Clothes for Arthritic Hands: An Easy-On Buyer's Guide
Choose pull-on pants and knit jeans, pull-over dresses, open-front cardigans and front-closure bras: no zippers or tiny buttons to fight.
The easiest clothes for arthritic hands are the ones with nothing to fasten. Build around pull-on pants and knit jeans with elastic waists, pull-over dresses, open-front cardigans and front-closure bras. You keep your style and your independence, and skip the zippers, hooks and tiny buttons that slow mornings down.
What to look for, and what to skip
Look for elastic waists, pull-over necklines, open fronts and closures that sit in front of you. Skip small buttons, back zippers, hook-and-bar waistbands and back-hook bras when fastening is the hard part.
One shopper put it plainly about a hook-and-bar waistband: I detest the hook and bar closure. It gets bent easily and breaks off.
Another, on pull-on pants: The ease of just pulling them on and the elastic waist make them very easy for a old woman to continue dressing herself.
| Hard On The Hands | Easier Swap | Where To Find It |
|---|---|---|
| Button and zipper fly | Elastic pull-on waistband | Suprema Pant, The Knit Jean |
| Hook-and-bar waistband | Covered, all-around elastic waist | The Knit Jean |
| Back zipper on a dress | Pull-over shift dress | Soft Knit Jacket Dress |
| Button-front cardigan | Open-front cardigan | Shadowstripe Burnout Cardigan |
| Back-hook bra | Front-closure bra | Comfort Choice front-close styles |
Pull-on pants: the easiest everyday bottom
Start with a pull-on pant: you step in and pull up, with no button, fly or hook. The Suprema® Pant is our #1 style, described as having a comfortable elastic waistband, deep pockets and a straight leg that skims from hip to hem.
Details that matter when your fingers are stiff:
- Deep pockets are easy to reach into, with no flaps or snaps.
- Stretch-cotton knit (95% cotton, 5% spandex) gives as you pull it up.
- Four lengths: Regular, Petite, Petite Short and Tall inseams, in plus sizes 0X–6X at Catherines.
- Machine wash care, so there is no hand-washing or wringing.
Fit tip: pull-ons stay put when the waistband fits. Order your usual size; sizing down for a "snug" waist only makes them harder to pull on. Some longtime fans tell us the Suprema feel has changed over the years, so read recent reviews and choose what feels right to you now.
Can you wear jeans without buttons or a zipper?
Yes. Pull-on jeans look like denim but go on like a favorite knit. The Knit Jean, our #1 jean, sums it up as No buttons, no zippers, no waistband digging.
It is made from a soft French terry knit (96% cotton, 4% spandex) with a covered, all-around elastic waistband, functional front pockets and back patch pockets, so it reads as polished denim from workdays to weekends. It comes in regular, petite, petite short and tall lengths. Browse more pull-on and stretch jeans if you prefer a different leg shape in sizes 14W-40W.
Which bras are easiest to fasten with arthritic hands?
Front-closure bras. The hooks sit at the center front, where you can see them and work them with both hands, instead of reaching behind your back. Our front-closure bra collection is the place to start.
Shoppers often ask: Which bra is good for a person with arthritic hands need front closure no padding?
Two Comfort Choice® styles carried at Catherines fit that brief well:
- The Comfort Choice FrontClose Wireless Bra is wireless with soft, breathable cotton, double-lined bottom cups and seamed construction for light everyday support. If you want an unpadded feel, this is the simpler of the two.
- The front-close wireless posture bra adds moderate lift, wider straps designed to help prevent shoulder dig-in and a crisscross back that, in the brand's words, helps support better posture. Its cushioned front hook straps adjust for a more personal fit.
Both list band sizes 38–54 and cups B–G. Front closures still use hooks, so practice fastening a few times at home. Both are labeled hand washable, so plan for that, or use a mesh laundry bag if your hands tire easily.
Dresses and toppers that go on in one move
A pull-over dress is the quickest outfit there is: one piece, no zipper. The Soft Knit Jacket Dress pairs a sleeveless shift dress, described as No closure, easy pull-over style,
with a relaxed jacket that has an open, cascade front.
Wear the set together for events or split it up for more outfits. The stretch fabric (96% polyester, 4% spandex) is machine washable, and the dress comes in plus and petite sizes.
For layering, choose open-front styles over button-up ones. The Shadowstripe Burnout Cardigan is a lightweight, open-front topper with 3/4 sleeves, a wrinkle-resistant finish that skips the ironing, and 13+ colors. You can find more easy layers among our plus size cardigans.
How to make getting dressed easier, step by step
Set up your wardrobe so the easy pieces come first. A few habits help:
- Bra first, seated: fasten a front-closure bra while sitting comfortably, then slip the straps over your shoulders.
- Pull-on bottoms next: step in while seated and stand to pull the waistband up.
- Pull-over top or dress: choose relaxed necklines that slip over your head without a back button.
- Open-front layer last: a cardigan or jacket that simply drapes on, with nothing to button.
Keep these pieces at the front of your closet and drawers so the easy option is always the closest one.
Frequently asked questions
What clothing is easiest for seniors to put on?
Pieces with nothing to fasten: pull-on pants and jeans with elastic waists, pull-over dresses and tops, and open-front cardigans. For bras, a front closure keeps the hooks in front of you, where you can see them.
Will pull-on pants stay up without a button or zipper?
Yes, when the elastic waistband fits you. Order your usual size rather than sizing down, and look for a covered, all-around waistband like the one on the Knit Jean, which sits smoothly without digging.
Do easy-on pants come in petite and tall lengths?
Many do. Our Catherines Suprema Pant comes in Regular, Petite, Petite Short and Tall inseams, and the Knit Jean does too, so you can skip hemming, which is another fiddly job saved.
Is Comfort Choice a Catherines brand?
Yes and No. Comfort Choice is a separate intimates brand expressly designed for plus and extended-plus sizes for our parent company FullBeauty Brands, and Catherines also carries a selection of its front-close bras alongside our own collections too.