https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hard-to-take-off-dresses Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 09 Apr 2026 19:33:08 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hard-to-take-off-dresses#post-313542 Mon, 14 Mar 2011 00:31:08 +0000 Steph 313542@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Okay, I HAVE had to ask the SA to get me out of a dress. I tried on a formal dress at Nordstrom and I just could not get out of it--I tried for about ten minutes and was completely sweaty and bedraggled when I gave up. What's worse is that there were no SAs anywhere close by--she must have gone to another department--so I had to stand in the dressing room hallway saying "excuse me?" over and over. Absolutely awful. </p> <p>My boyfriend has a rule of thumb about dresses when I'm trying them on: if I can't get it on and off myself, I really shouldn't be buying it. He's right. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hard-to-take-off-dresses#post-313534 Mon, 14 Mar 2011 00:25:49 +0000 lyn* 313534@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My main way to get out of things is...</p> <p>1) Relax.<br /> 2) Breathe out all the way to make yourself as small as possible.<br /> 3) Bend over at the waist, and hike the bottom part over your shoulders first.<br /> 4) One arm at a time. Don't wedge both elbows in, or else you're stuck.</p> <p>... if you're bent over all the way, your garmet will not go over your shoulders, and both elbows are tucked in and you're running out of air... you can curse me And it means you're stuck. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hard-to-take-off-dresses#post-313494 Sun, 13 Mar 2011 21:55:21 +0000 Heather 313494@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think the panic attacks are the main cause for damaged garments (loose/broken zippers, loose seams, etc). Count me in as a member of the dressing room panic attack club. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hard-to-take-off-dresses#post-313491 Sun, 13 Mar 2011 21:49:33 +0000 Sheila 313491@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This whole thread has me giggling...not because I'm laughing at you, but totally, like I have been there so many times in a dressing room...absolutely STUCK in some garment that was too tight to maneuver one way or the other!!! I usually end up laughing at myself and silently saying a prayer that I won't die in the dressing room before I figure out how to get out of the darned pickle I'm in. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hard-to-take-off-dresses#post-313455 Sun, 13 Mar 2011 20:26:50 +0000 Maya 313455@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, I have heard seams rip before. Yikes.</p> <p>Kristine, these are dresses with partial side zips. In other words, you'd have to be able to get your hips through the neck hole. Not happening. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hard-to-take-off-dresses#post-313328 Sun, 13 Mar 2011 17:42:56 +0000 MsMary 313328@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Me, too. And I HATE struggling with my clothes so for me, if a garment is hard to get on or off it's a deal-breaker. My husband travels a lot and I need to be able to dress myself! LOL </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hard-to-take-off-dresses#post-313321 Sun, 13 Mar 2011 17:30:41 +0000 chewyspaghetti 313321@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am a member of the dressing room panic attack club, too! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hard-to-take-off-dresses#post-313319 Sun, 13 Mar 2011 17:22:40 +0000 teri 313319@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I too have had the dressing room panic attack.....lol </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hard-to-take-off-dresses#post-313271 Sun, 13 Mar 2011 15:19:52 +0000 anne 313271@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Not a hope of them going over my hips Kristine </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hard-to-take-off-dresses#post-313233 Sun, 13 Mar 2011 12:44:38 +0000 Kristine 313233@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is probably obvious, but how about taking them off over the hips instead of the shoulders? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hard-to-take-off-dresses#post-313232 Sun, 13 Mar 2011 12:41:04 +0000 anne 313232@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>And I trying to avoid having to ask SA help, broke a dress! (broke the zip or the catch at the top- can't remember exactly) So then had to make even more embarrassing apology </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hard-to-take-off-dresses#post-313190 Sun, 13 Mar 2011 07:23:59 +0000 lyn* 313190@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>OMG Maya! That would be terribly embaressing. Once I got stuck. And to avoid the SA help fate, I pulled a little too hard and knocked off my glasses. O-o; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hard-to-take-off-dresses#post-313187 Sun, 13 Mar 2011 07:15:26 +0000 Maya 313187@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have tiny shoulders but still have this problem. In my case I think it's the bust area that makes it tricky.</p> <p>This is most common in woven dresses with no stretch or dresses without a side zip. Happens to me in tops too. I have found that bending over and pulling the dress over my head as much as I can helps somewhat. Then I just need to shimmy my elbow around to get an arm out. Once I get one arm out, it's smooth sailing.</p> <p>I have had more than one fitting room panic attack where I thought I might need to ask a SA for help to get out of something. How embarrassing would THAT be! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hard-to-take-off-dresses#post-313185 Sun, 13 Mar 2011 07:03:52 +0000 lyn* 313185@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I used to have this problem; but now I just buy dresses with more stretch in them. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hard-to-take-off-dresses#post-313176 Sun, 13 Mar 2011 06:42:46 +0000 anne 313176@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>bumping! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hard-to-take-off-dresses#post-312773 Sat, 12 Mar 2011 12:47:22 +0000 Laura 312773@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes! I have small shoulders so I don't have the over-the-head problem, but I have some fitted bodice dresses with zippers that are darned hard to put on. I have a new CK woven dress with a very fitted waist and I have to turn the back zipper around to the front, zipper it, and turn it around to my back, then put my arms through. Taking it off is much easier! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hard-to-take-off-dresses#post-312766 Sat, 12 Mar 2011 12:21:59 +0000 April 312766@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes. :)</p> <p>And I think you're right -- it's the shoulders/upper back that create the difficulty. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/hard-to-take-off-dresses#post-312761 Sat, 12 Mar 2011 10:25:10 +0000 anne 312761@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Recently I have found that some of my new dresses which fit well when they are on are really hard to take off over the head. Sometimes I have had to ask for DH's help! These are sundresses with smocking or gathering that don't have a zip or buttons. </p> <p>I suspect that while I mostly wear Aussie size 8 my shoulders are a bit bigger than this.<br /> I don't really need advice on this as I am willing to take a few minutes of difficulty for what seems otherwise to be a good fit. Just wondered if I am alone!</p> <p>Anyone else have this problem? </p>