Wardrobe Quick Fixes and Tricks!

Run in the Stocking (Image Credit: Gemma Maree)

There is not a woman alive who has not managed to get a run in her only pair of stockings on the way out the door to an important event. It’s like the universe likes seeing you squirm. It knows you only have one pair, no time to buy another, and how inappropriate it would be to go with out and it sits back and laughs as you as you have a meltdown of epic proportion. Unfortunately, I don’t have some wisdom to share on how to prevent it from happening altogether or some magic concoction to make your stockings look brand new again once a snag starts. What I can do is tell you the minute you get a snag, try not to stretch the area where it’s located and find your way to some clear polish as quickly as possible.  Dabbing some clear polish on the run and the area around it will stop it from spreading any further. It won’t make it good as new, but it will keep the damage from becoming more and more noticeable. I recommend always carrying a cheap bottle of clear polish in your purse when you are going to be wearing stockings to an event for this exact reason.

I also recommend carrying a dryer sheet in your purse whenever you are wearing stockings. With stockings often comes dreaded static clean. There is nothing worse than having your skirt plastered half way up with static especially if you are not the first one to notice the problem. Rubbing a dryer sheet on the inside of your skirt and on your stockinged legs will keep the cling at bay. This will work on just about any garment and will not damage your clothing (as opposed to another quick static fix, harispray, which can leave your fabric stained and you feeling sticky).

Slippery Shoes (Image Credit: Ann Larie Valentine)

Ever have a zipper get stuck? I know I have found myself trapped in a zip up hoodie on more than one occasion and once I almost had to cut my way out of a form fitting dress when the side zipper gut snagged. Luckily, one of roommates knew that a bar of soap is the best quick fix in this kind of situation and my lovely frock was spared. Rubbing a bar of soap (not liquid!) on the teeth of the zipper should get it moving again in not time as long as there is nothing lodged in the zipper.

I am a clumsy enough person in my own right. When I put on  new pair of heels, all bets are off. I do not know what it is about the soles of new shoes that makes them so goddarn slippery because lots of surfaces are flat and I don’t go slipping and sliding when I step on them, but there is a simple way to fix it so I probably should not be complaining so much. All you need to do is grab some medium grit sandpaper and give the soles of your new shoes a little rub. Scuffing the bottom of your shoes will give you traction preventing slippage.

While we’re talking about sandpaper, did you know you can also use it to get pills (those pesky bally things) off your old sweaters? For this fix, you need some fine grit sand paper and a gentle hand. Wipe the sandpaper over the surface of the sweater, working in one direction, and doing your best to be gentle. The pills should get swept away leaving you sweater looking good as new!

Have no sand paper, but lots of pills on a sweater you want to wear? You can also use the same method with a pumice stone. Again, remember to be gentle and only work in one direction. The pills should rub right off the sweater and onto the stone!

Tangled Jewelry (Image Credit: Lisa Norwood)

There are many things I spend way too much organizing, but strangely my jewelry is not one of them. I tend to throw necklaces into my jewelry box without thinking about the tangled mess I am creating until I go to grab something in a hurry and wind up lifting out the entire contents of the box is one jumbled ball. Knowing this is my m.o., I keep a bottle of the baby oil in the house and straight pins in my sewing kit. Apply a few drops of baby oil to the knots in your necklaces to loosen them. If the knots are especially tight, you a straight pin to work them free. Your necklace will quickly wind up ready to wear and knot another day.

I am going to come right out an say it, those deodorants that say they will not leave marks are big fat liars. Yes, they are better than a normal pasty white deodorant, but put your black top on too fast and you’ll still have marks. Don’t you dare try to use a paper towel to clean up the mess because you will just wind up with shredded paper to worry about cleaning off in addition to the deodorant. Instead, grab a baby wipe and easily wipe away your deodorant troubles.

One last quick fix for you before this article draws to a close. Dental Floss is not only good for your oral hygiene, but also a great thread substitute when you have a fallen off button or broken strap and no thread in sight. Waxed dental floss will hold things together for the night, just remember to remove it before washing the garment!

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