7 Hacks for Taking Care of Wardrobe Emergencies

As the famous saying goes, “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong,” and your wardrobe is no exception. You can leave the house looking perfect and ready to conquer the day, then arrive at the office with a stained skirt or a creased top after a mishap on the train. Although you cannot totally avoid clothing disasters, the good news is that you can learn a few tricks to help you manage such embarrassing situations. From getting rid of a lipstick stain to fixing a hem that is falling apart, here are several hacks to help you address the most common wardrobe emergencies:

Bleach Stains on Black Clothing

Perhaps you are running an errand or meeting some friends for coffee when you suddenly discover that the black cotton leggings or T-shirt you are wearing has noticeable bleach stains. If so, do not panic. Just find a permanent black marker and use it to cover the stains. Using this trick, your outfit will look good as new in a second. You can also try this hack to fix minor scratches on your black leather shoes.

Wrinkled Outfit

If your clothes have noticeable wrinkles but there’s no flat iron on sight, don’t worry—you still have a few options. For one, you can find a hairdryer and use it as a makeshift iron to smoothen out the wrinkled parts of your clothes. Start by taking off your wrinkled top or skirt and placing it in a hanger. Dampen the problem area with a bit of water, then use the hairdryer to smoothen out the fabric. You can also hang your clothes at the back of the shower to steam out the wrinkles, but beware of splashing water on the fabric when doing this. Better yet, always keep a spray for removing wrinkles in your handbag, especially if you’re planning on attending important work meetings. With a few spritzes, a wrinkle remover spray can readily eliminate wrinkles and freshen fabrics.

Fallen Hem

A fallen hem can break the snappy appearance of your professional getup. If you are already out the door before you realize this issue, use double-stick fabric tape to keep the hem of your outfit in place. Just put the tape on the damaged portion of the hem, fold, and press down firmly to secure the fabric. You can also use an ordinary double-sided tape or fabric adhesive as a quick fix.

Lipstick Stain

So, you made the mistake of doing your make-up before getting dressed. As a result, you are left with a noticeable lipstick smudge on your light-colored blouse. Before starting over from scratch or considering changing your outfit, you can address this disaster with hairspray, a clean cloth, and warm water. All you need to do is spray the product directly onto the lipstick mark and let it sit for about 15 minutes, giving the alcohol in the hairspray enough time to break down the stain. Afterward, use the cloth and warm water to wipe away the smudge completely.

Stuck Zipper

Perhaps you had a hard time zipping up your skirt or pants before leaving for work but did not think much of it. Unfortunately, the zipper got stuck again in the office. If so, look for a bar of soap or pencil right away. Rub the soap or the lead of the pencil along the teeth of the zipper to lubricate it, then jiggle the zipper a little bit and slide to close.

Broken Zipper Pull

Another usual wardrobe emergency is a broken zipper pull. This problem can be readily solved using a paperclip, ribbon loop, keyring, or any object that can fit through the zipper slider. Slip the item through the tab on the slider and use it to pull the zipper up or down. It is worth noting that this trick is a temporary fix. Make sure to purchase an appropriate and more aesthetically pleasing replacement from a craft store when you have the time.

A Run in Your Tights

Tights are very delicate. You can rip them by accident when you sit on a wooden bench or scratch them with your long nails. Sadly, a tiny rip can become a giant hole in an instant unless you fix the issue immediately. When you notice a run in your hosiery, be sure to stop the damage by applying clear nail polish over the affected area. You may also want to prevent runs and laddering altogether by using hairspray. Spray the solution on your tights before wearing them to strengthen the fabric and lessen the chance of tearing.

Don’t let simple fashion emergencies rattle you and ruin your day. On top of remembering these quick fixes, keep a stitch kit, fabric glue, wrinkle removal spray, and safety pins in your bag or office drawer so that you can quickly fix whatever wardrobe mishap you encounter. When you’ve taken the right preparations, no stain, wrinkle, defective zipper, or any other clothing disaster can bring you down.