MANILA, Philippines - A wardrobe malfunction can happen to anyone -- even to highest paid celebrities with their armies of personal stylists and dressmakers.

Just recently, a photo of actress and TV host Anne Curtis' wardrobe mishap circulated in social networks and was published on a local tabloid.

Curtis, who was wearing a bikini with a string halter strap, was dancing on stage for the summer special episode of ABS-CBN's musical variety show ASAP XV when the right part of her bikini top folded, accidentally showing her breast.

"I really feel upset [that] it's coming out. Sana they had a little respect man lang (They should've showed some respect)," Curtis said in an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN's Gretchen Fullido.

"Hindi naman talaga maiiwasan, but to upload it or to even spread it, that's what makes me sad. Nakakadishearten na may mga taong ganun. Bakit nila kailangang gawin sa akin ito? (It really can't be helped, but to upload it or to even spread it, that's what makes me sad. It's really disheartening to know that there are people who are like that. Why do they have to do this to me?" she lamented.

Despite the embarrassing incident, Curtis expressed optimism that the buzz created by her wardrobe malfunction will soon pass.

Not alone

Curtis wasn't the first celebrity who suffered a frock foul-up.

Katherine Heigl, who was best known for her roles in Grey's Anatomy and 27 Dresses, was in the middle of delivering her thank you speech at the ShoWest Convention in Las Vegas last week when her strap unhinged from the back of her dress.

The outfit of Janet Jackson, on the other hand, was etched in people's minds for years as it came undone during her halftime performance with Justin Timberlake at the Super Bowl in 2004, exposing her breast.

Beyonce Knowles also suffered a similar fate during her concert at the Tokyo Dome in 2007, when her skirt flew up during the performance.

In fact, these incidents have been so common in Hollywood that a number of celebrity websites have compiled their own list of famous wardrobe malfunctions.

Aside from Jackson and Knowles, other popular actresses featured in the list are Cameron Diaz, Halle Berry, Mischa Barton, Katy Perry, Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and Lady GaGa.

Wardrobe malfunction defined

Dictionaries have defined a wardrobe malfunction as the "temporary failure of an item of clothing to do its job in covering a part of the body as intended." This could be anything from a stuck zipper to a rip at the seams, and usually leads to an accidental indecent exposure of intimate body parts.

Although anyone can experience a wardrobe mishap at any time, it is more common to people in the entertainment industry. Artists who undergo quick costume changes and wear provocative outfits in their performances are usually more prone to revealing more than what is intended.

One of the most common forms of wardrobe malfunction is the nipple slip (often referred to as "Nipslip"), or the accidental exposure of a woman's nipple in public. This is what happened to Curtis, Jackson, and to other well-known celebrities.

It should be noted, however, that a wardrobe mishap is different from exhibitionism as the latter implies a deliberate exposure of intimate body parts.

Prevention and survival

It may be more prevalent among celebrities, but a wardrobe mishap can happen to you too -- whether it be a ripped dress at a wedding or a poorly-made swimsuit, it's just as embarrassing for us common folk.

Here are some ways to prevent wardrobe malfunctions:

• Make it a habit to look at yourself in the mirror before leaving the house. Check if your outfit is not revealing more than what is intended from the front, back, side, and while sitting down.
• Try to wear more conservative outfits. Conservative doesn't necessarily mean boring. Spice up your outfit with bright colors, bold accessories and new styles.
• Wear something underneath -- whether it be a pair of leggings or a tube tank top. Should there be malfunctions in your main outfit, these things will come to the rescue.
• If you don't like wearing too much, try lingerie tape. This double-sided tape keeps items of clothing in place to avoid wardrobe mishaps.

But if these weren't able to save you from the embarrassment, here are some ways to survive a public wardrobe malfunction:

• Take legal action against people and groups who make a profit out of your wardrobe malfunction, such as companies who may use the incident in an advertisement or tabloids who publish your controversial photo to sell more copies.
• Surround yourself with people close to you, and tell them all your troubles. If you're already feeling better, make it a point to look more stunning the next time you go out in public -- this will help erase people's previous memory of you and that wardrobe mishap.
• Take a second look at your lifestyle -- if the wardrobe malfunction happened because you tend to wear very skimpy outfits, then maybe you need to wear something more conservative. Or if you suffered a frock foul-up because you party too hard, maybe it's time for you to take it easy.

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Sources:
The Insider
Celeb Guru
MSN

For comments and suggestions, send an email to karen_flores@abs-cbn.com.