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Original poster

If you see someone with a wardrobe malfunction, do you tell them?

52 replies

FamiliesShareGerms · 14/06/2014 14:42

Must be something about the sunshine, but I've seen lots of people this week who are blissfully unaware of issues with their clothes.

I mentioned to one lady that her cardigan was inside out, as she was able to sort that out easily enough. I didn't tell the four people I saw whose knickers were clearly visible through their lovely, summery, light coloured clothes. Partly because I might look like a pervert, but also because I didn't know what they could have done about it at work (commando??). But then if no one tells them, they won't know any different, will they?

What do you do ?

OP posts:
ThisBitchIsResting · 14/06/2014 14:45

I wouldn't approach a stranger. But if a friend or colleague had a label poking out of their top I wouldn't be able to resist tucking it in for them. There are of course some amusing sights now that the weather is warmer , but I wouldn't dream of pointing out visible undies. If someone had their skirt tucked into their knicks on the way out of public loos I'd tell them though.

AnnieLobeseder · 14/06/2014 14:50

I really want to tell all the women who insist on wearing leggings with short tops that I can see every intricate detail of their lacy thong or leopard-print undies. Because it pains me to have to see it, I tell you. Especially if they're flashing said knickers at me while bent over to remove a child from a car seat while illegally and completely inconsiderately parked outside the DD's school.

LadyIsabellaWrotham · 14/06/2014 14:54

I tell people if they have labels sticking out, or if their skirts are tucked into their knickers after leaving the loo. A stranger told DD that her skirt was pulled up under her backpack the other day and I was v grateful (I was walking in front, so didn't see).

I don't tell people that their leggings are transparent at the arse, because the natural question is "why exactly were you staring at my arse?"

LadyIsabellaWrotham · 14/06/2014 14:55

I'd tell a friend that their leggings were see-through though.

tethersend · 14/06/2014 14:59

No.

I walked behind a stunning woman on the tube a few years ago who was wearing a gorgeous, floaty white summer dress.

As she overtook me and sashayed up the stairs, the skid mark up the back of the dress was mortifyingly obvious.

I didn't tell her. How could I? There are no words. But I still think of her and how she must have felt when she took the dress off that night and REALISED.

MsVenus · 14/06/2014 15:00

AnnieLobeseder There was a woman standing in front of me on the escalator wearing a v thin leggings & bright pink knickers. I felt like wrapping my shawl like a mini sarong around her waist.

ThisBitchIsResting · 14/06/2014 15:03

Actual Shock at Tethers!

HenI5 · 14/06/2014 15:07

The thing is tethers what could she have done about it there and then?
I may have told her if she'd had an obvious cardigan or sweater that she could've tied around her waist to hide it, but otherwise no, not to that.

I did tell a stranger that her shirt had come unbuttoned. We were on a busy afternoon guided tour, she was in her 60s I imagine and with her husband, who hadn't noticed or said.

I'd also tell someone if their skirt was rucked or tucked up, or a label poking out, but not if underwear was visible.

MsPickle · 14/06/2014 15:12

I told a guy sat opposite me on the tube that his fly was undone. He was embarrassed as I was I but I waited until it was my stop to minimise the situation. Couldn't let him ride like that unawares.

Next day, got on, sat down, opened my book then had customary glance round, mortified that he was opposite me again! So was he. Saw him check he was done up! Never knowingly seen him since thank god!

mrsbucketxx · 14/06/2014 15:12

i wouldn't but i have been the person with the see through garment on though dh pointed it out and i sorted it sharpish its mortifying.

Icovellauna · 14/06/2014 15:13

About 25 years ago I was walking behind a young lady wearing the smallest, shortest pair of denim hotpants (so short the lower half of her bum cheeks were hanging out) and her sanitary towel had sort of come adrift and was poking out of the bottom of her shorts!
I still remember it and wish I had told her but was an excruciatingly shy teen at the time and couldn't approach her.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 14/06/2014 15:16

No , because I live in Essex, I'd get a smack.
And I'd be there all blardy day if I had to point out complete strangers fashion faux pas - they are many and varied.

I don't look like I've stepped off a fashion page by any means, but :

lady in pink thin trousers (like trackie bums but sheer) those black knickers didn't enhance

ladies in those floor length maxi dresses with elastic tops - if you catch the hem, we'll all cop an eyeful. And if your norks are round your waist, wear a bra

very smartly dressed lady , curvy and looked really good, except the worst camel toe ever (cropped jacket and leggings. No hiding it)

Very short shorts that show half your bum cheeks are really for the beach, not walking round town, especially if there's more bum outside the shorts than in.

