How to single women dress on their own?!

[Happilyobtuse]

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!

I can usually do them myself but there’s definitely been a few occasions I couldn’t but I’ve just always asked a member of staff to help, I clearly have no shame 🤣

Hotel receptionist before you leave

I've done this before, zipped as much as I could, worn a jacket over the top and asked a friend/another woman to zip the rest on arrival. I would just ask a female staff member.

Actually I’ve just had a memory unlocked
of being unable to unzip a dress to get out of it after a work do in Glasgow and asking a bemused taxi driver to help. I’d had many wines….

This. I don't understand how people can't do it either.

I love the dress! What's the brand?

Can't say I've ever had this issue myself, but I do have bendy arms and elbows.

Gorgeous dress.

I have this problem with my work dress. And so far I've had

The security guard at the office do it
One of the engineers, whichever is available
My bosses boss
A client

Basically, anyone around. I clearly have no shame.

And great for those that have never had this problem, clearly enough people do as things are sold for it. It doesn't make you superior in anyway, so not sure why you're being "bemused". There is nothing confusing. Some dresses are more difficult for some people.

Weirdly, the dress before this uniform stumped every woman, some of us nailed it in the end but many couldn't.

https://www.next.co.uk/style/su446086/ae0171

I like the dress but OP needs to charge her phone that made me anxious 😬

48 and have never asked someone to zip up a dress.

Either you’re very inflexible or the dress must be incredibly tight!

Buy a narrow long length (like 2m) of gorgeous satin ribbon from a fabric shop, and thread it through the tiny zip hole. In a contrasting colour. Functional; sexy.

I'd just ask someone, either a female receptionist, or other female member of staff or a female fellow guest. Just explain your dress is tricky and can they come to your room when you text/phone and help you. Alternatively go downstairs with a coat over the dress look around for another woman and say 'can you zip my dress up please'. I'd have absolutely no problem if someone asked me for help.

Sorry, I'm all out of medals.

pride before a fall & all that.

Really, you don't understand how people have different length arms, different builds, different levels of flexibility?

and that's before we get to life changing accidents or medical events.

I've had zips I could reach but couldn't do up as they are an absolute fucker of a zip and the wrong type for the garment. I always check I can either do the zip or have a female colleague teed up to help me though. Sometimes the zip is ok but I need someone to do the hook at the top.

Also lots of people are not flexible in the shoulders or have an injury or disability. It's not unreasonable to ask for help.

Not being flexible enough isn't a character flaw, being smug however...

Im glad so many people are totally clueless about why someone might not be able to this.

I have weirdly short arms, and tight shoulder muscles so not a lot of movement. I cant do a bra up at the back either. And that thing where you put on hand over your shoulder and the other up from the bottom and hold your own hand (IYKWIM) My hands are nowhere near touching.

So it's great for those of you that can, even at the age of 60. I couldn't do it at the age of 16.

I’m reminded of that viral Instagram post by Jane Fonda in recent years where she put up a selfie of herself having slept in her Oscars dress cos she’d nobody to unzip her. Happens to the best of us, Jane!

www.instagram.com/p/BbLHMrqjOpX/?hl=en

This is why schools need to teach resilience.

Oh my god, I loved that Jane Fonda Instagram!
That's my face every morning!

😂😂
You must have a low bar for self-congratulation if you think anyone feels smug for………..getting dressed.

Like this.

Or, ask a woman at the hotel to do it.

Well sure but why assume everyone single has the same limitations? That’s really odd.

I’m sure there are women who struggle and most presumably find a workaround. No doubt there are products sold to help just as there are products sold to help you peel an orange if you have arthritis. It remains the case that the vast majority of people can peel an orange, even if they’re single……

I should have done that! Would have saved me a return charge when I called a taxi to go to my cousin's after a night out (we were out together) to get her to unhook my zip. The zip kept sliding so we hooked it into the fastening at the top. I couldn't get it out.

Neighbour zips me in with a <sigh> “spin round then”
taxi driver unzips

yes I’ve been single a long time!

Thanks! It’s a lipsy dress which I got from next.