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Congrats to Stephanie Boyd on winning the last #CustomFit giveaway. And congratulations to Unisis Designs! You won this last #CustomFit Blog Post!
So far we’ve discussed ways to #CustomFit your clothing from scratch and all of that jazz. Be it determining what waistline you want to pursue or expanding a top you got for a deal at a local garage sale, the topics of conversation varied widely. We do have one more, though.
How does one “custom fit” in an emergency?
You’ve been there in one way or another. The shirt you threw on in the morning is suddenly drenched in sweat and you smell terrible (“I showered this morning!?” ), the button on your blouse is missing, revealing your twenty-plus year-old bra (“I just had a 45-minute meeting with my supervisor.”), or the elastic on your underwear is suddenly scrapped or missing (it probably ran off with the button) and you are wildly uncomfortable.
That’s right, Seams and Scissors followers, these are your basic fashion catastrophes. Today we’re providing you with tools to arm yourself with so that you can handle these situations when they occur. Because they will occur, probably at your daughter’s wedding or while you’re delivering your grandmother’s eulogy.
We offer these preventative treatments because, let’s face it, when your pants rip you probably won’t have an extra pair. These emergency #CustomFit solutions will hopefully offer some sort of solace in your next fashion disaster. These are alternatives to use when you don’t have extra material or a sewing machine on hand and you’ve forgotten your travel-sized sewing kit.
Fashion Catastrophe #1: Your shirt is sweaty; like, really really sweaty.
Go ahead, make your, “ewws” and “grosses”, we may have even offended some by bringing this up. Believe it or not the editor at Seams and Scissors aren’t trying to be crude, this is a very common problem. Sometimes unknown stressors cause you to sweat, other times it’s hormonal, whatever it is the effect is both embarrassing and sometimes smelly.
Emergency #CustomFit Solution: If you’re not at a point yet where you bring extra shirts places (definitely this editor and it definitely started freshmen year of high school), try this. Go to a bathroom, pat underneath your arm dry with tissue paper. You’ll also want to try and dry the actual shirt. If you can work it so as to actually clean underneath your arms with a little soap and water even better.
What to have in this situation: A nearby public restroom (for tissue access) and travel-size stick of deodorant.
Fashion Catastrophe #2: The button falls off of your shirt.
Button-downs, so classy but so problematic. Honestly given the usually lightweight of button-downs any adhesive will work here, if you don’t have an extra button.
Emergency #CustomFit Solution: You can tape the gap closed, staple it (if you don’t care about the shirt), or our favorite, safety pin it.
What to have in this situation: A small roll of tape, mini stapler, or honestly a safety pin work too.
Fashion Catastrophe #3: Your shirt or pants pants or dress rips.
This is especially bewildering when this doesn’t happen along a seam. We attribute it to black magic.
Emergency #CustomFit Solution: Turn the article of clothing inside out. Align the torn fabric as closely together as possible. Secure with tape. This is a great band aid until you can access your sewing machine.
What you need in this situation: Tape or a band aid.
Fashion Catastrophe #4: Your stockings lose their elasticity.
This one’s a real nail-biter. We’ve all heard of the amazing clear nail polish trick on stocking runs, but what about when your stockings are too big? You know that when the Horah starts those nylons will be at your ankles, and there’s really no dignified way of addressing that situation publicly.
Emergency #CustomFit Solution: The first step in this situation is to not panic. The second one is evaluating what you have. Is there any chance you have an elastic? Pull the slack waistband of those tights and tie them into a pseudo ponytail. There may be an odd bump underneath you dress but you’re not really in a position to be picky here.
What you need in this situation: A hair tie/elastic.
Fashion Catastrophe #5: Your stockings are too tight.
“Why didn’t I notice this when you first put them on?” You might wonder.
Emergency #CustomFit Solution: The most obvious solution is to just take them off. That’s allowed nowadays. Show off those varicose veins! If you’d rather not, though, you could make a small incision at the waistband of your tights so they expand with your waist. Placing a piece of tape at the rip can slow down the tights from ripping anymore. Just be careful with how you move for the rest of the night and make sure you get home fast to get out of those things!
What you need in this situation: Tape, scissors if available, or just your bare hands.
Fashion Catastrophe #6: Your bra breaks.
Curse those necessary demons. Bras can break in several areas, but most likely you’re dealing with a strap failure in this situation.