BUY A MIRROR PEOPLE Hmm

tethers there was a white-legging-skid-mark saga as well

Annianni · 14/06/2014 15:21

I once told a woman (dancer/bar staff) that her tampon string was dangling out of her leotard/ fishnet tights combo.

She was dancing on the bar in front of me and it was like a little white worm bobbing about in the air.
It was glowing under the uv lights.

It was a long time ago.

She was mortified and dashed off to the loo.

rewa · 14/06/2014 15:27

Why do so many do the thin leggings showing pants so much these days? Always wanted to say something but didn't and now see so many that assumed it was stupid fashion! In relation to other malfunctions i Have told stranger but only if they can do something about it otherwise kept quiet. I told own family off for letting me go out with very revealing top last summer which in mirror at home i had no idea about they didn't either until sun caught top and revealed all fat thought was well hidden underneath. [embarrassed]

Batmansbuttocks · 14/06/2014 15:58

I always remember my own wardrobe malfunction which I'm glad I was told about but wish it had been mentioned more discreetly.

I was at Uni and late for class and all my classmates were waiting outside. My gay best friend upon seeing me approach shouted "OMG those trousers are so tight I can actually see your lips, forget that I can even see your clitoris!" Cue 30 people staring at my vulva. I turned around and walked home (and never wore those trousers again! )

rubybleu · 14/06/2014 16:03

LadyIsabella - your daughter wasn't at Westfield London this week by any chance? Our aunt had to tell someone that her skirt had been rucked up by her backpack and her pants were on show.

If it's an obvious malfunction I'll mention it - I told a complete stranger this morning that she had an undone button as her bra was totally on show. However, I once agonised over telling a tutor who wore extremely professional clothes that her dress, that no doubt looked fine in the early morning dark, was very see-through in the sunlight. I didn't end up saying anything in the end.

photocop · 14/06/2014 16:04

I am always tempted to tell people about those x-shaped threads that are on new jacket/coat pleats which you are supposed to cut off when you get home.

I never have done. But I see it a lot.

dottytablecloth · 14/06/2014 16:04

I was walking behind a woman who had got her period- she was wearing white jeans.

I didn't tell her!

LovelyMarchHare · 14/06/2014 16:04

A woman on school run told me I had a hole in my tights (black opaques, hole at back of knee). I'd never seen her before but was v grateful as it meant I could nip home and change before going to work. I wouldn't have noticed it til I got to office and had my first post-wee glance in the mirror otherwise.

Something like that I'd point out. I say nothing about the leggings/knickers thing as I assume that, deep down, they already know it's a bit revealing.

RedToothBrush · 14/06/2014 16:12

I saw a woman out shopping today who had the price tag still hanging out the back of her dress.

I couldn't decide whether she had

Simply forgotten to remove it
Nicked it
Or was so tight was intending to return it after wearing it.

I didn't try and find out

LadyIsabellaWrotham · 14/06/2014 16:25

No, that wasn't her ruby. Clearly a fairly common thing to happen.

SoldeInvierno · 14/06/2014 16:52

I was at a work conference and I saw a lady who had the dry cleaning tag hanging from her very smart jacket. I did tell her and she was grateful.

specialsubject · 14/06/2014 17:28

I do if it is something easily correctable - skirt tucked up etc, and would be grateful if I was told.

if it is a 'got dressed in the dark' I don't say anything.

for the really embarrassing ones here; not sure what I'd do!

lettertoherms · 14/06/2014 17:37

I would if it could be fixed easily. I told someone while grocery shopping that some sort of sticker had gotten stuck to her tights, things like that.

Something like a garment being see through I wouldn't mention to a stranger. Too awkward.

In this vein, back in the eighties, my dad popped into the shop he owned to find a crowd of men around the counter hanging on the every word of his sales clerk, a lovely young woman, who was wearing a white dress, which under the store lights was completely sheer, with not a scrap of clothing underneath. He sent her home sharply to change!

EBearhug · 14/06/2014 17:43

I think it depends. If it's something that can be fixed, like cardi inside out or label sticking out, I'd probably say something. If it's a stain or see-throughness that they can't cover, then no.