Doing up a Zip at the Back of a Dress

One issue bothered me about my planned trip to Melbourne.

I'm going alone, so how am I going to dress myself? Specifically, since all my favourite dresses have zips up the back, how am I going to do up my own zip?

My first idea was to wear clothes that do up at the front, and I've started to make a new dress which buttons up the front.  However, I really don't have enough time, or energy, to make an entirely new wardrobe.

So I searched the internet, and found a number of gadgets it's possible to buy to do the job.  However, I also found, on a number of sites, a gadget so simple I could make it with materials in my arts and crafts studio. It's a safety pin on a long ribbon.

A safety pin with a ribbon helps do up a zip at the back
of a dress.

Tie the ribbon on the safety pin, then put the pin through the zip before putting the dress on.  Once the dress is on, throw the ribbon over your shoulder (if you're like me, throw it over your good shoulder) and pull the zip up.  Reach back and undo the safety pin.  (That's the hardest part - so use the biggest safety pin you can find  because it's quickest and easiest to undo.)

To undo the zip, reach behind your neck, put the safety pin through the zip, and then pull the ribbon down.

On a related note,  I've been having issues with the hook and eye at the top of zips lately.  They're too small and fiddly for me to do up, and they get caught in my hair. Fortunately for me, I have time to make my own clothes.  My solution to the problem, is to put a button and loop at the top of the zip instead of a hook and eye.  It's bigger, and easier for me to manage, and I use self-covered buttons so they don't stand out particularly.

A button with a loop is easier to manage
than a hook and eye at the top of a zip.