So, you’ve got your outfit all set – and it is looking good – but what about your fashion first aid kit? Those little hero items that come to the rescue should sartorial disaster strike. We all know how one accidental splosh of red wine can ruin a look, after all.

To give us a helping hand on a night out, we’ve asked a bunch of fashionable people who always look well put together to share the secret weapon in their handbag. For some, it is about the basics but essentials: a sewing kit (photographer and model Laura Bailey’s must-have), a toothpick or elastic bands (stylist Peter Bevan explains how they are key to achieving the perfect rolled-up shirt sleeve). For others, it’s a proper piece of kit, such as a debobbler, a defuzzer or an on-the-go tailoring tool.

Then there are the multiuse hacks, including the hair spray fix that combats the annoying staticky skirt thing, the antibac wipes that are the Elle editor’s essential on white shirt days and the nipple covers that double up as blister plasters. Fashion fouls be gone!

The stain removers that actually save the day

I often carry a pack of antibacterial hand wipes with me for stain removal (a Covid-era discovery that stuck). I’ve found they work just as well as Tide stain remover pens, if not better. Great for those days when I’m wearing white button-down shirts.
Kenya Hunt, editor-in-chief of Elle UK

My mother-in-law introduced me to the Vanish bar but I am also a fan of the Vanish gel stick. I try to keep one on me at all times to catch those inevitable coffee stains or ballpoint pen marks early, and so avoid a bigger problem when it comes to laundry day.
Aja Barber, writer and stylist

When I was a kid my mum drilled into me that you never get a second chance to make a good first impression. So in the office, I have The Lab Co’s shoe cleaning kit stashed away for my sneakers, so they always look fresh if I need to go to an event or meeting. I carry the freshener spray in my bag.
Daniel-Yaw Miller, sports correspondent at the Business of Fashion

I carry a Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater stain treater in most of my bags. It came recommended by a friend who spilled red wine at a vineyard, only to have her server whip out this stain remover. I feel like a hero whenever I get to use it, especially on a friend. It’s larger than a Tide pen, but in my opinion way more effective.
Erika Veurink, fashion writer

The superhero sewing kit

A mini hotel sewing kit – including a safety pin and spare button – is great for emergency repairs. It’s amazing the number of times a safety pin or a quick stitch saves the day, whether fixing an unravelling hem or holding a cuff together that’s lost a button.
Laura Bailey, photographer and model

I try not to leave home without a mini sewing kit. I typically “borrow” them from hotels – they work a treat. From loose buttons to dropped hems, I’ve found them to be a sartorial life-saver.
Candice Brathwaite, author

Elastic bands for the stylish sleeve

I probably wear shirts more than anything else in my wardrobe and often like to push the sleeves up while I’m out and about – especially during summer. For me, the easiest way to achieve a neat sleeve that’s not too bulky is with elastic bands. I gather the sleeve and hide the band by turning the cuff up, but if you prefer you can secure it higher up and fold the sleeve over it instead. Either way, it makes the turn-up look much more intentional – and it doesn’t slip down, either.
Peter Bevan, stylist

Hairbands (not just for ponytails)

I carry large, thick hairbands I can fit over my shoes and ankles, to hold in the bottom of my trousers so they don’t get caught in my bicycle chain. Obviously, they also double for hair situations. My preferred brand, Kooshoo, is plastic free.
Tiffanie Darke, author

The most useful glasses case