Show Off Straps
Creations by Susan J. Ratcliff
Bra Straps with a Serious “Bling-Bling” Twist
Product Review by:
Zaina Hart
Isis San Miguel
Notice her straps and Side Belt-Show Off Straps
While helping Zizi and Kamileh set up the Zizi Zabaneh
photography table for the Miami Bellydance Convention last month, I couldn’t
help but to carefully watch the corner of the room where bling after bling was
being set out on the tables and racks.
As the day progressed, and the bling grew to enormous proportions it
became increasingly difficult to keep my magpie mind and then body from
wandering into that “blinged corner”.
But wander I did and oooh to such delight.
Show Off Straps is a dancer’s dream. Owner and designer, Susan Ratcliff has
brought to the table one of the most inventive and delectable dancer necessities
to come along in years; Rhinestone Bra Straps – THAT DO NOT SNAG! So how often have you purchased what
you thought was the perfect necklace, bracelet, or earrings to go with your
costume, only to snag your veil or skirt to complete ruination? Well Susan’s products are not any old
blinged up bra straps and accessories I assure you. Nope!
Susan is very picky about what she wears herself, so when
she went to work to create these spectacular little items, it was with very
high standards and expectations.
When I sat down with her and her darling husband to find out a little
more about her company, I quickly found not only enthusiasm for her product,
but a real desire to make women of all ages and bra sizes not just happy about
their garments, but confident about how they look and feel in their clothes.
When I asked Susan what brought her to design and then
patent her product, she told me that at first it was all about her own bust
size. At barely 5’ tall with a
tiny little frame her ample bossoms (36DD) were often hidden in “un-blinged” and
too plain clothing. Further, being
in the arena as a competitive swing dancer necessitated a need to dress that
part and finding clothing that fit her little frame and large bossom was way
this side of difficult. She wanted
to wear all the fashions other dancers were wearing.Susan realized she was not the only one in this
predicament. There simply was not
much on the market in the way of elegant straps and matching pieces that was
available, for “anyone’s” size. And,
what she did find left her clothing snagged and torn because of the open prongs
and poor workmanship.
So she went to work to develop a “snag free” elegant
rhinestone strap not only for herself but one that every woman could wear. And not just any rhinestone was going
to suffice for this elegant, sophisticated little lady - - AUSTRIAN Crystal
Beads, Crystal Pearls, and Rhinestones were her choice. Nothing plastic, nothing cheap – only the
best was going into her work.
When was the last time you found that off shoulder dress or
top that seemed to just need “something”?
Or a spaghetti strap top whose straps just didn’t, well hold in the
girls? For me, my costume bras MUST have not only a halter strap, but shoulder
straps as well. Now I am really
excited at the thought those shoulder straps are now going to elegantly join in
and become an eye popping part of my costumes. I just order a gorgeous off shoulder, kowel neck cashmere
sweater that these straps are going to dress up in a way nothing else
could. A sweater will become
“elegant” – go figure!
As she began designing she realized there was much more to
take into consideration that other designers were clearly missing:
Since women come in all sizes, including bossoms, length of
shoulders, bra choices and straps were sized differently bra to bra (and Susan
wanted to accommodate a woman’s favorite bra), hence, her rhinestone straps
needed to come in various sizes.
Other designers were leaving out the back side of the
straps. So she decided this was
going to be a bra cup to bra strap, complete rhinestone strap rather than
stones stopping part way down the back of the shoulder. So, shoulders will drip front and back
with crystals.
Cost. She did
not want cost to be prohibitive and believe me, no one can argue her prices are
amazingly fair. Why buy a $10.00
bracelet that will snag and ruin your $100.00 veil or $800.00 costume when you
could spend $25.00 on a quality bracelet and avoid the pitfalls?
Well, of course, once she created her product and with her
quality standards realized there was far more that needed to be done. Realistically with the quality and
elegant look of the straps, any old necklace, bracelet, earrings, belt (belly
chain) was not going to work. So,
then came the next line of products all created with the same high standards.
Susan now has 4 collections for everyone’s pocket book and
event. Dancers of all styles (5
row big bling -Sworovsky crystals), to brides looking for a final touch to
their elegant gown (fleur crystal woven line), and women just looking to add
elegance to their daily attire with Susan’s ribbon studded straps will find
something to delight.
She also added to her line off shoulder dresses and tops
that highlight “Show Off Straps” perfectly. She uses a lot of ruching in her garments, all of high
quality fabrics, which makes them stand out while offering an additional
elegant “line” to her garments.
So, I am guessing you might be wondering how much I walked
away from her booth with? Well, I
will tell you what I started with - - measurements for bra straps and since
it seems Susan can’t help herself
and continues to come up with more designs I succumbed to her latest creation a
pair of earrings like none I have ever seen. AB, Sworovsky crystals, that climb right up the side of my
ears, requiring not only the pierced backing, but an additional clip holder at
the top. The crystals that drip
off the bottom hanging around my neck are stunning to say the least. I wore them on the final night of
Nathalie’s Miami Bellydance Convention and was stopped constantly by people
full of compliments and requests as to where they had been purchased (they come
in gold backing or silver). At a
cost of $85.00 they were one of the best purchases I have made in years. I am so in love with them that I have
purchased a small hanger so I can display them on my dresser. Can’t help it - - this magpie loves the
bling.
Zaina's New Scrumptious Earrings
Susan can also do specific design work for you. Send her a
piece of jewelry that you want copied and she can and will do just that. She really is quite amazing.
On Sunday afternoon, Susan and her husband delighted the
busy vender’s room with an impromptu ‘swing” performance. Wow, what fabulous dancers and such a
treat for us all.
Before our conversation was finished, Susan told me she has
a patented design coming out early in 2010 that will “blow our socks off”. She did not give me any hints - - it
was very hush hush. Knowing her
already high standards and the elegance of her products, I can hardly wait and
will most assuredly let you know what she brings us.
You can find Susan at: http://showoffstraps.com/Contact.asp
