Snap-off bra is a magnet for men

The Times (U.K.) ^ | 06/29/2002 | Charles Bremner

[Pokey78]

AFTER eight decades of fumbling with hooks on brassieres, French women are being offered a technical breakthrough — a soutien-gorge that fastens with magnets and undoes with a twist.

The gesture is so easy that it should transform the lives of the 80 per cent of women who put their bras on back to front and then pull them around, the makers say.

The makers, Bolero, also see advantages for the Gallic male: no more struggling with le crochet récalcitrant. “Men have always found the fastening system to be barbaric,” a spokeswoman said.

Georges Chetochine, a behavioural consultant who advised Bolero, said that Frenchmen felt a loss of virility if they stumbled while performing l’art du decrochage. “Our study showed that the bra fastener posed a problem. It takes time,” he said. “The man gets annoyed and embarrassed. Then the women gets irritated too, so she takes it off herself. The man is no longer the conquering male.”

The small magnets, which form a flat gold rectangle, have been tested to ensure that they posed no threat to health or mobile telephones.

The flimsy black construction, which will cost about £35 when it reaches the shops in the autumn, elicited mixed reactions from men and women when road-tested in the Place de l’Opéra, near The Times’s office. “This is wonderful for women. It’s incredibly easy compared to hooks and I’m going to start putting my bra on the right way round,” Sophie, 27, a secretary, said.

But 22-year-old Frédérique said she feared that magnets would take away the charm for men. “There will no longer be the desire that comes with patience. The gift wrapping is too easily undone.”

Sandrine, a sales assistant, said: “Sometimes it’s fun to see a man panic over a bra.”

[Draco]

Fumbling is part of the fun. What have you been missing?

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

I never really was able to reduce it down to one finger. The most efficient one-handed method is to secure the back of the bra to the back with the thumb and then to unclasp the critter with the index finger. Bra removal at this level is sort of like rolling a cigarette with one hand. Part technique, partly art. In any event it is a skill that every gentlemen should acquire and perfect.

[Victor]

And the relevant pictures are where.....???

[Drew68]

Sandrine, a sales assistant, said: “Sometimes it’s fun to see a man panic over a bra.”

Je connais Sandrine. Elle est une belle femme française. Elle a son propre webcam. Avertir, il y a un petit nudity sur son emplacement.

[Prodigal Son]

I can unlock a bra clasp like Houdini with one hand without interrupting the kiss.

I can get through the buttons on a woman's blouse and get that thang unhooked without interrupting the kiss and without her knowing it (if it was a front clasp). That was a handy thing in those movie theaters when I was a teen. Course, with some women being too amply endowed, that bra comes unhooked it's like releasing a slingshot- you could shoot your eye out ;-)

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

Fumbling is completely unnecessary if one becomes acquainted with the basic mechanics of the thing. I remember as a boy scout tying knots hanging upside down. That has paid off big time with the missus.

[TexasNative2000]

Pokey, you are one helluva thread scout to find this stuff. . . .

The one-handed release is like playing the piano, being able to tie a bow tie, or dancing the waltz properly; it's not something one should demonstrate unnecessarily, but when the skill is needed, it is most impressive.

[dalereed]

"In any event it is a skill that every gentlemen should acquire and perfect."

I perfected that skill well over 40 years ago. Even the 4 hookers are only a 2 second project.

[TexasNative2000]

Even the 4 hookers are only a 2 second project

Your opportunity to clarify that statement will be short-lived (no pun intended).

[Tailback]

I had a wonderful girlfriend in High School that gave me plenty of practice for my one-handed technique. I love my wife and wouldn't give her up for anything but that girl will never be forgotten.

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

I am quite adept at the two-hookers. I hardly even think about it anymore. Sort of like cuttin' through butter with a hot knife. It sends a defintie signal that one is in control and knows what to do.

[Prodigal Son]

The most efficient one-handed method is to secure the back of the bra to the back with the thumb and then to unclasp the critter with the index finger.

Hmmm. I think the surest way is to slip the index finger between the clasp and the woman's back and use a pinching motion with the thumb and middle finger to release the clasp. This negates the need to differentiate which side of the bra is over and which side is under and I've found some bras to be made of material that was too slick to get enough friction with the two fingered jobby.

LOL! You could also just take it off in reverse order from the way a lot of women put 'em on- shoulder straps off and- wring it around! wring it around! wring it around!- till the clasp is in the front and undo it. This is a nice light thread for a Friday.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Bra hooks are the reason the swiss army knife was invented.

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

my wife just recently having augmentation surgery will now need bigger magnets

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

I understand the technique you describe. However, if one is familar with the bra's calsp mechanism, it's possible to simply squeeze the material around the clasp and hook(s) and voila! The thing simply flies off!

[Prodigal Son]

Even the 4 hookers are only a 2 second project.

Dead gum! I've heard of men that were quick- but I'd have thought 4 hookers would take at least 10 minutes or so.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

If the man's been doing his job correctly he doesn't have to unfasten the Bra. She will have it hitting the floor before he gets the chance.

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

Ya know. I think this thing is being cooked up to deny men one of those rites of passage and accomplishment that separate a true Cassanova from a ....well, less accomplished individual.

[Prodigal Son]

However, if one is familar with the bra's calsp mechanism, it's possible to simply squeeze the material around the clasp and hook(s) and voila! The thing simply flies off!

Yeah, it works. But when I was young, I got burned once doing it that way and from then on I figured- stick with the percentages. Don't matter if you use the handrail when you climb the stairs- point is getting to the top. That's just me though. This thread makes me think about that scene in Bull Durham where Costner loosened Sarandon's garter strap with practiced ease.

[El Gato]

Where have these people been. Little plastic fasteners have been available for decades that open with a twist. I mean for this particular application, not just in general. Still you mostly see the barbaric little metal hook and eye monstrosities.