swear they seem more unwieldy and ‘out there’ than Cs. I don’t know. My boobs have always bugged me and I prefer them strapped down and out of the way as much as possible. I know that is somewhat contrary to this dress I chose though. Heh. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-strapless-short-dress-advice-please/377864.md?page=2)