Static-cling SOS and other quick wardrobe fixes

Make wardrobe mess-ups and malfunctions a thing of the past. Read on for some easy last-minute fashion fixes.

Lack of humidity in the air is the main cause of static electricity in your clothes. Men have to worry only about trouser legs clinging to the skin, while women experience the problem much more often. Try one of these methods to keep clothes static-free.

1. Spritz with hairspray: Spray a little hairspray along the underside of trousers or skirts. Or spray a paper towel and wipe it on the inside of the fabric.
2. Dampen with water: Wet a paper towel or your hand with water and run it along the exterior of panty hose and the interior of a skirt or pair of slacks. Or you could use a spray bottle to mist the inside of the clothing.
3. Separate with a coat hanger: Move a hanger up and down between the inside of clothes and panty hose or a slip.

It's not that unusual to find an elastic waistband has shrunk or expanded when you're putting on pants, shorts or a skirt you haven't worn for months. Try this fix:

Open the waistband on the inside of the garment. Cut the elastic inside the band and insert a piece of taut elastic from the waist of an old pair of panty hose or a section of a stretchy headband. Attach the insert to one side of the cut elastic with a safety pin. Stretch the insert to the fit you want and safety-pin it to the other side of the original elastic.

Cut off any excess for a flatter appearance and then smooth down the waistband with your fingers. You can cover any telltale bulge with a sweater, T-shirt or jacket.

Buttons on new clothes will stay put longer if you dab the threads atop the buttons with white, clear-drying glue. Use a cotton swab to apply it neatly.

Prevent skirts from flare-ups on windy days by sewing two or three nickels into the hem as weights. Wedding dress seamstresses use this trick to keep bridal veil hems hanging properly, choosing weights that can't easily be seen through gossamer fabrics — among them, the flat glass beads used in flower arrangements and fish bowls.

Lay your wrinkled shirt on a flat surface (a countertop or dresser top will do). Hold a hair dryer a few inches above the shirt and aim the hot air at the wrinkle while smoothing it out with your other hand. After a few minutes the wrinkle should either be less noticeable or gone.

These handy tips will not only make your life easier, you'll become your family's go-to person when someone needs a quick fashion fix.