What's in your "fashion emergency" kit at work? - YouLookFab Forum

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What's in your "fashion emergency" kit at work?

Amy

(website)

Veteran

Last week's pantyhose crisis (a hole in one pair and the second pair threatening to fall down) got me to thinking about creating a "fashion emergency" kit. Lyn mentioned that she always has a spare pair at work just in case and I thought that was a great idea.

I haven't made my kit yet, but have put these items down on my list:

extra tights/pantyhose
spare shoes (stories about heels breaking off have me worried)
safety pins
fashion tape
clear nail polish
sewing kit

Grooming/Health items:

aspirin
extra prescription meds
brush
toothbrush
toothpaste
floss
lip balm
deodorant

I don't want to take too much stuff to work, but having some essentials there seems like a good idea. Do you have something like this? What's in your "kit?"

General

18 replies

Latest reply was from Isabel

ManidipaM

Veteran

Lightweight shawl or heavier scarf for cold, cold ACs --- and of all days, today was when I left home without it, and thus actually refused to watch a movie the SO spontaneously wanted to see! (miffed at self!)
Extra ponytail rings and clip/hairgrip
Bag hanger hook for use at cafe tables etc
Sticky tape!
Extra pair of earrings --- in case I lose one (I'm good at this) or forget to wear any

I used to also carry a small sewing kit, a set of safety pins and a stapler, but security checks at all public places these days are a pain to go past with those x-(

Also, I always carry:
sunscreen
lipstick (& balm too)
eyeliner pencil
small roll-on perfume phial
migraine meds
mints
hand cream

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You are VERY organized, Amy!

Louise

Veteran

The only thing I keep at work is a rather unflattering but warm long cardi as it can get a bit chilly in my classroom x

Anonymous

I don't keep much anymore, since I can go and get what I need anytime. I would add a lint brush and feminine products to your list.
We all used to keep a pair of sneakers after the blackout of 2003 and 9/11, when many had to walk home. You might consider keeping a pair of comfy shoes, just in case.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I always make sure to have a safety pin hooked on to a zipper pull on my purse. That's the only fashion oriented item. I have the band aid, lip balm etc too.

Aziraphale

Veteran

oh gee, you're a lot more organized than me!

I work from home these days, but back when I was a teacher I had a white lab coat that I'd use as an extra layer if it was chilly. I didn't wear pantyhose in those days, so no need to make provisions for the possibility of stocking ladders!

The only other "emergency kit" items that I can think of are more grooming than fashion: dental floss, a tube of concealer, and hand cream.

I don't really see things like lipstick and lipliner as emergency items, but I carry those too.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

- small sewing kit with black, white, beige, blue thread and needle
- safety pins (both small and large)
- extra pair of black and nude hose
- toothbrush/toothpaste/dental floss (not really fashion emergency but still...)
- hand cream
- extra supplies for TOM
- bandaids

christieanne

Veteran

I always kept a spare cosmetic bag stocked pretty much as you have described. Since I worked in a place were we cold hose and apparel primarily (when I wore those) I could always buy a spare. Cardigan or blazer on back of my door was standard too.

Jewell

Veteran

I keep most of my fashion emergecy items in the clear cosmetic case inside my purse. I keep safety pins, fashion tape, a Tide pen, and travel size deodorant in this pouch. I always have a hair comb in my purse and a few make-up essentials, too. At work I keep a pair of flats, a lint roller, an extra toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss. I do love the idea of keeping a spare pair of hose. I probably wouldn't need them though if I stopped buying cheap hose.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I have two kits (I am paranoid and my line of work involves bodily fluids). There is a small and a big one.

Small:
- Extra Tights
- Safety Pins
- Tide to Go
- Bandaids
- Lipstick
- Gloss x2
- Gum

Big:
- Full set of clinical attire
- Cami (navy)
- Extra tights
- Pair of flats
- Grey blazer (very useful that time i was called to court)
- Cardigan: purple and grey

I also carry nitrile gloves - I'm paranoid I will run into someone with an emergency I am uncomfortable helping because I have no gloves :p

Amy

(website)

Veteran

Thanks, ladies! This is very helpful.

I'm adding the lint brush and feminine supplies to my list.

It occurred to me that perhaps floss, shoe inserts and band-aids would be handy too. Luckily, I have a place to store all of this stuff.

I spend more of my waking hours at work than I do at home, so I should have supplies to keep me comfortable.

DonnaF

Veteran

Ladies, have you ever used your emergency supplies? I think the only thing I've carried that has been used are feminine supplies -- once for my daughter and another time for a client's teen daughter. Hose mishaps have occurred as I put them on first thing in the morning. I still carry meds, lipstick, lotion, and dental floss. When I couldn't get home due to the Loma Prieta earthquake, I was wearing Rockport flats that should have been comfortable -- except that I had bought them 1/2 size too small I later realized. Mostly I fall in the *I can't be bothered* camp.

Amy

(website)

Veteran

I've used safety pins, fashion tape, toothbrush, band-aids and deodorant. I often end up being asked to sew on buttons, etc. for people once they find out I sew.

For me, they're not so much my "emergency" supplies as much as they are daily comfort supplies.

Anonymous

There's already a First Aid kit in my office. In addition to that, I have the following items either at my desk or in my filing cabinet:

feminine supplies
toothbrush, toothpaste and mouthwash
hand sanitizer
hand lotion
Tylenol

In my handbag I have:

Chapstick
Lipgloss
Comb

My office is only 10-15 minutes away from my house, so I always go home for lunch. This is great because I'm able to take care of any other fashion emergencies that arise. That rarely happens, though.

rachylou

Veteran

I never carry anything to fix my clothes. I should. My trouser hems are always falling.

I pack in my kit:

Back up inset do-hickey (the catheter like thingy for my pancreas, aka insulin pump that plays tunes)
Deodorant
Mini toothbrushes (which I think are very cool, made by Colgate I believe)
Nail clippers with nail file (works to snip stray threads as well as snagged nails)
Razor (ok, TMI warning, but I hate seeing one lone hair on my leg which I've missed, haha)

Sometimes I also have a lipbalm (Dr. Hauschka, sp?), hand lotion, Neutrogena sunblock stick, sudafed, and midol (which I find a very good pain killer, I don't know what's in there that it makes it so... caffeine?)

Jewell

Veteran

@DonnaF,

I use my emergency supplies pretty regularly. Just last week I hemmed my cropped pants to a more flattering length using four strips of fashion tape- lol. And I bought a new Tide pen yesterday, because my other one was all used up. My little mini scissors come in handy more often than you'd think, too.

bj1111

Veteran

stapler, scotch dble sided tape, neutrogena tinted moisturizer.

Isabel

Veteran

YES !!! I had one when I worked and I have one now that I throw in the car whenever I am going to be gone all day and not close to home.

I have pretty much everything that you mentioned, except that instead of a tooth brush and paste, I have the Wisps . I also have small pieces of lint tape and a few wipes ( in a ziplock bag ) , sun block, stud earrings and a bobby pin of fabric headband. Finally, I always have a little cream concealer and a cream that can double as cheek or lip color that I put in small pots to avoid big container.

And it NEVER fails, when I don't have my stuff, is when I need it.

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