Emergency #CustomFit Solution: If the strap breaks between the rings on the strap, paper clip them together. If it breaks on the strap fabric, tie the two straps together. If it breaks on the base of the strap and the band, staple it. If the closure breaks on the band, two binder clips can lock you back in place.
What you need in this situation: Paper clips, stapler, or binder clips (depending on the break).
Fashion Catastrophe #7: The zipper on your pants will not stay up.
It’s frustrating when the zipper fails doing its one purpose in life. Even though you’re mad, you can’t argue with it. That zipper will no longer reach for the sky.
Emergency #CustomFit Solution: Got a key-chain? The split rings on those can be attached to the zipper tab and then looped around your pants’ button.
What you need in this situation: A keychain/split ring.
We’ve only touched the surface of all of the fashion catastrophes out there. It’s tough to feel decently dressed when little mishaps happen. We suggest arming yourself with the proper preventative tools so that when your next emergency comes around, you can #CustomFit the tear with a little ingenuity.
We’re giving away an assortment of Coats & Clark‘s thread today for all those who join today’s #CustomFit discussion! To qualify as an entrant, please answer the following:
Have you ever used one of these quick fixes or do you have any other fashion disaster solutions?
- There is a maximum of one entry per person. The entry will be based upon a comment left on this blog post. Duplicate comments will be deleted and are not tallied.
- Winner will be selected at random from the comments on this blog post.
- Winner will be announced here on the blog January 6th, 2015 as well as contacted by the email address provided.
- You have until January 5th, 2015 at 11:59p EST to leave your comment on the project above. Comments posted after that will not be counted.
- Contest open to anyone 18+ in US and/or Canada.
This concludes our #CustomFit series (for now)! If you know of any custom fit, plus-size, or amazing garment construction bloggers or tutorials out there, let us know! We’re always seeking new ways to point our readers in the most fitting direction.
AllFreeSewing
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I have used a stapler for a quick hemming trick.
thanks for all of these great tips. I’ve tried the missing button trick and it works like a charm. Depending on the fabric of the shirt, you may be able to save it even after using staples as a temporary fix. The zipper trick is genius! I can’t wait to try….then again, maybe not. Lol…
I have used a stapler, the scotch tape solution and of course safety pins work wonders in a lot of situations!
Wow! There’s some great solutions to problems that plague many. Just thought I’d add from a sewist/quilter’s perspective that I LOVE Fray Check which is “super glue” for fabrics. I’ve used it to mend in a “pinch,” but the best thing about this product is that you can wash your garment and it doesn’t lose it’s effectiveness. I’ve used it to mend holes in jeans, jackets, quilts, the list goes on. The most dramatic use is when while I was teaching I accidently cut off the velcro tab on the sleeve of a jacket while using the paper cutter. (Didn’t anticipate that!) I hand stitched it back on and covered the seam with Fray Check and still use the jacket to this day, many years and washings later. Hope that help someone with a clothing “faux pas.”!
Holy smokes!! Some of these solutions to fashion disasters are genius!!! I have used the key ring for a zipper that didn’t stay up, but luckily I haven’t experienced any other embarrassing situations (Knock on wood). I will keep these ideas filed… Just in case!!
I’ve repaired hems, of course, with tape. In a rush situation I’ve raised hems quickly with a stapler. Then were a striking top or necklace so eyes will remain on the upper part of your body. Last I’ve mended tears by placing a similar fabric under the tear and use Liquid Stitch to adhere. Requires a little dry time but very handy product to keep in glove compartment of car.
I’ve repaired hems, of course, with tape. In a rush situation I’ve raised hems quickly with a stapler. Then wear a striking top or necklace so eyes will remain on the upper part of your body. Last I’ve mended tears by placing a similar fabric under the tear and use Liquid Stitch to adhere. Requires a little dry time but very handy product to keep in glove compartment of car.
I had to use the stapler once to fix the hem on my pants, I recommend making sure the smooth side is on your skin side to prevent poking yourself and snagging your pantyhose, also it is less noticeable.
