To help someone wear her dress

[alpacinou]

Hello.

I want to suggest that I helped a woman wear her dress.

How can I express that? Does this work?

Emily went into her closet and came back with a long overflowing silk dress. I helped her into it and we were off to the ceremony.

 

[Tarheel]

You didn't help her wear her dress. You helped her put it on. Say:

I helped her put it on ....

(Your version is not terrible.)

 

[alpacinou]

Aha. I thought maybe saying "he helped her into her dress" might be strange.

Do I have other options?

 

[Tarheel]

Men don't normally help women get dressed. That's for sure.

Maybe somebody else will have some suggestions.

 

[alpacinou]

Not usually. But this couple are on their honeymoon. I'm looking for an interesting way to describe how a man helps a woman put on her dress.

 

[emsr2d2]

Aha. I thought maybe saying "he helped her into her dress" might be strange.

Both "helped her into it" and "helped her put it on" are absolutely fine in BrE.

 

[Tarheel]

Yes, but he's looking for something more interesting.

 

[emsr2d2]

Yes, but he's looking for something more interesting.

I know. I was replying to his assertion that he thought "helped her into her dress" was strange. I have added the relevant quote to my post to make it clear which part of which post I was replying to.

 

[alpacinou]

Yes, but he's looking for something more interesting.

You stole my line.

 

[emsr2d2]

If you want it to sound a bit sensual, you could use "I helped her slip into a her beautiful, silk, figure-hugging dress".

 

[alpacinou]

If you want it to sound a bit sensual, you could use "I helped her slip into a her beautiful, silk, figure-hugging dress".

That's more like it.

 

[emsr2d2]

Alpacinoutd, you currently have 19 open threads on page 1 of the Editing and Writing Topics section. PLEASE limit your posts. It's really not fair on other users. From now on, please don't add more than two new posts to this section each day. We'll review it in a couple of weeks.

 

[alpacinou]

Alpacinoutd, you currently have 19 open threads on page 1 of the Editing and Writing Topics section. PLEASE limit your posts. It's really not fair on other users. From now on, please don't add more than two new posts to this section each day. We'll review it in a couple of weeks.

That kind of hurts.

I apologize.

 

[Tarheel]

Well, you've been keeping me busy. And I appreciate that.
:-D

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Men don't normally help women get dressed. That's for sure. . . .

Dresses that fasten in back are hard to manage—cocktail dresses and evening gowns, for instance. Women get help with those all the time. My dad was a pro with my mom's dresses.

Luckily for me, my wife doesn't wear cocktail dresses or evening gowns.

 

[Tarheel]

Yes, but that's a minor thing. She says "Can you help me with this?" Then he fastens that snap in the back and feels like he's really done something.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Yes, but that's a minor thing. She says "Can you help me with this?" Then he fastens that snap in the back and feels like he's really done something.

Well, yes! If no one helps with the last two inches, they can't go anywhere!