I want to make an observation about women's clothing. It's something you guys all know already but is valuable to discuss. Your thoughts are invited.
My new dress from Aimee is amazing. It fits my body perfectly. But! And this isn't a bad "but," just a fact-of-life situation. The dress is very hard to put on. Its top is snug, fitted to my exact measurements and made of non-elastic material. There's a side-zipper that allows you to snake into the dress but, to pull the zipper up, you need two hands and leverage which, when inside the dress, you don't have. Thus, it's hard, almost impossible for me to put the dress on by myself. I really need a spouse/aide to zip me up.
I've faced this before with other female clothing, especially fancy gowns and form-fitted items. That's why I usually choose elastic material for stretch allowing easier manipulation. But I have no regrets about choosing the material used in this dress; it is amazingly beautiful. Luxurious and chic.
To wear attractive feminine clothes often involves effort and sacrifice. I've never had discomfort wearing any article of male clothing; even neckties aren't a big deal. But frequently when I put on a tight dress I face physical struggles so intense and prolonged there are almost tears. Also -- and I'm not kidding -- I always keep a pair of scissors within reach because I have (more than once) actually gotten trapped inside clothes. My shoulders and torso are unnaturally large for most women's clothing. I've gotten halfway into some pieces, unable to complete the journey and unable to back out.
You've faced difficulty wearing tight clothes, right? How do you deal with it? With stoicism? Scissors? A handy husband to zip you up?
Please give me the benefit of your experiences.
I've been stuck with a dress over my shoulders and had to get a shop assistant to help me get it off. I've also ripped zippers trying to get things over my hips. I've popped buttons (many times!) in every position. I wonder if this is part of the inherent sexism in clothes (like not giving us pockets in every garment like men's clothes do)?
ReplyDeleteThe problem is certainly gender-specific so I believe there is an element of sexism involved.
DeleteI've certainly had issues with this. I've had to be cut out of clothes by shop assistants at Anthropologie before. I've also had small panic attacks when I wasn't able to budge after trying to wedge my body into an ill fitting dress. It was stuck over my head and I thought I was going to faint. I was grateful to have Robert nearby at that time. I've also strained my neck and arms trying to move in and out of dresses before. I'm not sure why they can't make the zippers and closures more user friendly for women.
ReplyDeleteSuzanne
http://www.suzannecarillo.com
Oh I've definitely had issues with this! It is a nightmare and really frustrating!!! I tried a dress on in a shop once that I got stuck in and thank the Lord I had my friend Elizabeth with who hauled me out of it. The same dress caused the same problem caused the same problem for two of my friends. Like Suzanne above,I have strained a muscle trying to get into a dress. Side zips are useful for changing alone but they are a PAIN to do up as you say, you kind of need 3 hands to deal with them!
ReplyDeleteI have to ask my husband to help me unzip back-zip dresses but sometimes he's really grumpy about it and doesn't want to do it!x
Like you and Suzanne, I have sprained muscles many times struggling with clothes. Men should be more helpful to women dealing with this.
DeleteThere's nothing worse than the panic of being stuck fast in a fitted dress knowing that any minute my Wife or girls could return home. Even with my Wife knowing about my feminine side it would be very embarrassing indeed.
ReplyDeleteI find when trying fitted garments on I come at them from various angles. If one way doesn't work getting the garment on then I don't try and force it, i'll try another approach. One thing I did learn early on is to put a long lace through the zipper of fitted dresses so that it makes zipping up the back a lot easier with one hand. Also the same for unzipping too, put a long lace through the zipper and you can unzip the garment with much more ease with just one hand.
That's smart. I've tried it with twine. There are spots in my back I can't reach no matter how hard I try.
DeleteAh, I feel your pain! :-) Two shops, two very different fits.
ReplyDeleteHow about fitting a paperclip or unbent keyring hoop to the zipper? Then either some string or an extended coathanger to pull the zip up. Also a dab of lipbalm can help an awkward zip. Just be careful not to blob the material.
Good luck!
Thanks for the suggestion. I've tried it and it helps but not completely. Sometimes you need to apply pressure and tugging on a string doesn't do the job. But it's worked on other occasions. I appreciate your help!
DeleteIf I have trouble with a zipper I usually look for the handy husband to help me out or I just don't wear the item. I give up easily, ha!
ReplyDeleteDoes Nate make house-calls? :-)
DeleteI think we've all been there at one time or another! I've had countless can't reach the zipper moments, and while it's OK when I'm at home or in a shop with someone with me, it's a different story when I'm trying on things when on my own. I've had a couple of panic attacks, let me tell you ... xxx
ReplyDeleteI agree that it is gender specific to woman's clothes. I have not encountered the issue with guy stuff but some dresses can be hard to get into and even harder to get out of
ReplyDeleteIt's embarrassing to say but I've had to cut my way out of some dresses. Fortunately they were cheap thrift-store ones.
DeleteI have been there quite a few times, I am usually doing a contorted dance/shimmy trying to get out of whatever I daringly/unwisely tried on, only to end a sweaty stressed out mess. I have had to call on a sales clerk or two for help. I hate side zippers and generally avoid the style no matter how cute because I can never get them done up. I have had a few zippers break trying to get unstuck. Fashion can be an unwieldy beast.
ReplyDelete"...a sweaty stressed out mess" -- Yup, that's me!
DeleteI've definitely gotten stuck in clothes. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. We all sympathize with each other over this.
DeleteI usually give up if it is too tight ... but if it is just an issue of a zipper I either ask for help or try and contort to zip it up and then lie down since it feels more like wrestling :D
ReplyDeleteOne time I got straight up STUCK in a dress. I literally considered cutting it with my car keys and for real stealing it so I didn't have to go up to the counter and explain. HA! Thankfully I was eventually able to get out but that was humbling. Oh!! Or the time I got stuck in a pair of jeans at Maurices. I just cried in the dressing room and the woman working slid lotion under the door and told me to try that. I could have hugged her!!
ReplyDeleteWow. Thanks for sharing, Sara.
DeleteMy husband has had to rescue me one too many times in a dressing room where Ive gotten stuck in a dress or shirt that went on fine only to realize I am top heavy when I take it off. I have learned that stretch is my friend. You are going to share a dress reveal photo right! Can' wait to see you in it!
ReplyDeleteElasticity is everyone's friend!
Deleteit happened with me too once, so i generally prefer lose cloths, even for trail, so that i get the idea, which size i should buy.
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Oh I hear you. This is totally normal in my book. Needing help to wear zip up a gown, specially the long formal dresses... making sure I can get into a car and then out of it because the gown is fit. Yep.
ReplyDeleteYes, I feel you. I have this problem often where I have to put a small dress over my rather curvy top. I recently purchased a fabulous dress made for 12 year old girl and that took a strong sales associate to help me put it on.
ReplyDeleteI agree that does struggle is not common with men’s clothing. That is so frustrating, thing but just think of all the beautiful women’s clothing and all of the special details. I think it’s worth it.
This dress is gorgeous.
❤️❤️❤️
Elle
https://theellediaries.com/
Oh, so interesting that you pointed this out, because I assume that most women are familiar with the problem, but never really address it, because we're " used to it".
ReplyDeleteThat's so true. We accept the norms of life without questioning why they are so. This is one that stands out only to someone coming into the gender from another place. Thanks for the insight!
DeleteYou made some decent points there. I looked on the web for the issue and located most people will go along with together with your website. online gambling
ReplyDelete