How to Deal With a Wardrobe Malfunction That Happens Right Before Your Interview
Picture this: You’re on your way to an interview but you stop for a pick-me-up cup of coffee along the way. As you’re about to take a sip, the lid comes off, and boom: It’s all over you. And your interview happens to be down the street in 20 minutes.
Don’t fret, though! If you find yourself in a sticky situation like this one with no time to change before your big interview, you still have an equally fair chance of nailing the interview. Here are some precautionary measures and creative hacks to dealing with a wardrobe malfunction right before an interview.
Wear Dark Clothing
It’s always good to be prepared just in case a last-minute accident happens. Wear dark clothes so you can feel extra confident going into your interview. Even if there is a stain, chances are it’ll be difficult to see over dark clothing.
Fix Ripped Pants Without a Sewing Kit
Ripped pants seem like a huge deal, but don’t panic. Head to the nearest office supply store or convenience store and buy a stapler. Then, find a bathroom and staple the inner seam. According to Men’s Health, there’s extra fabric along the inner seem so your impromptu “sewing” won’t be seen or felt (thankfully).
Slip a Tide to Go in Your Bag
Tide to Go sticks are lifesavers. Now, the beloved stain-remover comes in a smaller size, so it’s even easier to take with you on interviews. Slip it into your purse/backpack/briefcase for precautionary measures. Trust me, this will always come in handy.
Use Clear Nail Polish for Stocking Rips
Let’s say you’re making your way to the interview and all of a sudden, you look down and your stockings are ripped. We all know that once stockings rip, it makes them much easier and more vulnerable to even more holes. Nip the tear in the bud with handy-dandy clear nail polish, which will prevent the tear from running down your leg.
Bring a Suit Jacket or Blazer (In Case You End Up Having to Button Up!)
Let’s say you spilled your coffee down your shirt, but have no time to buy Tide to Go and your shirt is white. Listen to your mom and layer your outfit! Add a blazer or suit jacket for extra professionalism and extra security in case an impromptu spill happens. That way, all you have to do is button up your blazer or jacket to hide the stain.
Stash a Sharpie for Scuffed Shoes
If you notice your shoes don’t look as clean and you’d like them to be, no biggie! Just color over the scuffed parts with black sharpie to make it look good as new. It’s a cheap, genius hack you never knew you needed.
Look in the Mirror Right Before Going Into the Interview
Before going into the office building, make sure you take a quick look in a full body mirror (even if it’s in a bathroom in Starbucks) and make sure you’re good to go. For example, it’s possible you may realize you have stain on your pants from when you bumped into someone that you wouldn’t have noticed before.
How to Address it in the Interview If The Issue Is Obvious
If all else fails, don’t go into the interview acting normal if there’s a huge ketchup stain on your shirt or melted chocolate on your pants. Besides, if you don’t say anything, you’ll risk feeling uncomfortable and it’ll show right away. If the stain is super obvious, be casual about it and say something along the lines of: “I was so excited to get here, I was rushing off the train and bumped into a man who was holding coffee!” Addressing it and laughing it off is probably the best way to go about it, and the person interviewing you will likely appreciate you being upfront about it.
No matter what last minute wardrobe malfunction you face right before an interview, stay calm – there’s a chance you can minimize the stain or the tear so it’s only noticeable to you. But if not, be sure to carry yourself with confidence and do the best you can in the interview.
