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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
wallywobbles · 14/04/2016 10:21

Front fastener here. Can't get my hands anywhere near each other behind my back.

purplevase · 14/04/2016 10:38

Can you also not zip up a dress that zips up behind you

Not necessarily and I've been to events where someone who lives alone has asked someone to pull their zip down slightly so they could reach it once home. I guess people buy clothes with other fastenings.

I always fasten at the front and twist round, no chafing or similar. I also run and use a Shock Absorber bra - I do that up and put it over my head like a crop top.

FeralBeryl · 14/04/2016 10:39

Front twisty weirdo signing in here Grin
But.... Am very flexible, do regular yoga and can do the praying behind back palarva.
I try periodically but I can't, just can't fasten the hook and eye without it being at the front. I've been fat, thin, pregnant, and it never changes.
Plus I've always been larger of boob so there is too much tension on the band and I invariably drop one side and lob a boob out.
I then remember in only doing this because of mumsnet and give my head a wobble and put it on my normal way.

Or are you back fasteners aliens fastening around your waist then hitching up?

BreconBeBuggered · 14/04/2016 10:50

I thought I could do the back twisty thing, till I saw the photos. Nowhere near.

I'm another front-fastener. I can reach the straps at the back, but I can't keep my arms in the right position long enough to get the bra done up properly. Taking it off from the back is fine as you don't need so much coordination.

mammamic · 14/04/2016 11:17

What is the hand clasp behind the back thing.

Oh - I'm a back fastener. Overweight. Short arms. Not very flexible.

MissTurnstiles · 14/04/2016 11:22

If you have large boobs, and a properly fitting bra, front-fastening and swivelling isn't an option - you have to let your breasts fall into the cups and fasten at the back.

Ninjagogo · 14/04/2016 11:24

Front and twist, when I bother to wear a bra. Worked it out myself as a skinny teen, never knew there was another way until MN enlightened me! I can do the behind thing but I prefer to see what I am doing. Which presumably you cannot do anyway if you well endowed....

Brenna24 · 14/04/2016 11:25

Back fastener here. But I can't do the linking hands behind your back thing.

grimbletart · 14/04/2016 11:28

Back fastener here.

I'm not particularly flexible as far as I know but not only can I put my arms behind my back and can clasp each elbow. No, I don't have arms like a gorilla either Grin.In fact they are quite short from wrist to elbow. I've never given it a thought until I read this thread.

LordoftheTits · 14/04/2016 11:28

I've only ever fastened it at the back, didn't know there was another way! I have big boobs and I don't think I could be arsed wrestling them and my arms into their scaffolding the bra once I'd spun it around.

Ginkypig · 14/04/2016 11:30

Back fastener here.

I can clasp behind my back all the way to my elbows if doing the handshake version.

If doing yoga picture version above I can touch fingers but not clasp them.

The idea of twisting everyday would make me not want to wear a bra! Iv done it and can't get my large assets to fit in the cups that way. I need to place them in the cup before.

So I put arms in lean forward to place breasts in cups then in one swift movement stand straight while pulling band behind back and fastening, the a little rearrange if needed but not normally

Seeline · 14/04/2016 11:32

Back fastner here.
If my boobs weren't contained there is no way I could see to front fasten possibly couldn't even find the fastners I cannot imagine doing it any other way, but perhaps the reinforced underwiring would rather inhibit the twist manoeuvre Wink
I am fat, unflexible and have short arms, but have no problems. I can also join my hands behind my back.

bearleftmonkeyright · 14/04/2016 11:40

I broke my wrist on Sunday and getting my bra on and off is the only thing I can't do one handed. But I am a front fastener and take my bra off by taking arms out and undong round my waist. Soi cant reach round back very easily and dont remain trapped in my bra forever. My arms are short and when at my side stop sort of level with my crotch. I remember some horrid cow at school teasing me about it at school.

dinkystinky · 14/04/2016 11:42

Back fastener here - small back, big cups. Can only do the hand clasp yoga thing on one side - is a 5 or 6 cm gap on the other side. No way I could do Flora's put on over my head - would get stuck on my shoulders.

purpleporpoise · 14/04/2016 11:44

I'm a front twister. I've never managed to fasten behind my back yet! It could explain why I'm always popping underwires though Hmm

jobrum · 14/04/2016 11:45

I can link my arms behind my back and zip up dresses but I cannot do up my bra. Have to fasten it at the front, always have.

Drbint · 14/04/2016 11:58

Back fastener due to naturally flexible shoulder joints. Can do hand clasp no problem despite being old.

MyCatIsTryingToKillMe · 14/04/2016 12:00

Back fastner here but I'm still trying to get my head round the concept that people can't link their hands behind their back, it just seems odd! Confused

Mousefinkle · 14/04/2016 12:02

I'm really lazy and have it fastened before I put it on and just pop it over my head...

Ambroxide · 14/04/2016 12:03

I back fasten. Small back, medium/large cup size. If I tried to put my bra on over my head, I very much doubt it would get further down than my neck.

I can fold my arms behind my back and do the handclasp thing easily.

MyCatIsTryingToKillMe · 14/04/2016 12:04

Oh just seen the yoga over the shoulder link. I can only just about do that one side but not the other but I do have a damaged shoulder with limited mobility so that would explain that I guess. But bra link position behind your back, surely everyone can do that?

IdStillRatherBeKnitting · 14/04/2016 12:06

Okay, so I'm a back fastener, but am I weird too?

I put my bra on inverted, so the cups/straps face down onto my tummy, do the back up (round the back) then flip the whole bra up (scooping up breasts into cups), and put my arms through the straps.

If I put breasts in first without doing the band up first, the wires don't ever feel like they're touching my ribcage, and I'm uncomfy all day. (can hold my elbows behind my back, but the over the shoulder arm thing is really hard!)

Dawndonnaagain · 14/04/2016 12:08

Arthritis and EDS now mean I'm a front fastener.

MsMims · 14/04/2016 12:10

I'm a front fasten and swiveller. I'm large of boob and so my bras mostly have 3 clasps, I can do one clasp up behind my back but forget the rest!

Can link my hands behind my back though, just tried.

Fillybuster · 14/04/2016 12:11

I'm massively hyper-mobile (can easily sun cream my whole back!) but have always done my bra up at the front and twisted round.

Maybe it's not to do with agility but nork size? (Haven't RTWT so sorry if repeating previous posts...). I'm a 32 E, so have at least 2 and sometimes 3 rows of hooks to link up. Might be easier if it was just the one on each side?