As any fashion fan knows, the difference between a best dressed winner and nominee can come down to the details: Does the hair underwhelm? Is the makeup slightly off? Or is the fashion misstep simply due to a fit issue—or, even more minor, a wrinkle or two? Oftentimes, such on-the-spot (and seemingly minor) imperfections can really offset an otherwise legendary outfit—for us and celebs alike.
We may not have glam squads available to resolve these annoying problems on demand, but we do have celebrity stylist Johnny Wujek on deck. The style savant is responsible for some of Katy Perry and Kate Mara's best red carpet looks. And he knows all too well which wardrobe misfortunes can happen in the 11th hour. Here, he shares his quick styling fixes for fashion gone awry.
When pants are too long: "You can temporarily hem dragging pant legs with double-sided tape or easily stitch them with a needle and thread to keep them up," Johnny said. "I've done both before; it works."
If the fabric is thicker, like denim, you can even roll or cuff the leg bottoms for a more casual look.
When a zipper or button breaks: "When this happens right before an event, either you sew the client into the garment or switch the dress," he suggested. "In the case of remedying a popped button, definitely sew the button back on; that's an easy fix." The takeaway: Always have a sewing kit nearby when dressing for an event.
If you don't have a needle and thread ready, use a safety pin to hold the two sides together. This works especially well with buttons as a punk-chic detail.
When a lacy bra doesn't provide enough coverage: "A nipple cover can work wonders for scant bras, but there have been times in which I've had to add a nude lining to sheer details," he said. "This is still effective for the ‘nude' illusion."
When clothes are wrinkled: "I carry a portable steamer with me to combat creases. But if you don't have a steamer on hand, hang your clothes in the bathroom and run hot water in the shower; it will steam your garment and release wrinkles," the stylist advised.
If you don't have time to steam a wrinkled shirt, try twisting the lower half into a knot. This will tighten the top a bit, make the wrinkles look a bit more intentional and even add a casual-cool element to the ensemble.
When shoes are too big: "Insoles are always a good way to customize a shoe size," he said. "Also, heel pads or ball pads work great to shrink shoes at least a half size down. If a shoe is still too big and you love the style, fake it…unless it just looks ridiculous and you can't walk without them falling off, of course."
Hey, beauty is pain.
When you don't have super long legs but want to wear boyfriend jeans: "Roll or cuff the hems and throw on a high heel," Johnny suggested. "Up top, you can even rock a crop top to balance the proportion."