THE BIG SPILL: LOSE THE STAIN, KEEP THE MEMORIES

It happens to the best of us. You're dressed to the nines, sipping a great wine and holding court at a party, when suddenly an unfortunate tip of the hand leaves you covered in red wine. Keep cool and spring into action to salvage your best shirt:

• Act fast, but don't add to the chaos. Let's not make this mess any bigger than it needs to be.
• Use a plain towel or cloth to soak up as much of the stain as you can, without rubbing it into the fabric.
• Pour club soda (or regular water, if you must) on both sides of the fabric to dilute the stain. A little salt can also help the cause.
• Never apply heat, unless you want to hang onto a stained shirt indefinitely. Never blot the stain with a colorful cocktail napkin, unless you're working on a tie-dye project.

It wouldn't hurt to carry a stain-removing product if you know you'll be enjoying red wine, or if you've come to terms with your own clumsiness. Even if the incident doesn't involve you, being prepared always makes you look like the hero.