Now on the zipper not staying up, I actually prefer using an elastic for this, the bonus to the elastic is you don’t have to take it off the button when you go to the bathroom and your pants automatically zip when you pull them up and button them (but that never stops me from trying, old habits and all that. LOL)
I have used tape, stapler, elastics,paperclips, band aids, glue, pins and even duck tape! Whatever’s on hand can usually be called into service.9
These are so funny but I’ve done several in an emergency! I have tied my broken bra straps together, used safety pins in place of buttons and tape on rips! Most of it I did before I learned how to sew but I would probably still use in a pinch. I have never tried a stapler though. Thanks for the giveaway!
tdkcarpenoctem@hotmail.com
I’ve done a lot of them. My all time favorite is the zipper fix.
Hair tie as button extender: I’ve used this on jeans when I was pregnant & hit that magic stage. Looping the tie through the zipper pull would probably work for the south-bound fly.
if your pants are too tight or the zipper won’t stay up, take a hair elastic, feed it thru the button hole/or zipper and then attach the other side to your button, wrapping it a few times around the button. its more comfortable than the keychain ring and won’t come off as easily.
I have sewn a ladder in pantyhose with a strand of my hair (an old trick my nana taught me). It is a lot finer than cotton and does a good job making a much less noticeable repair. If you have short hair, see if you can cadge a strand off a long haired friend.
I’ve also used a black marker to colour in the skin beneath a hole in my black tights. It works a treat, but make sure it’s one that’s safe to use on your skin. If not, you can colour in a piece of paper, pop into the loo and place it under the hole. I’ve done that one, too.
I always keep safety pins on hand for emergency repairs and alterations–I put on a skirt or trousers and discover that my weight loss was greater than I’d realized–so I use a safety pin (or two) to pin in an emergency “dart,” til I can get the garment to the sewing machine for an alteration.
As for the zipper that won’t stay up–safety pins to the rescue again!! Just put a safety pin, horizontally, directly under the zipper tab. If it’s a fly closure, like in jeans, the fly will hide the safety pin, and the zipper tab cannot slide down beyond the safety pin. I’ve used this trick a zillion times, and had never heard of the key ring trick. News to me! I’ve also never done an emergency repair with tape, paper clips, staplers, or Fray Check. Great ideas! Awesome suggestions!!
I learned to keep a small plastic bag with wet wipes in my purse. If something spots what I am wearing, I can clean it with the wet wipe. It usually works well and dries quickly. Wipes also come in handy for cleaning my hands, especially if something I touch is unexpectedly icky.
When I worked in an office, I kept wipes and a small sewing kit in my desk. They often saved me from embarrassment, as well as many of my co-workers!
Great tips! I have also used glue sticks for quick fixes.
I have used most of these “life savers” at one time or another but the one that still brings a giggle is when I was in High School Home Economics class and our Ag teacher came to us with a problem. Seems he and his class were out on a farm taking care of some young bulls ( if you know what I mean) and he ripped the inseam from crotch to ankle of his coveralls chasing a runaway. He sheepishly inquired if we could do something to help him out. with my teacher okaying my idea, I quickly took the coveralls and grabbed the stapler from her desk and got busy. I turned the leg wrong side out and stapled along the seam line. He was so impressed with my quick thinking, he didn’t mind our nickname for him. Yep, we called him “Staples”.
Duct Tape to the Rescue! – Your chuckle for the day, folks.
One of our local dance schools was putting on “The Nutcracker”. One of the extras was a dad who played the ‘host’ for the formal black tie ballroom dance at the beginning of the show. He gracefully bowed to his dance partner and his tuxedo pants split from knee through the crotch to the other knee!
He carefully danced his partner over to the curtains where there was a dark spot and a quick thinking lady from wardrobe. She grabbed the flat black duct tape which was used to tape down electrical cords on the floor and taped his pants together – with him still in them! They held up for the rest of the 2 hour show.
The flash of a white undergarment was caught on tape by a very observant videographer who followed the the whole thing. Due careful editing, most people who have a copy of the video have no idea what happened that evening.
To this day, there are several people involved with this story who can’t meet each other in the street without an ear to ear smile and sometimes outright laughter.
It pays to be prepared for ANYTHING!
I am never far from either a roll of duct tape, a stapler, rubber bands, or paperclips. They have always come in handy depending on the situation. Working in a hotel has a plethora of emergency fashion situations especially when we don’t have those little sewing mending kits.
for a waistband that’s too tight to button – loop one end of a rubber band around the button. push the other end thru the buttonhole from the inside out and then around the button. It gives you another inch or two.
If you are wearing panties with your panty hose that won’t stay up, put your panties on the out side they will hold up your hose.