Bra buster

Teenage boys — and a lot of grown men — could learn a lot from Thomas Vogel. On Saturday, the German man displayed dazzling dexterity to break the Guinness world record for the most brassieres unhooked in one minute using one hand, shattering the record with an eye- and clasp-popping 56 opened bras in 60 seconds.

The Bavarian bra-buster did so on the set of a TV show in Cologne, with a bevy of bra-covered beauties lined up to assist him. Vogel bested the Guinness world record previously held by Aussie Rick Canzler, who unhooked 42 bras on June 19 of last year in Sydney (though we doubt Canzler's game is suffering much).

That said, sorry ladies. Most males lack the deft touch that Vogel displayed on Saturday, as evidenced by the awkward stories of bra openings gone wrong, described below. Here's hoping more guys get their fumbling moves figured out soon.

Yet most of us — well, most of you — have no doubt experienced the frustration and embarrassment of taking way too long to unlatch those pesky clasps.
It's enough to make a guy feel like a boob.
Which is why I am willing to share a fool-proof technique that has been handed down in my family for generations.

Ready? The trick to opening a bra easily and smoothly is... use your left hand.
It's no big secret, really, just basic mechanics. Bra hooks are sewn into bands in a direction that makes it easier for southpaws. So the next time you're making like Jose Reyes and going for second at full tilt, just remember these four easy steps:

1) Reach behind your gal with your left hand,
2) firmly grasp the bra band where the clasps meet,
3) pinch it between your thumb and first two fingers, and
4) gently pull.