Mastering the one handed bra unsnap

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

There was an episode of Happy Days where Richie, Potsie and the red haired guy were struggling with learning how to smoothly unsnap a girl’s bra. They managed to get hold of a mannequin with a bra, and took turns working on the smooth unsnap, usually two handed, and of course Slapsick Hilarity ensued, falling down and whatnot. Eventually the Fonz came in, and in a smooth onehanded flick of the wrist the bra popped off the mannequin.

I was about 15 when I first saw that episode and to this day I am still impressed with that move. I vowed to learn this technique. Over the years, epecially during and after college, I pretty much became proficient, not like a tenth degree dan or anything, but could do the move smoothly perhaps 90% of the time. I Was Good.

Then came stability, and marriage, and I never needed the talent again - forever, I thought. No big loss.

[imagine pages magically flying off of a calendar]

The came divorce, and Chuck thrust back into the dating pool, unprepared and atrophied. No hilarity ensuing here, just embarassment and groping like a tenth grader. Needing to use two hands, and still struggling. I’m glad to be back in the game after a two year sabbatical, but using two hands - sheese. And when you’re on a sofa, you don’t always have two hands free.

Now, my current girlfriend (hopefully longterm) thinks the whole thing is funny. She taunts me. She can tell that I’m trying to relearn the OneHand, like a retired baseball player, back at the plate, who used to be at the top of his game.

So I ask

Is it possible that bras have been redesigned during my ten year absence ? Did they switch to left handed threading, or perhaps changed the over/under hook logic ? As a right hander it seemed that the “over” part came from her left side (facing her) yet it may be that the “over” part comes from the right now. My thumb, used to provide the leverage, is in the wrong place, somehow.

I’m not about to buy some bras and rent a mannequin, although the thought has crossed my mind. I can’t use my girlfriend to practice on, although she would be OK with it, it’s too damaging to my ego. I could accidentally wander in to the lingerie section at Sears, but getting arrested for mannequin tampering would be embarrasing.

This shouldnt be bothering me. Life is good.

2

Ok, while I can’t believe I’m posting this…
A quick check of my bra clasp (me, reaching around the back, if that helps you orient yourself in relation)

The over part, with the hooks, comes around my right side, while the under part, with the eyes, comes around the left.

I don’t think they’ve been redesigned in the last few years…but maybe it varies among brands?

3

You’d think someone would have made the damn thing out of velcro by now.

4

I dunno about bras having been redesigned, but I just wanted to inject a personal anecdote:

Earlier this week when I met my husband for lunch, he put his hand on my shoulder to give me a little massage as we were walking towards the restaurant. I often have tenseness between my shoulder blades as well, so he put his hand right between my shouldblades and kind of kneaded my muscles by pushing down and in with his thumb and fingers. Just as we were walking in the door of the restaurant, my bra popped loose!

I had to skeedaddle to the restroom after we walked in to fix it. I think that’s a once-in-a-lifetime shot there!

5

I think in the 50’s bras had a S-shaped hook fastner like some bathing suits still do. You merely had to put a thumb and finger on either side and give it a twist for it to come undone. (Bras that fasten in the front usually have this same type fastner.) Nowadays bras have one to several small hooks & eyes running flat along the back, which I’m not entirely convinced COULD be undone with one hand.

Incidently, my bras have NO fastners. You need to be invited in, heh heh.

6

I’ve been married 8 years, and I can still walk up to my wife when she’s not expecting it and have it popped through her shirt. The trick is to come around her left side until you feel the overlap. Remember, it’s really more of a slide than a pinch. The overlap is rarely perfectly under, there is usually a little scrap sticking out. That is the target. Hold the scrap down with your finger while you press gently and slide the top flap to the right. Try to keep the two flaps in a straight line. In a multi hook setup, I find that this method usually releases the top hook first. With some practice you’ll learn to adjust the angle of attack.

Good luck, enjoy, and I hope this helps.

