Topic: How long did it take you to get used to the buttons being on the other side?

[ChrissyRyan]

How long did it take you to get used to the buttons being on the other side of tops and how fastening and unfastening them took a different effort?

While many people may not notice the opposite button placement on clothing much at all, you do as you are dressing and undressing.  I think it took me at least a month to get the hang of it.  Did you end up using your other hand more when buttoning, or the same hand?

The size and feel of buttons on female clothing can also differ from male clothing.  The material used for blouses sometimes seems to make it easier to button than on male shirts.  I have notice that some, but not many, female tops have buttons on the same side as male shirts, which is interesting in itself.

I say vive la différence!

Chrissy

[JennyTG]

Over a few years I'm still getting used to it, lol.

[ChrissyRyan]

Over a few years I'm still getting used to it, lol.

I know what you mean, sometimes I have to make a second attempt at buttoning.

Chrissy

[JennyTG]

I know what you mean, sometimes I have to make a second attempt at buttoning.

Chrissy

We share the same frustrations, infact I had that hassle just today with a workwear shirt, difficult when you're in a hurry!

[ChrissyRyan]

We share the same frustrations, infact I had that hassle just today with a workwear shirt, difficult when you're in a hurry!

Sometimes it takes me a bit longer to button up flannel shirts.  Maybe because the material is thicker than most blouses.  Not sure. 

In any event, when there is time, it is nice to lay out on the bed what I plan to wear.  Sometimes I change the selection and end up wearing a different outfit.  Today, no buttons except one inside the pants and one outside of the pants.  A nice turtleneck on top.  Comfy and warm.  I ended up just staying in all day, as plans to be out changed.

Chrissy

[KateR]

Still working on it.

Some tops are harder than others.  I have a beautiful flowered top where the buttons are hidden.  I love the top however buttoning will usually have me going bonkers before it’s done right.

(Incidentally it’s the top I’m wearing in my current profile picture.)

[Maid Marion]

I'm cross dominant so I just switch hands as needed!
I can write neatly with either hand.

I have a couple year old Carol Hochman PJ top with really tiny buttons. 
More recent purchases have much larger buttons.

Marion

[Kaleig_hC]

I still have to adjust and use my non dominant hand to do female pattern buttons.  Most of boy's shirts I use are polos so I leave them unbuttoned. Same with sleep shirts leave them unbuttoned. I don't have much practice with male pattern buttons either. I never bought button downs since you could never try them on since they are packed in plastic with needles. They were way bigger than marked size and swallowed me whole.

[Maid Marion]

Yes, men's shirts are effectively a size larger.
Men's XS translates to Women's Small.  And that XS shirt isn't supposed to be form fitting like a woman's shirt, so a men's small is effectively even bigger than just one size up.

[Kaleig_hC]

Yes, men's shirts are effectively a size larger.
Men's XS translates to Women's Small.  And that XS shirt isn't supposed to be form fitting like a woman's shirt, so a men's small is effectively even bigger than just one size up.

My problem was I probably needed children's shirts since even the smallest men's shirts were too big. Good luck finding XS. Most brands that size XS make it fit like the Small of brands which don't have an XS option. In other words XS is sized like Small.  Really there is no true XS in most cases. I noticed most shirts sizing for 34 -36 inch chest have a circumference like in the upper 40s. They swallowed me whole. My mother never bought children's shirts for me after a certain age. She should have never moved me to adult shirts to be begin with. I always like my shirts semi fitted which men's shirts are not. With a 13 inch neck I could go fairly small too. Now that I am transitioning, I can find more fitted blouses. I noticed I need Medium in most women's shirts for the arm hole to fit right even though depending on the brand I need a Small or Large on occasion.

[ChrissyRyan]

I have reached the point where it is now “odd” for me to button clothing that has male button placement.

I do not have any female clothing that buttons on the back of the garment, that may be a challenge.
Bras with the back hooks were a challenge but not so much now, if I ever get frustrated I simply clasp and rotate.

That bra rotation does not happen much any more, but it is still rather routine for me to do the rotating with necklaces.


Chrissy



@Northern Star Girl @Maid Marion @big Kim

[Kaleig_hC]

I have reached the point where it is now “odd” for me to button clothing that has male button placement.

I do not have any female clothing that buttons on the back of the garment, that may be a challenge.
Bras with the back hooks were a challenge but not so much now, if I ever get frustrated I simply clasp and rotate.

That bra rotation does not happen much any more, but it is still rather routine for me to do the rotating with necklaces.


Chrissy



@Northern Star Girl @Maid Marion @big Kim

Buttons on the back if you can't rotate them would require help. On items that zip up in the back, I figured out a hack. If the zipper has a hole in it and many do, you can tie a piece of small rope, yarn, or whatever you got that will work and have enough length to reach over your shoulder. In case of a dress use one hand to hold the dress at base of zipper and have the rope or what you tied the zipper with in the other hand and pull on the zipper and the dress zips right up. Just make sure your hair is out of the way. Just like that I zip dresses up with no help. Anybody else thought of something like this? During my first transition, I live in an apartment for a year and knew nobody. I had to do it myself. I figured I get no takers to help since I looked like a man in a dress. On no hormones at that time.

[ChrissyRyan]

Still working on it.

Some tops are harder than others.  I have a beautiful flowered top where the buttons are hidden.  I love the top however buttoning will usually have me going bonkers before it’s done right.

(Incidentally it’s the top I’m wearing in my current profile picture.)

@KateR


Kate,

I do like the hidden buttons on one or two of my blouses.  You certainly have to get used to those, for sure.
But if the look was right, so it did not bother me to buy them at least.  This is yet another female dominant style as I do not remember having seen a guy’s shirt like that.

Some western wear have little snap-in buttons down the front of the blouses, that is a nice style distinctive for both female and male western wear.


Chrissy

[ChrissyRyan]

I put on an old men’s flannel shirt to do some grunge work and it sure was surprisingly difficult for me to button it up.   I did get it done but it just felt so unnatural for the first four buttons.  Then it seemed to be easier for the rest of the buttons. 

Chrissy

[Northern Star Girl]

In just a very short time I could do either side quite easily... for buttons and for zippers.

[ChrissyRyan]

In just a very short time I could do either side quite easily... for buttons and for zippers.

I remember during my undergraduate years that I put a safety pin through a hole in the zipper and the pin was also attached to a string.  I used it to pull up a back zipper.  Later, I put the pin back on again and tugged down.

I was very nervous too walking around campus, or even driving, as I was not exactly a beautiful coed.  Sigh…

Chrissy


@Northern Star Girl