a guest post by Rachel Barnard

Six quick fixes for everyday garment tragedies

If you’re a bit of a clothes horse like I am, there’s nothing worse when the zipper on your favorite black skirt won’t close or when the seams start to part. What’s a girl to do?

Well my theory is that if you own clothing, you should know how to do a few basic fixes so that you can extend the life of your favorite items.

Here are the six most common problems with clothes—and how to fix them in a snip…

1. Losing your buttons?

There are a lot of worse tragedies compared to a lost or loose button, but it always surprises me when I’m asked if I can sew a button on for a friend.

The quick fix: Most clothing items with buttons come with a few extra sewn inside the tag for just such emergencies. Thread a needle with the same color thread and sew the spare button back onto your item.

2. Your zipper is stuck

We all hate when this happens to our favorite pair of jeans or standby dress for all formal events and let’s face it cute prom dresses are not cheap.

The quick fix: I place a piece of masking tape on both sides of the zipper, then spray the zipper with a silicone-type spray to ensure it operates smoothly—plus, from here on out the masking tape will go a long way to protect the fabric on either side of the zipper from fraying or getting caught in said zip.

3. Splitting at the seams

A seam typically needs mending when clothing is a little too tight. For instance, I gained a little weight over Christmas and the seam in my pants gave way.

The quick fix: You can still save a pair of pants or a shirt with a torn seam, just chose a matching thread and re-stitch in order to “reinforce” as I say.

4. A gapping neckline

Fashion faux pas can happen (just ask Janet Jackson). No one wants to expose their personal bits or their lacy bits at a family or company function—or in public really.

The quick fix: I always have a roll of double-sided tape for liberal necklines and I use it to harness fabric in place—i.e., in between buttons or in between my bra and the inside of the shirt fabric.

5. Zipper jam

This always happens when I’m in a hurry and, of course, I’m forced to change. Let’s face it; we’re not all vigilant when it comes to rogue threads poking out of our clothing.

The quick fix: Tame fraying threads by covering them with a clear coat of nail polish so they don’t get in the way.

6. Not a stain!

If your clothes travel with you to social events, work, restaurants, and everyday life, their bound to suffer an array of dirt, food, wine, grease, and even grass stains.

The quick fix: Plain white vinegar works a charm on stubborn stains, just saturate the soiled item in vinegar for a few hours, then rinse, and put in the laundry cycle as usual to wash clean.

Rachel Barnard is a self-confessed shopaholic and contributing writer for Style Cynics, a site featuring fashion tips and the hottest styles as well as a dose of Hollywood gossip and celebrity buzz.