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10 Common Wardrobe Malfunctions (And How to Avoid Them!)

We’ve all been there. We wore an outfit that looked absolutely amazing, and we felt amazing. All day long, we strut our stuff because we know that everything looks really, really good. Then, we go to the bathroom and find out—oh, no. The zipper on your pants broke, and it’s been hanging open the entire day, or your bra straps are easily sticking out and showing to the whole world what color bra you wore today. It’s embarrassing. We can think of worse things, but that doesn't mean we want wardrobe malfunctions on the regular!

The thing about this is that certain pieces of clothing come with the risk of experiencing a wardrobe malfunction. Everyone deals with a wardrobe malfunction at least once in their lifetime, because it’s just ridiculous to avoid these pieces altogether. Some days, a button-up shirt is all you need to bring your outfit together. If the button flies off, then you can only mitigate the damage with as little embarrassment as humanly possible.

Well, that’s not entirely true. You can also try to prevent the situation. Don’t be discouraged from wearing fabric that’s prone to static clean or spend ages searching for reordrant that doesn’t leave a mark on your clothing. Instead, you can follow these tips on how you can avoid wardrobe malfunctions like the dreaded nip-slip, visible panty lines, and so much more. Here are 10 common wardrobe malfunctions and how you can avoid them.

The Popped-Off Button

The Popped-Off Button

If your button-down shirt is a little tight around the chest area, there’s always a chance that your classy top could instantaneously turn into an inappropriate schoolgirl outfit. 

To prevent this from happening, use double-sided tape or a safety pin for extra security.  

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Clingy Static

Clingy Static

Some articles of clothing are very prone to static. This results in them clinging to every inch of your body, and it gets even worse if you wear tights or pantyhose. 

The best way to prevent this is to spray your static-prone clothes with Static Guard before the night even begins. 

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The Broken Strap

The Broken Strap

I have had a dress or shirt strap break on me more than once, and one of those times was when I was on my way to work. 

I learned my lesson right then that you should always have a safety pin or a small sewing kit on you. There’s no other way to cover up this malfunction. 

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The Broken Zipper

The Broken Zipper

A broken zipper can ruin your whole evening and can be one of the most difficult malfunctions to fix. If just the zipper head is broken, you can attach a keyring in its place. In the case of zipper teeth separation, go through the teeth and fix any that may be bent. 

In the event that you can’t find any bent teeth, you can try cleaning the zipper with soap and water to remove any buildup that may have been keeping it from closing. 

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Visible Bra Straps

Visible Bra Straps

If you’re wearing a tank top or a shirt with a wide neck, there’s a pretty good chance that your bra strap is going to make an unwanted appearance. 

Luckily, you have several options to stop your bra strap in its tracks. You can either switch to a lace bralette, safety pin your straps to your shirt, or wear a strapless bra. 

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The Slip

The Slip

Celebrities aren't the only ones who experience slips. If you’re wearing a top that doesn’t require a bra, you need to take a few extra precautions to ensure that everything stays covered.

You can take advantage of double-sided fashion tape, or you can purchase padded breast petals. 

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The Camel Toe

The Camel Toe

If your pants are too tight or pulled up a tad too far, that part of your pants may start to ride up. Fortunately, the trick to avoiding camel toe is easy: wear pants that fit. 

If the issue is with a pair of leggings, simply wear a long top that covers that area. 

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Visible Panty Lines

Visible Panty Lines

Considering how form-fitting most bottoms are, it can be difficult to avoid panty lines if you aren’t careful. The only surefire way to prevent people from seeing the outline of your undies is to wear seamless or thong underwear.

Additionally, if you are wearing white bottoms, you also need to make sure that your undergarments are nude.

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The Seam Split

The Seam Split

This malfunction has been the butt of many TV and movie jokes throughout the years, but as embarrassing as it can be, it’s not the end of the world. 

As soon as you notice the split, high-tail it to the ladies room and safety pin or double-sided tape it together until you can make it back home. 

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Deodorant Marks

Deodorant Marks

All deodorants are prone to this potentially outfit-ruining mishap, but Degree is definitely the worst offender.

If you use this or any other deodorant, you should always keep a deodorant removing sponge in your purse.

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