What you can do with a Clothing tape (& what you can’t)

This is another very frequent use of clothing tape. You can use it when wearing low-cut tops to show only as much cleavage as you want to show.

You can also use it to keep your clothing from slipping down and show something you don’t want to. The tape helps to stick your clothes to your skin so that it doesn’t slip down. Very helpful when wearing a deep V-neck or a plunging neckline.

A tight shirt and Gaping button stand?

You can use it between the button stand and use the clothing tape to keep them together and thus prevent it from gaping. Position it so that it is not visible from the outside. 

If it is gaping too much, because the clothing is too tight for you, the normal clothing tape with less adhesive may not work. You may need something with more stronghold – otherwise, tape may come loose at the most inappropriate moment. 

Is the collar not staying down?

If your collar is not stiff enough to stay down and is curling up, use the clothing tape to tape to the fabric underneath.

Place the tape on the underside of the collar and press down to the fabric. You have to align the tape along the edges of the collar.

Smoothen bend in a lapel.

If you are wearing a jacket with a twisted lapel, it can do much to mar your image as a polished person. You may want to hold the lapel in place with our cute clothing tape, much the same way that we did with the collar.

Place the tape right on the area with the bend, twist, or crease. Now I am sure that it will stay flat and neat.

Belt hanging down

Some belts may not have an extra loop to keep the belt ends from hanging down, and it is not a good look. With this tape, it is a breeze to get it to stay back on the belt. You have to ensure that it will not leave any residue on the belt after you peel it off. 

Conceal bra straps

This is one of the most common uses of clothing tape. If you have a thin strap or a wide neck, your bra straps may ride up or down. If you do not want the bra straps to move from your shoulders from under your dress, use the tape to keep it down.

Put on your bra and dress. Adjust the straps to the desired length and position that will remain concealed under your dress. Place the tape on the inside of the outfit where it will come in contact with the bra straps. Stick the tape to both the bra straps and the fabric of the dress. 

Slipping strapless tops

Does your Strapless tops and dresses often struggle to stay in place? If the top is slightly loose or doesn’t stay up properly, you may have a wardrobe malfunction of the most possible kind. Clothing tape can save the day.

Temporarily attach decorations

Say you want to add a bow or a small fabric flower on your dress (not too heavy) – clothing tape can be used. Remember that it is a temporary attachment. Anything heavy, like a metal brooch, is sure to fall down. 

Prevent cowl neck or neck scarf from moving around.

Even if you are not aiming for a specific drape with your scarf or cowl, you do not want it running all over the place. The clothing tape can be used to put it in place to prevent it from shifting or moving around.

Riding up clothes

If your dress fabric at the hem tends to shift or bunch up, you can try keeping it in place with the clothing tape.

Flopping down of open Front tops

This is a situation when a fabric tends to droop or sag in the front of wrap tops etc. Instead of using safety pins (which is what everyone uses, I think, you can try the clothing tape.- no holes, no showing outside)

Misaligned pleats

You can use the clothing tape to keep folds in place. 

Keep straps in place.

Some straps of clothes keep slipping down, especially heavily-beaded straps. 

Temporary hem

Do you want to adjust the length of any of your clothes – I mean, shorten the hem, or conceal the hem as I want to? Or has your hem come loose without a needle and thread in sight, ever?

I wanted to change the eyelet hem of my jeans, not permanently (for permanently changing the hem of your jeans, check out the tutorial) , but for the time being. Just use the tape inside.

Fold the fabric inward to create the new hemline at the desired length. ( You may want to be accurate about this – hemline is one tricky thing). Lift the fabric you have folded and place the tape. You may need a lot of tape for a skirt hem – not so much for a jeans hem

Basting in Sewing

This is a favourite for me. It is useful in keeping fabric pieces together till I decide what to do about it.

Now what you can’t do.

Clothing tape cannot hold the fabric for a long long time or survive wash. It is not permanent. If you stick it once, it won’t re-stick well. So mistakes can be costly. And if it comes apart, you may need a replacement, so keep extra in hand.

And most do not have strong adhesive. And if the pressure or pull is too much, it may come apart. 

It may not be properly applied on many surfaces like fabric with lots of texture.

When applied on the skin, hair can prevent proper adhesion. And if the adhesion is strong, it may hurt when you peel it off . So be careful to use this tape over hair – when you remove it, it may act as a wax strip (but I have never bought any which acts that strong)

And If you are using it on the skin, you may be afraid of sores or scabs and the sticky residue that these tapes leave behind. As soon as your work is over, use oil to remove the tape. You can look out for fashion tape for sensitive skin. You can also try the tape before using it outside somewhere that won’t show to check (especially if you are using it for an important event)

Better adhesion is possible only if the skin is without dirt or oil. Sweat can also interfere with the adhesive on fashion tape. You can wash the skin or wipe the skin with alcohol (and allow it to dry) before applying tape–your tape will stick better.