ZLTdream Women's Belly Dance Top - Sexy Mermaid Long Sleeve Shirt for Belly Dancing, Costume Parties & Performance Outfits

The tag said "chemical material." I'm not sure what that means, maybe referring to "synthetic," as it was made in China. The tie you see in the front is actually a strip of material sewn so as to bunch the material together as shown (see the pictures of the backside on amazon). Not sure why the strip of material was there on the backside, as I couldn't slip it forwards to the frontside without risking to tear the sleeves. If you cut off the strip, it would be a normal, full bolero backing. There are front material drapings for cinching up in a knot as well, but according to the pictures, the tie goes in the back. Someone else would have to knot you in the jacket; later you could slip it on or off as it's wide enough. One size fits all; I normally wear small/medium and this fit a little loose. It has an elegant flair as shown well in the pictures, but I returned it because it was too large and the material bothered me.This top is really nice quality and fits great! I'm a chest size 34C and it fits.The picture shows 2 strings that come down. I didn't like it on my body that way (too much cleavage), so I turned it around to make it an open back.The top has strings in front and it ties in the back. I turned it around so it ties in front and has the strings hang in back. The tie part can wrap around your waist, they're long enough, the strings are not very long.I wrapped the ties from front to back and it works great. Here are some pics of me modeling it before I wrapped it. Hope it helps!For a one size garment I wasn't shocked that it was a little bit small for me because I'm - ahem - well endowed. If you are an A to C or maybe even a D it should be fine to wear alone. I wore it over a bathing suit top for a costume.I am very petite, so this was a bit large on me. I needed a quick costume for a disco showdance routine, though, and this worked fine. The fabric seems like it could snag easily, but I had not problems with it. You will definitely want to pair it with some sort of bra/top.I like this top, however, it's not for someone with bigger boobs, (I think?). The fit is just kind of weird to me. I wear a 38 C and the thing is, it fits, but whenever I lift my arms, it comes completely off, exposing my boobs. Thankfully, I had a black strapless tube bra, so it blends with it. But wouldn't be able to wear this without something like that under it.Fit beautifully, I wear 34D, but it won't stay put without pinning to bra. Pin to bra, then tie.I needed a white top in a hurry for a belly dance at our hafla. As I took it out of the package, beads were already falling off. Still, it had to do, and I hoped no one would notice from afar. But the material was cheap and sheer, and they stuck these round pads on the side of where they guessed women's breasts would be, but they just looked like weird white circles. I will cut this up and use it as a pattern for other shirts.Material is more cottony than I thought it would be. At 32B, it is a little big around the bodice but the sleeves are snug.