wildflower wrote:
For me personally it's the back ones that are the problem . I spend twice as long fiddling about with back ones trying to do them up only to have them pop off as soon as I straighten up as I haven't fixed them on properly. Front ones are no problem .
I'm was thinking I was strangely inflexible so it's nice to know I'm not alone!
Do you already have the straps tightened to the final length you want them before attaching the stockings? A lot of people make this mistake.
(To me, that's like putting your shoe on after you've tied it up. I know people do that too, but the shoe will never fit as well - just the same as with a suspender belt.)
The way I do it is...
1) After putting the belt on (but before attaching the stockings) I loosen each strap almost completely so they're much longer than I need them (particularly the back ones). I also undo all of the clips at this stage if they're not already open.
2) Next I put my stockings on.
4) I attach the stockings to the back straps first.
It's usually easier to stand and feel your way around rather than bend round to try and see what you're doing. (If you really need to look, sit in front of a mirror, slightly to the side, with your knees bent, or on the edge of the bed/a chair. You can see the clip and stocking top in the arch in your legs.)
5) Now you can stand up and swivel your stockings around a bit so the back straps are straight down your bum / where they should be (as long as they're not seamed stockings, of course! You just have to get those right the first time!)
6) Now the back straps are attached and straight, you can attach the front straps. DO NOT TIGHTEN ANY STRAPS YET. You should do up the front clips while you're standing up. Pull the stockings up a bit (as they usually drop) and attach the front suspender clips. (If you have a 6 or more strap suspender belt, you can do those up now.)
7) It's at this stage you can begin tightening each strap one by one. I start with the front, and work my way round to the back. I also periodically lift a leg (like I'm doing keepie ups) to make sure the back straps won't come flying off the minute I sit down or bend over.
A note worth adding is that stockings and suspenders DO take time to get on. It is perfectly normal (required) for it to take around 10-15 minutes to get a set of stockings on properly, especially the first few times you do it / if you're out of practice.
I think a lot of people think they can slip them on like tights, and then think that they're doing something wrong when they've been fiddling for 5 minutes. You're not doing it wrong... That's just how long it takes!
Here is a guide and video which might also help.