Style for Success: Wardrobe Malfunction? The Best Defense is a Good Offense

Wardrobe problems at work can be embarrassing, uncomfortable and time consuming. I once had the unfortunate experience of rounding the corner into the office kitchenette as one Java drinker was exiting. His cup of Joe went flying — fortunately, the coffee was not scalding, but I was soaking wet, stained and embarrassed. I realized I had no option but to return home to change clothes.

In today’s fast-paced world, an unplanned trip home (especially if it requires switching Metro lines) can be more than an inconvenience, as deadlines pass and e-mails accumulate unmercifully in your in-box. So, here are a few tips that will allow you to keep the ball in the air even when your wardrobe has been sacked:

*For the worst-case scenarios, keep a change of clothes at the office, even if it’s just a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. No one will fault you for a day of dressing down, but they might not be happy if you disappear just before the big presentation in front of the CEO.

*A safety pin can be the difference between dressed-to-kill and disaster. Toss a few in your paper clip holder for those days when zippers break, buttons pop or hems fall out.

*Buy stain-resistant clothing. Fabric finishing is increasingly high tech, with today’s stain-repellent offerings having far surpassed their scratchy, stiff and unfashionable predecessors. From Dockers, Haggar and Liz Claiborne to Brooks Brothers, Gap and Lands’ End, to name just a few, the options are numerous and expanding.

*Treating stains depends on the type of fabric and the nature of the staining agent, but a few general rules apply across the board: 1) Attend to a spill immediately. The longer you wait, the more it will set. 2) Blot, don’t rub. 3) Keep a bottle of vinegar handy, as it is good for many types of stains.

*Most of all, keep your sense of humor.

Dear Jordan:

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