Whoever created the microscopic hook-and-loop design on bras—

[u/SomeGuyCampingNCR]

I would like to handshake their face with a shovel.

I've recently started to transition so I've been adding more feminine clothes into my wardrobe. I'm unfamiliar with female clothe sizes, so my first non-pullover bra is giving me absolute conniptions as I try and contort myself to hook the little hooks through the even tinier eyelets. I ended up just putting the strap together and pulling it over my head like a sports bra.

[u/sketti-an-meatballs]

When I was younger, I would put it on backwards (loops forward) so I could see, then rotate it forwards to normal position

[u/ZenCat14 → u/sketti-an-meatballs]

My mom and grandma taught me to do that

[u/dertechie → u/sketti-an-meatballs]

That works for some bras, but not all of them. Not all bands have the stretch required to do it without damage (and some designs make it very inconvenient).

Very convenient when it does work though.

[u/EdlynnTB → u/sketti-an-meatballs]

That's how I do it, my ex put her bra on that way as well.

[u/Every_Consequence_81 → u/sketti-an-meatballs]

That’s the way I do it

[u/that_girl_4321 → u/sketti-an-meatballs]

This is what I do

[u/SacredWaterLily → u/sketti-an-meatballs]

That's how I always do it

[u/Sad_Possibility1297 → u/sketti-an-meatballs]

Dis is de way.

[u/erica_arborea]

Hot tip - put on your bra backwards, then slide it around the right way after you’ve got it hooked. So much easier!

[u/SomeGuyCampingNCR → u/erica_arborea]

*facedesk*

God-damnit... that makes so much sense. Thank you, kind sister for imparting knowledge upon this recently cracked egg.

In all seriousness, thanks for the tip. I'll keep it in mind for the future.

[u/HunsterMonter → u/erica_arborea]

If your bra is well adjusted it shouldn't easily slide around your chest

[u/napstabl00ky → u/HunsterMonter]

which is why you hook it on around your waist first :) usually the waist is a little narrower than the underbust

[u/FunIncident5161]

I can't put one on with the clips starting in the back, I need to flip it around so clips are up front so I can hook it then spin it around.

[u/myotheraccount83 → u/FunIncident5161]

Which is what a lot of people who wear a bra do.

[u/Marshal_Raynor → u/FunIncident5161]

Learned this from watching my mom as a kid

[u/StarryChocobo]

I've encountered some skirts that are that way too. Like, why do they have to make it unnecessarily difficult?😭

[u/Sometimes_Laura82]

"handshake their face with a shovel" This is brilliant. I'm stealing this. 😁

[u/Doc_Insanity]

It's honestly just a matter of practice, assuming you have full healthy range of motion. It used to be a big pain to get hook-and-eyes done up, taking minutes at a time to get a bra on, but now after about a year I can get a five hook bra on and off again in about 20 seconds. It is a bit of an asinine design though. There are other ways to make a closure that are easier to open and close.

[u/External_Mongoose_44]

Practice and you will succeed. Keep on practicing. I practiced this a lot and now I’m able to fasten my bras behind my back without any fuss. I have some longline bras with rows of five hooks and eyes and I can easily do them up behind my back as well, although five of them hooks are challenging. Like I said, practice, girls, practice.

[u/Sadistic_Corruption]

I would say welcome to womanhood. But I don’t have room to speak as I’ve (for the most part) not even begun to transition yet 😅 I say that mostly from complaints I’ve heard from women in my life lol.

[u/Finn-reddit]

I prefer bralettes and sports bras because of this. Don't worry too much about sizing, that will change with time.

[u/glitchygirly]

I recently got my AMAB sister a bra as a gift. It was not a welcome gift. And then I taught her about corsets.

[u/IcyOblivionFox]

Imo, the hook it in the front then turn it around that everyone is suggesting works well. I do it, but I do also practice doing it the hard way a bunch of times and I’ve been getting closer and closer.

[u/AlternateMango1275]

Mark Twain patented the design I believe

[u/Ill-Pumpkin6459]

The bra boss fight is real 😭😂 welcome to the club, girl 🏳️‍⚧️

[u/western_drifter]

You method of putting it together first then putting it on over your head like a sports bra is literally the only way any cis woman I’ve ever dated or been married to has ever done it. So you’re in line with most women lol. 

That shit’s frustrating as hell.

[u/dertechie → u/western_drifter]

I feel like if you can get it over your shoulders like a pullover with the hooks closed it probably means it’s too big in the band.

[u/western_drifter → u/dertechie]

Maybe. Works for them and works for me. But I did forget about the backwards hook and spin that I saw everyone else suggest. The women in my life have done that too just much less frequently. I’m sure I’ve tried it like that once or twice. 

[u/dertechie → u/western_drifter]

The thing is, it is extremely common for women to have bras with a band size that is too big thanks to certain kinds of sizing fuckery. Bands are stretchy enough that it'll be "snug" like that but still not fit correctly.

The problem with that is that since it's too big, it will not grip properly in the band to provide support. The band is actually supposed to provide most of the support, not the straps.

For whatever reason, almost every bra company on earth has a sizing chart where they take your underbust and add 4-5 inches to it to get the band size. This was needed when bras were made of silk and satin (materials without any give) for breathing space. But with modern elastics, it isn't necessary (and the bras they actually make are sized for +0, not +4). Since they don't actually fit, a +4 sized bra will cause fatigue and discomfort.

Size charts will tell me with a straight face that I should wear a 38AA. My 38 band stuff was incredibly uncomfortable to the point that I donated it so I wouldn't accidentally wear it. Meanwhile, my 34B stuff fits perfectly. This is especially infuriating with companies that are ostensibly marketed to relatively flat women like me. Pepper should know better.

[u/maniamawoman]

Put it on backwards, turn it around. Then at the end of the day I ask my gf if she can take it off for me

[u/GenevieveSapha → u/maniamawoman]

Agreed.... putting on a bra backwards is the easiest way...

[u/SnooBananas2655]

What's funny is that we spend so much time and effort getting around and putting bras on while there are other women that are spending the same time and effort getting bras off. #freethenipple

[u/TheTopCantStop]

you get used to it. I have a few hook and loop bras and i prefer them endlessly compared to pull over bras since i dont have to deal with it just bunching up and me having to finick with it to get my hair freed and the bra straightened out.

[u/rugter100]

i get it but its honestly something youll get better at with time, ive been wearing them for 5 years now and i can hook them behind my back underneath multiple layers of clothing (i know cisgender women that cant even do that lol), and thats just from trying nad not giving up

[u/Only-Resist9263]

Of all the things about being trans bras are definitely not the problem! I’ve found it pretty easy to adapt to and find it affirming to put my bra on quickly and without fuss. Why they designed it like that is I agree with you, inexplicable. Typical men!