Outfit 911: Your Clothing First Aid Kit

We've all been there. You're dressed to the nines, and you spill your fancy dinner on the dress you so painstakingly picked out for the special occasion. Or you're headed to an interview and notice that your hem has fallen. Perhaps you've fallen victim to the dreaded wardrobe malfunction. Regardless of your apparel emergency, a few of these pitfalls can be avoided or fixed by carrying a "first-aid kit" for your clothing. Just like you might carry Band-Aids or aspirin in your purse for little health emergencies, there are several items that come in handy in a pinch. First and foremost, safety pins can save you a lot of embarrassment and exposure. Whether it's a popped button, too-cleavagey shirt or a busted zipper, you can probably fix any gape or hole with a pin. Plus, they're tiny and portable - just stick a few in your purse pocket or zipped area of your wallet. Another fix you can stick with is dress tape. Basically, dress tapes are thin, precut strips of flexible double-sided tape that affixes to your skin and clothing.


How else do you think Jennifer Lopez sported that down-to-there slit in the front of her infamous green Grammys dress? It works great when you don't want to expose too much but still want to feel confident and sexy in low-cut dresses or blouses. And when you have a rip or fallen hem, it's great for tacking the pieces back together - dress tape even lasts through a wash! For stain control, you have lots of options these days. At many checkout lines, you can find packs of wipes and stain release pens from makers like Shout and Tide. Just choose whichever one fits your purse best, and tuck your stain fighter of choice in there for a worry-free meal. With a few tiny additions to your purse, you never have to worry about a wardrobe emergency again.