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Are you sick of your old clothes but don’t have enough money to purchase more? Say no more. Here are my favorite quick fixes to create a whole new wardrobe by only using my old, gone-out-of-style garments.
I am sick of the constantly changing trends. Not only is this adding to all the textile landfills and killing mother nature, but it is also getting expensive. Let me tell you, I am nowhere near a millionaire, so this fast-fashion ordeal needs to come to a halt. My bank account is begging.
Luckily, being broke this quarantine (student loans are creeping up on me soon), I have discovered some inexpensive and fun ways to spice up my closet. Here are some ways I revamp old clothing into something fresh, fun, and fabulous.
One activity I have enjoyed this season is going thrift shopping in the local St. Vinny’s. Not only is every item super affordable, I’m talking less than $10, but they’re also are some pretty neat finds in the store. At first, I have to admit that I was completely skeptical of thrifting; the thought of some clothes not being washed beforehand freaked me out. However, setting odds aside, I found some amazing finds that I knew I could shape into something new and trendy.
Bleach Dye
Tie-dye has been a consistent trend for as long as I can remember. I have dyed nearly every garment invented, from creating bright, fun shirts for my soccer practice to crafting rainbow socks on camping trips. However, as I have aged, so has my interest in bright colors. While I now avoid any color of the rainbow at all costs, I have seriously been loving the idea of bleach dye.
Throughout my college years, I have collected my fair share of oversized crewnecks and hoodies. These sweatshirts not only are three sizes too large for my body but also have been through the wringer of hangovers, day parties, and much more. After adding a few tears to the hoodies, and a few stains, I knew it was either time to donate or go through a serious change. Luckily, bleach dye started showing up all over social media right around the time I was going to give away my sweatshirts, so I thought, why not give it a try?
All you need is an old hoodie, household bleach, a bucket, rubber gloves, a spray bottle, and some rubber bands for bleach dyeing. If anything, it is easier than tie-dyeing because there is zero chance your clothes will turn the color of mud if you severely mess up. After working on this project, I have to admit my sweatshirts (almost) look good as new. I can wear them out in public again without looking like I am nursing a terrible hangover.
Cropping
Cropping is probably the easiest thing you can do to change a garment and is highly effective.
Before I studied textiles and fashion, I would take scissors to any shirt or pants to change up the look. Yes, this meaning my sports shirts would have no sleeves and slits down my torso. It was a disaster. However, once I aged a few years and used a ruler, my skills have significantly improved.
One of the best ways to preserve my clothing a few more years is cutting. When my pants became too short for my liking or were squeezing my thick, soccer thighs, I would cut and distress my pants into shorts. This way, I’m not only saving myself nearly $50, but I can also cut them the length I want it. Let’s be real here; a lot of the time, shorts are cut to be underwear, and I am not into constantly pulling my shorts down.
Another item I have been dying to try is cropping a men’s oversized polo into a two-piece set. However, it takes more than cutting up fabric to create this set. If this is something you’re interested in, all you need is some elastic, a needle, and thread. This is an excellent way of turning a baggy, boring material into a full couture set.
Patching
I am so tired of boring washed-out denim. From the changing trends of flare cut, low rise to distressed, keeping up is becoming a chore. I’ve decided I wanted to make a statement with my pants, and patching is just the way to do it.
Once distressed pants began to lose some fame, I was pretty bummed. It just so happened that the pants that fit my body the best were a pair of majorly ripped jeans. I’m talking rips from my mid calves all the way up to my upper thighs. I wanted to keep these pants at all costs because they weren’t cheap, but having them in the condition that they were in, there was no way I could keep these another season.
However, the best part about patching? It is simple, even if you have no idea how to sew. Trust me; even I figured it out. Also, there is a plethora of fun patterned fabric to choose from at any local Hobby Lobby or Michael’s store. My go-to’s when choosing my designs were pastel prints, paired with neutral tans and bronzes, perfect for me to wear on a warm, spring day next year.
Painting
Painting and fashion happen to be two of my favorite things, so the fact that painting on denim is all over myInstagramandTikTokfeed makes my heart so happy. I genuinely believe that this is such a fun way to express yourself and your talents. Often, people show off their interests and moods with their clothing, and now that they are painting these garments makes it that much more sentimental.
The only painting I have personally tried is stripes and different faces, only because I am not an artist by any means. However, I admire individuals who design more intricate art such as florals and murals onto their denim. As much as I want to paint a city skyline on a denim jacket, I think I’m going to practice on paper first before I think of turning into the next Picasso.
Embroidery
Although not everyone has a sewing machine lying around their house, hear me out, you don’t need one to sew your designs. The only materials you need to create some designs on your clothes are a needle and different thread colors. As long as you have your basic neutrals such as white, black, grey, tan, and a few vibrant colors, you are set. With these few materials, I promise you your blouse can go from a two to a 10 in about an hour.
The amount of plain black tops I have accumulated over the years is enough to fill up a pantry. I love a black shirt as much as the next person; however, it is a little excessive when it adds up to over three of the same shirt. Therefore, recently I have gotten into embroidering my tops and bottoms. By adding a few diagonal stripes in the collar of my shirt to creating a little rose in the corner of my jeans, I’ve noticed that I have added a lot more dimension to my plain pieces. Not to mention plenty of compliments. If you are thinking about revamping, all you need is a design in mind, then go online to YouTube and watch a step-by-step tutorial, and you are left with a brand new top in no time.
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