7

My daughter (KEEP AWAY FROM HER YOU PERVERT!) prefers sports-type bras that have no snaps at all. Should the subject ever come up, the second-last thing I would say to a boyfriend would be wry sympathy for his predicament. Of course, the last thing I would say would be to tell him to say his prayers while I loaded the shotgun.

Personally, I was never that adroit at unhooking bras, but that was okay, because the sight of a woman reaching back, unhooking her bra and having it fall open is the single sexiest image I can think of.

8

To clarify: the scrap should be held with the thumb, then the slide completed with the index, middle, and possibly ring finger. Style points can be gained if the pinky swings into action once the underside shows some slack.

BTW, I hold all the patents on this manouver, but allow it to be used here under permission. :smiley:

9

So, I’m a girl, and like most women can undo my bra behind my back with just my left hand. The technique (as I see it) is to get one finger underneath the strap just where the two pieces overlap, then use your thumb to turn the left-hand part (your right-hand part) over which releases the hooks. The motion is not unlike snapping your fingers, actually.

I think it was Dave Barry who said that the Crown Jewels must be protected by bra straps, since they are an impenetrable (hehe) barrier.

10

I’ve had decent success with opening the hook fasteners one-handed before. The move is similar to rolling a cigarette or the gesture for money. The thumb rubbing across the fingertips in a back and forth motion. So with the fingers on one side of the calsp and the thumb on the other side, give a firm flick and … BOINK!!! :smiley:

11

So, kunilou, need a baby sitter?
<D&R>

12

Aaah the wonder of the bra clasp. Afraid I can’t help much as I’m a girl and hence just naturally imbued with the knowledge necessary. I could explain it no more than I could explain breathing. Just wanted to wish you luck and offer my own little anecdote :slight_smile:

When my husband and I were dating in college… I liked to torment him by buying bras with varied clasps (eye hooks, plastic clips …) One day clasp in the back… next time in the front… sometimes no clasp at all :slight_smile: I’m evil I know…

After 12 years he’s still not an expert but we’ve managed just fine :slight_smile:

13

Wow - this is great advice.

I was hesitant to ask women to describe the left/right over under angle of their bras as I didn’t want to make this sound like another spit/swallow thread. The overlap being from the left or right is still a bit unclear to me.

I can’t wait to put this advice into practice. I need to study this for a while first, maybe make some some diagrams.

NurseCarmen - Excellent advice. I am assuming I don’t have to send you royalties if I use the maneuver.

Lsura Thanks for checking.

Frank 2 - “BOINK?” Not only free advice, but free sound effects "

Tannokie - “Torment” ? You and my girlfriend would get along well.

14

I sucked at doing this when I started doing it too. I don’t often do the one-hand thing because hey, you have to admit it’s just showing off. But if I can add anything to all this first-hand (i.e. female) advice, I’d say you need to try and keep the side with the ‘catches’ (which I think is usually her right) in place while moving the side with the hooks. So getting a finger or two inside there to anchor while you push the hooks with your thumb might be a good way to try it. This is hard to visualize, I wish my girlfriend was here so I could conduct some field tests.

15

With my ex gf I got pretty good at unhooking her bra with my teeth…

16

[false ego]
STUDS like me don’t need no stinking hands. We just have a certain “look” that causes bra straps to unhook on their own when we’re around. It’s a blessing as well as a curse. While it’s great at clubs and bars, I miss being able to enjoy a relaxing day at the bingo hall…
[/false ego]

17

FYI:

The red-headed guy in the OP is Ralph.

Just in case anyone was wondering. . .

18

Do what I do. Find girls who don’t wear bras.

19

Man, I can’t undo my own bra with one hand. Damn my industrial strength bras and their three hook-and-eye latches. Then again, I’ve only been with one guy who bothered to try, and he succeeded. So maybe I’m just a spaz. :wink:

20

Ok, so the secret is to use a left-handed slide, with a bit of a pinch, using the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers like you’re trying to roll a cigarette, then finish with a clockwise swirl?