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.
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