Most people either saw, or heard about, Janet Jackson’s wardrobe malfunction during a halftime show at a Super Bowl. As it turns out, a lot of celebrities have had various body parts exposed or “fall out,” so those of us who have suffered this indignity totally understand the instant embarrassment. Let me digress here to say that I researched photos on the internet of famous wardrobe malfunctions (there are a lot of them!) and they are all on women. Don’t men ever have problems with zippers, buttons, or shirts?  Apparently not, at least not the famous men.

               At any rate, I have been thinking about these kinds of mishaps because of what happened to me today. I was in town for the downtown shops’ trick-or-treating event, sporting a large pumpkin costume complete with pumpkin hat. After the festivities, I returned home to quickly change clothes and run a few errands. I threw on a flannel shirt over my t-shirt, changed from leggings to jeans, and swapped my boots for sneakers. Then I headed out to do all the normal Saturday stuff.

               I went to the gas station and filled the car. I bopped into the grocery for a few last-minute, game-night treats. I got a coffee at the local coffee shop. I went to the bookstore to buy a book on tape. I sauntered into the hardware store to have a key made for a friend. Then I met that friend at a designated spot to give her the key.

When we were talking, a breeze stirred up and I tried to button my shirt. That’s when I noticed that I had my flannel shirt on inside out for the entire afternoon! Though my pal said she “didn’t notice,” I had to wonder how many others had!

This reminded me of the day, years ago, when I was dressing for work. I had an array of high-heeled shoes, all in the same style (comfortable), but different colors. I was dressing in the dark and easily found a black shell to wear with my deep purple business suit. I had these cool purple heels that matched, and I slipped them on and happily went to work. You know where this is going, don’t you?

               It was in my second meeting of the day when I looked down at my crossed legs and noticed the pretty purple heel on my right foot…and the non-matching brown heel on my left foot!  Geez.

               Years before that, my mother-in-law had a near mishap with her sunglasses. She had just purchased new ones with rose-tinted lenses before the family went on vacation. While there, the women went to a mall and ran into a woman at one of those kiosks selling jewelry cleaner. She cleaned my rings, my sister-in-law’s rings, and mom’s rings. They sparkled and each of us purchased a jar of the cleaner from her.

               On the way back to the condo, mom exclaimed, “oh dear, that jewelry cleaner discolored my ring!  It’s turning red!”  She was very upset and insisting that we turn around and go back to the mall. I kept looking at her ring, but saw nothing amiss. Finally, my sister-in-law looked at mom and said, “Mom, take off your sunglasses!”  Her rose-colored lenses had almost caused an inter-state incident!

               Wardrobe mishaps are funny – after the fact. Have you had one?