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Original poster

Putting on your bra behind your back!

260 replies

skislope · 13/04/2016 19:13

I remember reading a thead (or three) a while back that divided opinion about how people put their bras on. It was pretty much 50/50 that some fastened them behind their backs and some fastened them under boob then twisted round. I am in the latter camp and it did puzzle me how it's possible to do up your bra behind your back... Blush
However, I was at an aerobics class a few days ago, and the instructor asked us all to link our own hands behind our backs and connect them (if that makes sense!) which I couldn't do - neither could a lot of people (I noted as I was stood at the back observing!). We were all people of differing statures and weights (so not a 'long arm' issue) - so I wondered if the world's back bra fasteners are the same people that can connect their hands behind their backs?!

OP posts:
n0ne · 15/04/2016 09:13

I don't think I'm very flexible (can't sit cross-legged, for eg) but can easily clasp my hands behind my back, and am indeed a behind-back-bra-doer-upper. You might be onto something, OP!

n0ne · 15/04/2016 10:50

OMG, I just measured myself due to this thread and I'm a 32E. I've been wearing 36D for years!!!!!! That's mental. Thanks, bra experts Grin

Frostycake · 15/04/2016 11:09

Another back fastener here. I can put my arms behind my back, bend them up and put my hands between my shoulder blades too.

I'm not flexible or hyper-mobile though as I can barely get my legs into a 45 degree angle when sitting on the floor stretching at Yoga or to Jillian Michaels.

How do the twizzers among you do up your zip backed dresses?

MiniMum97 · 15/04/2016 11:12

I can clasp my hands behind my back but fasten st front because it's easier. Takes milliseconds as I've done it since I've had boobs and I don't even think about it. Never had chafing! Can't see how this would happen. I do have small boobs though - not sure if this makes a difference?

Frostycake · 15/04/2016 11:16

I wonder if the difference is to do with built, not flexibility?

I'm a size 12 and 5'6" but I have broad shoulders and very long arms. One thing I've noticed about women with a pear shaped figure is that they tend to have short, dainty arms. I think there was a thread on here a couple of years ago about this problem and pear shaped women were saying that they likened their body to the T-Rex! I see myself as more of a gorilla!

GrinAndTonic · 15/04/2016 11:17

I am a front fastener but there are at least three or four hooks and eyes. I think if there were two then fastening at the back would be simple. And I have never injured myself doing it this way.

Frostycake · 15/04/2016 11:18

Mm.. could be. I'm a 30 underband and a D cup but wear a 32DD for comfort (don't like a tight underband). I suppose bigger norks could get in the way of front loading.

puzzledbyadream · 15/04/2016 11:45

I'm a 32DD (thought I was a 32B until I found A Bra That Fits on Reddit, marvellous to know I'm not flat chested). I am definitely wearing the right band size, I was wearing a 30DD up until recently and a new one I tried was way too tight so I remeasured and had gone up a band size (and technically a cup size too, else I'd be a 32D).

Anyway. I swivel. My mum swivels. I can take it off behind my back one handed but my poor dyspraxic brain can't do it behind my back very easily. I slip it down my rib cage a bit and then pull it up, arms in holes, scoop and swoop my boobs up and I'm sorted.

mrskim123 · 15/04/2016 12:38

I've never been able to do my bra up at the back. I have to fasten it at the front and twirl it round, not being double jointed and no eyes at the back of my head. What really annoys me about bras is the 'falling down strap' - I have them tight enough to stay in place but not to dig in my shoulders. The only solutions are to try and sew the straps on nearer the centre-back or failing that a piece of string to tie them tighter together in front. Of course this only works with high cut tops. As a widow I live alone and for dresses I make them loose enough to step into without needing a zip. Oh well, I'll never gain an A level in elegant sophistication now.

puzzledbyadream · 15/04/2016 13:08

MrsKim, falling down straps can sometimes mean your band is too large. Trying going down a band size and up a cup size and see if that helps at all. I have slopey, slim shoulders and I have much less of a problem now I wear the right band size.

For dresses with zips I tend to contort myself, but you can always put a safety pin on the zip, tie a piece of long string to it and then pull it up with that. Then you just take the safety pin off and the dress is done up.

