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How to single women dress on their own?!

106 replies

Happilyobtuse · 06/11/2025 22:18

I bought a dress to wear for an event. It is a black tie event and the dress is a gown with the zip at the back. I have just realised I have no way of getting dressed for this event and leaving the hotel without help from another person! The event is in a different city from where I live. Made me think, how do single women get dressed when designers keep putting zips at the back! I have a few dresses with zips at the side but the one I want to wear for this event has a zip at the back. I am totally stumped. If I was at home my husband or kids would help. Wise mumsnetters give me a suggestion! Please don’t say change the dress! I love this one!

OP posts:
Ikeameatballs · 06/11/2025 22:24

If zipper has a hole in the zip pull then thread through a cord/ribbon. You can then pull up further and transfer to the other hand which reaches down and grabs the cord from the hand that pulled up.

TheNightingalesStarling · 06/11/2025 22:24

I once turned up to a black tie event, grabbed a friend and went to the loos for dress help before returning my coat to the cloakroom. Unfortunately my babysitter that evening was my 16yo male neighbour.

pinkpony88 · 06/11/2025 22:22

You just need something with a string that will clip onto the zip. Then when you’ve zipped it up
unclip the string.

TheLivelyRose · 06/11/2025 22:21

I ve never understood how women can't do up a back zip.

I've honestly never had a problem doing up a zip at the back.

You reach behind your back and push it up as far as you can and then you put your arm over the top and reach down between your shoulder blades to grab the rest

cardibach · 06/11/2025 22:21

Being flexible enough to reach the whole length of a back zip? Or if not, purchasing clothes we can fasten alone.

JudgeBread · 06/11/2025 22:19

Coat hanger. Hook through zip, grab over shoulder, pull.