Give your Closet a Fashion Face-Lift
Keeping up with fashion trends can expensive but, don’t worry, you don’t have to buy all the latest trends just get inspired by them to make your own. All you need to do is refashion items from a thrift store or resale shop and pair them with any ready to wear garments you already have. Consider it a fashion face-lift for your wardrobe.
Things you can find at a thrift store are: sweatshirts, blouses, pants, t-shirts, skirts, scarves, dresses… and they can all have a new life.
Refashioning Tips to Remember:
1. RAID YOUR CLOSET AND THE THRIFT STORE
When looking for a garment to reimagine, first be open and let your creativity sore. Take an old or oversized blouse and visualize the possibilities. Can you cinch the waist? Add new sleeves? Add an embroidered embellishment? What would it look like to chop the legs off those bootleg pants? Can you add fancy fabric to give them some texture? Can you turn them into a skirt? Use old t-shirts to make tank dresses or aprons. The refashioning ideas are endless.
2. ANYONE CAN DO IT!
All you need is a little inspiration and a positive attitude. Sewing is always the best option but if you don’t wanna wind your bobbin, there’s always hand stitching, fabric glue, safety pins, or fusible fabric. But please, give sewing a try first. Think of it as learning a new skill that will provide lifelong benefits. I always say, easy sewing is just a bunch of straight stitches and a little math!
3. DON’T BE AFRAID!
You can cut into the garment and turn it into an entirely new look. The only mistake you can make is a creative mistake, which means in the end; something better will come from your miscalculation.
4. USE THE SHAPE!
With vintage or thrift store clothing you already have a basic shape so work with it! That’s the best part. So if it has a waistband already in place, use it! If you like the collar or the way the sleeves fit, work with that element.
5. TRY IT ON!
Most vintage stores have fitting rooms so use ’em! Make sure the garment fits in the most appropriate places, i.e. bust, waist, hips. Remember, it’s only got to fit in one place because the rest you’ll modify.
6. USE THE TRENDS!
For your fashion rebirth think about the trends that you love and start looking for garments that will add to that trend. For example, printed patterns, timeless texture, vivid color, metallic illusions, sexy gathers, pencil skirts, menswear, find items with these attributes and start there.
7. SAVE YOUR SCRAPS!
I love scraps. Use any extra fabric to create other things like tablecloths, pillows, headbands, and handbags or even to tie up newspapers for the recycle bin!
It’s easy to reimagine fashion when you take what’s old and give it a new life. Remember, the ideas are endless and there are no mistakes; just creative fun. So go from bland to glam with these easy tips to a fashion face-lift!
About Jane Clauss
For more creative living tips, check out two-time Emmy Award winner Jane Clauss’s website. If you have any great health and wellness ideas that you would like to share, or just want to say hi, fill out this contact form. We will be happy to hear from you.
