Your zipper just gave out. Or a seam popped on the dance floor, or a heel snapped on the venue steps. First, breathe. This happens at every prom, to someone, and almost all of it can be fixed well enough to get through the night.
Grab a friend and your bag and head to the bathroom. Our prom emergency kit page covers what to pack and the basics, like a slipping strap or a stuck zipper. This page goes further, problem by problem, for when things break for real.
The quick-fix table
| Problem | Fix tonight | Fix next week |
|---|---|---|
| Zipper split open | Pin it closed from inside, or have a friend stitch you in | Tailor replaces the zipper |
| Pull tab broke off | Paper clip, earring hook or key ring through the slider | New pull or slider |
| Seam popped | Safety pins from the inside, or fashion tape | Tailor restitches |
| Strap snapped | Pin to the bodice lining, or tie a knot | Tailor reattaches |
| Hem down or caught on a heel | Tape or pin it up | Tailor rehems |
| Snagged tulle or satin | Leave it, trim loose threads, do not pull | Tailor or dry cleaner |
| Heel broke | Switch to flats, or go barefoot where allowed | Cobbler |
| Spill or stain | Blot, do not rub | Dry cleaner, point out the spot |
When the zipper breaks
Zippers fail in a few different ways, and the fix depends on which one you have. Have a friend look closely with a phone flashlight before anyone tugs on anything.
It is stuck
Fabric caught in the teeth is the usual cause. Gently work the fabric free with a fingernail while easing the slider back a little. Then rub lip balm or pencil graphite along the teeth and try again slowly. The emergency kit page has more on this.
It split open below the slider
This is the scary one. The slider is up but the teeth have come apart behind it. Sometimes you can fix it by easing the slider all the way down to the bottom stop and zipping it back up slowly while a friend presses the two sides together. On invisible zippers, which are common on prom dresses, that does not always work, and pulling hard can tear the fabric.
If it will not hold, close it from the inside. Have a friend line up the two sides and fasten three or four safety pins across the gap, through the zipper tape, with the heads facing inward so nothing scratches you. Start at the bottom of the split and work up.
The strongest fix is to sew yourself in. If someone has a needle and thread, they can stitch the dress closed along the zipper with big, simple stitches. It holds through hours of dancing. You will need scissors and a helper to get out of it at the end of the night, so plan for that before you leave.
If it still gapes, cover it. A wrap, a shawl or a date's jacket buys you the rest of the night. Any of the prom wraps and cover-ups will do.
The pull tab broke off
The easiest fix on this page. Thread a small paper clip, an earring hook, a key ring or a twist tie through the hole in the slider, and use it as the new pull. Done.
After the night
Do not keep wearing a dress with a failing zipper. A worn slider can sometimes be tightened, but the usual answer is a new zipper, and a tailor can tell you which. If the dress is a rental, do not repair it yourself. Call the rental company first, since it sets its own rules on damage and repairs.
Split seams and torn slits
Side seams pop when a dress is fitted closely and then asked to dance. Slits tear when someone steps or climbs.
For a seam, pin from the inside along the seam line, with pins close together, about an inch apart. Fashion tape inside can hold a small split flat. Then go easy on that side for the rest of the night. Sit carefully, and skip the deepest dance moves.
A slit that has torn higher than you want can be pinned or taped back to its original height from the inside. If it tore along the fabric rather than the seam, pin it and leave it alone. The tailor next week will want clean edges to work with.
A strap snaps
The emergency kit page covers the basic fix, a safety pin through the strap and the bodice lining. A few more options for different straps.
- Spaghetti straps can be tied in a small knot where they broke, then pinned inside.
- If a strap broke right off and is lost, pin the other strap down inside too, and go strapless if the bodice will hold. A strip of fashion tape along the top edge helps.
- A strapless bodice that keeps slipping can be tightened from behind. Have a friend gather a little fabric at the back seam and pin it inside.
Snags, tulle and hems
Tulle and chiffon catch on everything. Heels, jewelry, chair legs, Velcro on someone's shoes.
If you snag tulle, stop and free it gently. Do not yank. A small hole in one layer of a full skirt is almost invisible in the layers around it. Snip any loose hanging threads with small scissors rather than pulling them, which can run the damage further.
A snag in satin or a knit pulls out a loop of thread. Do not cut it. If you can, push it back through to the inside with a needle or a pin. If you can't, leave it for the dry cleaner or tailor.
If a heel catches in the hem and pulls it down, the hem is now a trip hazard. Pin or tape it up all the way around if you need to, even unevenly. A bustle that has come loose can be pinned up the same way. Our page on prom dress alterations explains how bustles work.
A heel breaks
If the heel snapped off, the shoe is done for the night. Do not try to walk on it, since an uneven step is how ankles get hurt. Switch to the flats in your bag or the car. If you have none, ask whether anyone in your group brought spares. Plenty do.
If a strap or buckle broke, a safety pin or a piece of tape can often hold it. A heel tip that has worn through will click and slide on hard floors. Walk carefully, and get it replaced next week. Before the next big night, break shoes in first. Prom shoes explains how.
Spills, makeup and deodorant
Blot every spill with a clean napkin. Do not rub, which spreads a stain and can damage delicate fabric. If dry blotting does not lift it, a barely damp napkin usually will, but go easy on satin, which water-marks. Our emergency kit page covers spills in more detail.
Foundation on a neckline is the most common prom stain. Blot it with something dry first, then barely damp. Deodorant marks on a dark dress often rub off with a clean, dry piece of fabric, or the inside of the hem.
After prom, take the dress to a dry cleaner and point out every spot. Old stains are harder to remove than new ones. Our page on cleaning a prom dress covers what happens next.
Suit and tux emergencies
- A split trouser seam can be pinned from the inside or held with fashion tape. Keep the jacket on.
- A popped shirt button can be hidden by the tie or vest. A safety pin from the inside closes the gap.
- A lost jacket button is fine if you leave the jacket open.
- A drooping boutonniere needs a second pin, angled through the stem.
If the suit is a rental, tell the company about any damage when you return it rather than trying to repair it. What that damage can cost is listed under hidden prom costs.
The most important fix
Laugh about it. A pinned zipper and bare feet make a better story than a perfect night. And nobody on the dance floor will notice, because they are busy worrying about their own outfits.
If you are still shopping, test the zipper, straps and side seams in the fitting room at any of the prom shops listed on this site, and again at your final fitting. Problems found in April do not happen in May.