A quick Zip question

[Sophie Haworth]

Hi all.

I am in need of a little help.

In my last photo post (cream suit) I am wearing a dress with a zip up back, but here is the thing, I cannot pull the zip right up to the neck, my arms will not bend enough, so it stays about 3/4 the way up the back.

Have you any tips, it frustrates me and I would hate to get so annoyed that I turn into a female Incredible Hulk.

Sophie.

[Sabrina Flowers]

I had the same problem with one of my dresses, depending on the zip type you can hook a wire coat hanger or peice of wire in the hole in the zipper head and gently pull the zip up and unhook.
Its not so much the getting into the dress that is the problem it is undoing the zip and getting out. :o

[linnea]

I take a safety pin on a string and hook the pin to the zipper handle. Then I just pull the zipper up to the top. I reverse the procedure when I want to unzip.
Of course, this method assumes that you can get the pin into place from behind your neck. Depending on reach and flexibility, that can be quite a challenge. It also means that you have to carry a string and a safety pin in your purse.
I don't have many dresses that I can't zip without this device, so for me it's not a big problem.
Good luck.

[susann_gardener]

Reminds me of the time I was trying on wedding dresses at a consignment shop. Got into one using the shoe lace through the zip.:D Went to get out of it (it was get out or buy it) and I couldn't get the zip down. :sad: What to do?+?
Well, there was the shop keeper:rolleyes:
Best I could do. Nothing said, so I thanked her and left.:thumbsup:

[Katelyn]

What I do is I zip up as far as I can. Once I've done that, I Pinch the two sides from the top and pull the dress up slightly until I can reach the zipper again.

[DonnaT]

Many zip up dresses can be zipped to being near the top before even putting them on. Then it's easy to reach the zipper.

Otherwise. the methods of a string or wire work may work. One hand to pull the zipper up, the other hand to hold the lower portion of the dress down in the rear.

Then again, if you can't accomplish the first method above, the dress may be too tight to let you try the string or wire method.

[JenniferR771]

I hate when that happens. i was trying on some dresses at a thrift store. Wearing wig, earrings and heels. Some of the girls know me. Well I am flexible, but the zipper got stuck--caught some fabric in it. The girls were busy at the register. Finally I had to ask a nearby customer. She had probably already clocked me, but it was still hard to ask her. She was very nice--thank God.
Jennifer R

[MarinaTwelve200]

Attach a small pulley, like used in bamboo curtains to a screw eye and attach it to the ceiling (can get the stuff from a hardware store)

Loop a string thru it with a small hook on one end.

Hook onto the zipperand pull down on the other end of the string----The zipper will zip right UP.

[sandra-leigh]

I cannot pull the zip right up to the neck, my arms will not bend enough, so it stays about 3/4 the way up the back.

I had a blouse made that is back-buttoned, and of course I can't do up the buttons at shoulder-blade level. The dressmaker pointed out that all I had to do was to do up the lower buttons, then pull up the blouse until the other buttons were within reach.

This would not, though, work for something that was, as we used to say, "painted on".

I do have several back-zip blouses and dresses; pushing the fabric up with one hand while reaching down with the other has worked for me, but I know it would not work for everyone.

[Stephenie S]

Some GGs have the same problem. Enough of them so that there is an item commercially available to pull up zippers. Just a small light chain long enough to go over your shoulder with a hook on one end and a finger loop on the other end. It should be available at a notions counter in a large department store. This is so easy to make, though, that you would not have to buy it. A piece of string with a bent paper clip on the end does the trick easily.

I had to laugh at Marinas pully. Quite a picture sweety.

Lovies,
Stephenie

[Sophie Haworth]

Thanks all, but not quite got there yet, the problem being the dress is an excellent fit, but the zip does need to pull the dress together finally at the top and it does not have an eye in the zipper so there is nothing to attach to.

I do have a solution, but it is not very feminine, use a `mole grip` adjustable spanner grip it while the zip is low down and then pull it up.

Surely there is something far more delicate to use.

True GGs use men, but I am not up for that.

Sophie.

[sissystephanie]

Thanks all, but not quite got there yet, the problem being the dress is an excellent fit, but the zip does need to pull the dress together finally at the top and it does not have an eye in the zipper so there is nothing to attach to.

I do have a solution, but it is not very feminine, use a `mole grip` adjustable spanner grip it while the zip is low down and then pull it up.

Surely there is something far more delicate to use.

True GGs use men, but I am not up for that.

Sophie.

Sophie,

You have something against men?:heehee: Just kidding. I have a few dresses that have the same kind of zipper, no hole, they are more common now. What I do is zip the dress up normally as far as I can, then pull the dress up my body so the top is very loose at the shoulders. Then it is easy to reach behind your head and get the zipper and close it. Might take a few tries to perfect the manuever, but it does work easily once you know how. My dear departed wife actually taught how to do it.:love:

Sissy

More Girl than man

[Dragster]

If your zip tag does not have a hole in it, why drill a 2mm hole in it. Oh I forgot, that's a man's solution and you're trying to be femme!!!

Tony

[Amy Hepker]

Leave it to tony (or should I say Dragster) to say something like that. I have a few dresses that are very tight on me also and I am able to get them to zip. If I can't reach all the way in the back I just do as the others and pull it up as far as I can then finish zipping. There is nothing like having someone else zip it up for you though. It is a very special feeling. Good luck!

[ColleenCD]

Sophie,

Try tying a cream colored narrow ribbon on the zipper. You can reach it from the bottom and pull it to the top. It's feminine enough to accessorize your cream outfit and will be hidden with your jacket.

Colleen

[Melinda G]

This is easy. I took a piece of heavy black thread, or you could use fishing line. Tie it through the tiny hole in the zipper, and pull the zipper all the way up. Then just drop the line down your back, inside the dress, and out of sight. When you want to take the dress off, fish the thread out, and pull it, and the zipper back down.

[Sweet Susan]

Zip it up, then put it on.

[Vash]

Yeah ,yeah, that's a problem but how about when after all that work to get the zipper up and you are all nice and dressed someone unexpected <like a wife, girlfriend, kids >whatever come home and you have to scramble to get it unzipped. All the other stuff comes off pretty easy ,the wig, shoes, hose, but you can't get that damn dress unzipped.

That's actually happened to me

[Kate Simmons]

Your question got answered, Hon. Here's a real tip. Next time something like this happens, ask any woman. They are quick to figure out stuff like this and I will defer to their expertise every time. The old saying: "Ask a woman, she knows" is very true.:happy: Ericka/Rich