Milkmaestro · 15/04/2016 13:24

I also read the previous thread on this and am frankly astonished that doing up round waist and twisting the bra round is not the norm. I am plenty flexible enough to do up a bra behind my back but don't understand why you might blindly fumble around for 2 or 3 rows of hooks and eyes (and also get them in on the right tightness setting!) when you could do it an easier way? I have never had any problems with chafing, sticking etc doing it the twisting way.
Having said that I might be missing a massive revelation here and am going to try doing it up at the back just to see what all the fuss is about. Do you not end up trapping bits of boob as you wriggle around doing it up? Are there specific advantages to doing up at the back i haven't thought about?!

musicposy · 15/04/2016 13:46

How do the twizzers among you do up your zip backed dresses?

I don't. There's a whole section of my back I can't reach. I have to ask another family member to zip it for me, or wear something else.

This thread is a revelation! I assumed everyone had such issues!

candykane25 · 15/04/2016 13:47

Music, try a coat hanger hook to hoik the zip :)

Dragonglass · 15/04/2016 13:57

I'm a back fastener, but tried to front fasten this morning after reading this thread.

What a faff it was! I swivelled the bra around my waist, which hurt my skin and then tried pulling it up but it didn't move easily. Then I couldn't actually get my 32dd boobs into the cups. I just couldn't work out how to make the bra fit and be comfortable that way.

I took it off and went back to back fastening. How on earth do the front fasteners get their boobs in?

Janey50 · 15/04/2016 14:23

I have another method. I do the bra up before putting it on over my head (as you would a tee-shirt) and then manoeuvre my boobs into place. It is the only way I can do it due to having one frozen shoulder (unable to lift right arm above elbow height) and rheumatoid arthritis in both shoulders. Have done this for 20 years!

Janey50 · 15/04/2016 14:24

Or better still,I wear a front fastening bra. No problems with that at all.

candykane25 · 15/04/2016 14:54

dragon when you've twisted the bra round, the cups are under the boobs so you scoop them I. As you lift the straps over your shoulders.
Have you ever pulled a dress on feet first and pulled the dress up and arms into the sleeves?
I'm assuming back fasteners can do exactly the same as front fasteners in that they can fasten the back band and then put boobs in.
I know some put it on arms first, a bit like a backwards waistcoat and then fasten but if I try to do that my boobs seem cumbersome and squished while I'm trying to fasten. I can do it but it's very uncomfortable. Must easier to fasten at front, bring the cups Roy d to the from and then scoop up and on.

kezzy13 · 15/04/2016 15:00

flora I do the exact same as you :)

MrsKoala · 15/04/2016 15:03

As a back fastener I always put my arm in first then lean forward put each cup under the appropriate boob then lean round the back and do it up. Then when it's done up a do a bit more scooping and lean forward and jiggle a bit. I have tiny boobs tho. 36b/c

Ameliablue · 15/04/2016 15:09

Milk maestro, if you do it all the time, there is no fumbling involved. It's as quick as doing it by sight so altogether quicker and easier.

MamaBear98 · 15/04/2016 17:28

For the rare times I wear normal bras now I wear sports ones as they are so much comfier and are supportive I always fasten them at the front and then turn them around Smile although I am very inflexible and unfit so won't be able to do that hand stretch thing! Grin

NatashaGurdin · 16/04/2016 00:09

Klaptrap

It seems likely to me that being left handed might play a role in why I prefer to use the front fasten and twist method!

hogbreath · 16/04/2016 06:30

I fasten mine then slip it on like a t shirt.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 16/04/2016 08:04

I used to be a front fastened but switched when I was pregnant. I got rib flare which meant I didn't have the narrower bit to swivel it in anymore so changed to back fastening. I also started wearing the right bra size which meant less stretch. I can clasp my hands behind my back and can almost do the yoga prayer like position behind my back but I'm not very flexible in other areas

toffee1000 · 16/04/2016 10:51

Yeah, I often have a problem doing up back zips. But then, sometimes even front zips can be a pain in the arse if they get stuck, so not entirely sure whether it's to do with the zip itself or whether it's because it's a back zip.