Gransnet forums

Style & beauty

Can you still use a back zip?

(9 Posts)
NotSpaghetti Sun 07-Sept-25 18:21:52

I have seen lots of hooky things on a ribbon online to help do up a dress - but I want to know how you hook the hooky bit in again in order to pull the zip back down?

Maybe the assumption is someone will help you out of it?

Graceless Sun 07-Sept-25 18:12:17

I second the bent wire coat hanger suggestion

Babs03 Sun 07-Sept-25 18:08:06

No, I have Ménière’s syndrome and for some reason that movement will set off a bout of vertigo, usually short lived but I don’t do anything these days that can set it off.

Elrel Sun 07-Sept-25 17:40:27

Only today I tried on a dress with a full length back zip. It had been in the wardrobe for a few years until I lost weight. No chance of my being supple enough to get the long zip up. The dress will go to the charity shop tomorrow!

M0nica Mon 30-Jun-25 09:27:53

No idea, I cannot remember when I last had a dress with any kind of back fastening.

GrannyGravy13 Mon 30-Jun-25 09:12:35

I am fairly flexible and have several dresses with back zips.

If you have a problem a wire coat hanger can be used to pull up the zip.

keepingquiet Mon 30-Jun-25 08:57:03

Years since I had a zip-up dress and they were usually side zips!

I usually try things on anyway to make sure I can get in and out of them!

Astitchintime Mon 30-Jun-25 08:41:05

Apparently there is some sort of pull gadget that you can buy…….personally, I insert dress zips in the side seam or if it is jersey fabric it doesn’t get a zip at all and I’m not keen on close fitting dresses anyway.

karmalady Mon 30-Jun-25 07:10:58

I am dithering about this, I have a lovely pattern of a dress I want to make. quite a fitted bodice with a 24" back zip. I have not had a back zip for years and don`t have shoulder problems

Do any of you have a reliable way of using a back zip on a fitted dress? I won`t know if I can do it up until after I have made the dress