Fashion Rescue: Passing the Oops Test

I won't offer products that I have not used and approved. So our stock room (and home) has become a bit of a test laboratory for a new category of products I call "Fashion Rescue."

Miss Oops Mishap Tape is simply great.

You get 36 transparent double sided tape strips. These work amazingly well in ways the manufacturer planned and could not foresee.

-Fix the dropped stitches at the waist of a Vera Wang party dress in a snap.

-Repair the torn spine of a book with ease.

-Secure upholstery trim that came loose after the glue dried out.

I've become a mishap tape fool, spying all manner of rips, tears and simple mending projects that have gone undone because I a) lacked the skill; b) lacked the materials; c) lacked the time to tackle the project.

Frankly, testing Miss Oops Mishap tape is better and way more fun than mending. And let's face it, shoring up a falling hem or upholstery trim with a stapler is so 20th century.

You'll also appreciate the Miss Oops Mini Lint Roller.

Tote size and refills make this dandy lint remover a handy pick for your purse, glove box or desk drawer.

It's especially useful for women who wear lots of navy blue and black and also own pets.

Really.

When did you ever leave the house totally free of cat or dog hair? Somehow, no matter how careful (or clean) you are, a few stray hairs inevitably show up when you get into your car.

Yes, there are other, cheaper mini lint rollers out there. The packaging is not nearly as cute. (This is fashion, after all.)

We have more Fashion Rescue products on the way from Hollywood Fashion Tape. If they work half as well as Miss Oops, you'll see them soon in Scarlett's Closet.

Next on our test lab agenda: stain removal.

It Happens: Prepare, Recover, Repair on the Spot

Drinks spill. Lipstick smudges. Bra straps peek. Lint finds tuxedos. Sweat stains show. Shoes rub blisters on dressed up feet. No matter what the occasion- hot date or cool wedding - it happens.

Everyone knows the value of double sided apparel tape when a spaghetti strap breaks, your blouse gaps or you step into the hem of a long gown with a high heel. I would not have thought to use a household sponge to remove deodorant streaks from a little black dress, but it works. And mini lint rollers are as common as the day is long.

The problem is - aside from celebrity stylists and experienced wedding planners - no one has these items handy when you need them most - when "it" happens to you at work, school, senior prom, country club dance, cathedral wedding.

Now you can. So have a look at our new line of Fashion Rescue products from Miss Oops. And stand by for more helpful, tote-sized products from Hollywood Fashion Tape for starters.

Once they've passed our "oops test," Scarlett's Closet will offer many more ways to prevent, prepare, repair and recover gracefully - on the spot- from life's little emergencies with smart, handy products from today's hottest fashion rescue companies.

Want to try them out for yourself? Three ship for the same price as one!

Eco-Friendly: How Green Is Your Wedding?

When a woman envisions her ideal wedding, green is not exactly the first thing that comes to mind. Yet, more and more couples are inspired by a growing concern for the environment to plan a wedding that is less wasteful and polluting. Moreover, going green gets easier all the time.

According to the Organic Trade Association, the number of earth-friendly products and services is growing offering everything from recycled paper invitations to "green" honeymoon hotels.

So whether you want a completely green wedding or just lean a little "green-ish" in the details, here are some eco-friendly ways to leave a smaller footprint on the earth on the most memorable day of your life.

1. Consider eco-friendly wedding invitations printed on recycled paper, non chlorine dye and vegetable based inks produced in a unionized print shop

2. Register locally for eco-friendly wedding gifts - hemp or cotton bedding, bamboo dishware, a fair trade teapot or cutting board made of recycled wood.

3. Eco-friendly wedding dresses made of natural fibers - cotton, hemp, silk or raw silk wedding dresses - consume less carbon than bridal dresses made of synthetic fiber. Eco-chic? Indeed. It's available if you look for it - Christos 823 White Silk Organza Bridal Dress with Cotton Embroidery.

4. Ask the caterer to prepare food with organic or locally grown produce for your reception.

5. Use soy wedding candles which burn longer, slower and with less soot than paraffin. They are also biodegradable.

6. Use locally grown wildflowers or purchase organic wedding flowers from a florist who specializes in arrangements made with organically grown blossoms.

7. Keep locations closet to home to reduce the distance guests must drive.

8. Consider small potted plants, wildflower seeds or chocolate from companies that donate part of their profits to environmental causes for wedding favors.

9. Donate leftover food to a local homeless shelter.

10. Ask friends and family to donate to a worthy environmental cause rather than give gifts.

... and these are just thought starters.

A green wedding offers the modern, socially awake couple a fun, practical and environmentally friendly way to personalize your wedding day and do some good along the way.