How do you do up a zip on the back of a dress on your own?

[Wildviolet]

I recently bought a dress with a zip up the back. Haven’t worn one for years, and not since I got divorced.
Now I live alone I am realising how difficult it is to do up the very top bit of the zip.
How on earth do you manage this? I just can’t contort my arms to reach the last few inches no matter how I try.

I tie a bit of string to the zip and then remove it once Ive zipped it to the neck. I dont knot it, just double it.

I do it up as far as I can “under arm” by reaching behind me and then change arm position and reach down “over arm” to the zip and pull it up the rest of the way. Sometimes getting it right to the top is a bit of a struggle but usually manageable. I think it’s to do with flexibility mainly, you might need to limber up with a few stretches first!

If it's standard zip (with a hole), you could put a shoelace through it?

That's the method I use too. I am very flexible (genetically, I don't exercise at all, just made that way) - which is a help with this situation. If you're not naturally very flexible, OP, there might be exercises you could do.

Under arm then over arm/back over shoulder, like @YourSassyPanda

I do have one jumpsuit that this will not work for. So I threaded some very thin ribbon through the zip and use that to pull it up. Then I tuck the ribbon down inside for unzipping later.

It does seem silly that clothes are designed like this. A leftover from times when wealthy ladies had maids maybe?

I can’t think of any men’s clothing which are so impractical to put on.

The zip head on this dress is very tiny without a hole or I would try the ribbon method.

I actually have hypermobility so you would think if anyone could flex to reach this zip it would be me!

Maybe I will just have to keep it for occasions when someone is calling in for me (it is a going out sort of dress not everyday wear) and ask them to do the last little bit.

There are aids to help you do this, not everyone has dexterity. £5

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SUPERFINDINGS-1Stand-Dresses-Extender-Assistant/dp/B0DPSLZTWC?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A2XRYZUFHMFDOX

you basically need to be able to do that stretch where you put one arm up behind your back and the other arm down and reach your hands together in the middle!

I have shoulder issues so can no longer do back zips, but still have lovely dresses with them! I just do it as far as I can then head out to wherever I’m going, then ask a colleague (if work) or friend (if social occasion) to do it for me 😂

I have sometimes knocked on my neighbour’s door and asked her. 🤷‍♀️

Women’s clothes designers need to rethink things…back zips are a pain in the arse!

Aha! I might try this. Although am wondering how easy it is to get off behind the top of my neck.

There are different hooks and clasps so you should be able to manage one of them.

This is my thinking. My neighbour is male though and I wouldn’t like him to think I was being at all flirty or inappropriate!
Plus would I need to ask him again when I get home so that I can get the dress off?!

A few years ago, Jane Fonda famously posted a picture of herself the morning after a red carpet event; she had slept in her dress because although she’d obviously had an assistant or to similar to zip her into it, she didn’t have anyone to get her out of it!

Lots if advice on this thread where the OP had the sane problem.
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5440056-how-to-single-women-dress-on-their-own

Haha…he would either love this or hate it 😂

Taking it off…I just ask someone I’m with to pull the zip part way down before I leave wherever I am. I’m so used to this rigmarole now 😬🤦‍♀️

Buttons at the back of the neck are a devil even if you can reach, they always use titchy buttons with very tight button holes or loops. I've never had a problem with a zip, or washing my back!

I just reach back and pull the zip up, and then reach over my shoulder to get it the rest of the way. It's not hard, and I'm not especially bendy.

Amazing how some people assume that because they can do something everybody should be able to do it!
Dresses and people can vary.

Very helpful, thank you. That thread contains an even better gadget so this might be my answer.

A wire coathanger hooked through the zip.

Under arm then over arm, sometimes have to pull it up to get to in than wriggle it back down, not always easy but never failed yet when alone (thankfully dh is only too willing to help at the end of the day )

Oh god, the stupid BUTTONS! And then the elastic loop snaps or comes unstitched.

I worked in a hotel and you would not be surprised at the amount of ladies who rang for housekeeping to assist with this. On function nights it was either more towels, toiletries that were forgotten or ladies dressing mishaps. Did a fair number of emergency sewing repairs!

I don't wear dresses much, but I've encountered the same issues with tops that have a tiny button at the neck (back of the neck). Really annoying! If it's a loose top, i can fasten it at the front and flip the top around. But I shouldn't have to do that.