How to Survive Misbehaving Bras, Pants Splits and Other Wardrobe Malfunctions

iVillage


By Kimberly Dawn Neumann

10 discreet ways to keep a fashion disaster from ruining your night out:

1. Bra Breakdowns
"MacGyver could stop a ticking bomb with a paperclip and some chewing gum…fortunately, we don't usually have to worry about bombs that blow up, but we do have blow ups with our wardrobe," says Ali Cudby, author of Busted! The Fab Foundations Guide to Bras That Fit, Flatter and Feel Fantastic. Ever have a strap snap or an underwire escape during a date? Here, Cudby's creative fixes for all your bra drama:

Broken Bra Strap: You're going nuts on the dance floor and Pop!…a strap snap is threatening to let your girls out. The Fix: If a safety pin isn't handy, most places have a stapler. Just make sure to staple the strap so that the open end is away from your body.

Underwire Pops Out: "There are few things worse than going through a day feeling like a human pin cushion!" says Cudby. The Fix: If this happens to you, feed the wire back into the slot and seal it with a band-aid. This is only a one-time fix (the bra is pretty much a goner once the wire pops free) but it will get you through your date.

Unwanted Strap Exposure: You forgot to wear your racer-back bra with your racer-back dress. Fashion statement? The Fix: "Keep your cool," says Cudby. "Loosen the straps and tie them between your shoulders with a rubber band to keep it discreet."

2. Red Sauce Stain
It's Italian night and a great big Italian tomato-sauce fest on your white and slacks. Are you doomed to be "red all over"?

The Fix: "This save is all about baby powder, baby," says Suzi Gomez, the Solo Ladies Wardrobe Supervisor for the Metropolitan Opera. "You need something to absorb the grease immediately and that will do it." If you can get your hands on some baby powder, quickly sprinkle it on the red zone and leave it for a few minutes so it can soak up the stain. Then brush it off and as soon as you get home, pre-treat the affected area or get it to the drycleaners ASAP! If you don't have baby powder in your bag -- which, by the way, can also be handy in controlling itchy pantyhose and sweaty feet or palms -- don't panic. Gently wipe away the sauce and blot warm water over the stain while holding a dry paper towel under it to absorb the sauce from the fabric.

3. Pants Split
You bend over to tie your shoe, grab your bag, pet a puppy…and rrrrriiiiiippppp. That rip spells R.I.P. for your pants and there's no chance for a costume change in sight. What do you do?

The Fix: This is a tough one! If you don't have a tiny sewing kit in your bag -- which, David Sawaryn, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Assistant Costume Designer, suggests should permanently live in your purse -- your best bet is taking cover. "In this case I would hope that you decided to wear a cardigan on this date and if so, you can now tie it around your waist," says Sawaryn. "If not, you could try to snag a cloth napkin, fold it into a triangle and slip it into your pants to form some kind of faux bikini bottom…it will show but at least it's not your flesh on display." Or, if you're in a nice restaurant with tablecloths, you could ask to borrow one and wear it as a sarong?

4. Pitting Out
Never let 'em see you sweat, right? But what if the shirt you donned is more than a little underarm damp and those telltale circles start expanding down the sides. Not cute.

The Fix: Cotton blends, polyester, rayon, spandex and nylon are the best fabrics to wear to avoid sweat marks whereas silk is a sweat trigger as it doesn't allow the armpits to breathe easily. "However if silk is a must, prepare yourself in advance by applying sweat shields onto the blouse that will block sweat from creeping through the blouse," says Wardrobe Stylist and Fashion Consultant Pauline Kim. "This is a trick I've used on clients that have to be in front of the camera." Didn't plan ahead? "You could try to dry it with a hand dryer in the bathroom but it depends on the material…cotton, jersey or knit might be okay, but if it's silk, it will leave a permanent stain," says Sawaryn. "You could also try slipping a thin paper towel under each armpit to absorb a bit of the moisture."

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