They don’t need to have this fate. With a bit of skill and inspiration, you can turn the plainest clothes into fashion-forward statements and give them new life. Don’t worry if you’re not the DIY type or if you don’t have a lot of supplies around the house. These ideas are simpler than you think!
If you can use a sewing machine
The better you know how to sew, the more options you have when it comes to revamping old items of clothing. Also, the end result will look a bit more polished than if you were to use just scissors, needle and thread. Here are some simple ideas that you can apply even with minimal sewing knowledge:
· Do you find the neck of a blouse unflattering? It’s easy to fix! You can easily turn a boat neck into a V-shape or a turtleneck into a crew neck!
· If you have a dress you love, but that doesn’t fit you well in the bottom part, then you can cut that part off and turn it into a blouse. The same trick can be applied if the dress has a stain you can’t get out or if you burnt it with the iron.
· Although they have less fabric, shorts are priced the same as regular trousers. Find a pair you no longer wear and cut it off to get a free pair of shorts! The benefit of using this method is that you can achieve exactly the length you want.
· Use the embroidery technique to apply unique shapes on basic T-shirts
· Sew a bit of lace at the end of the sleeves for a feminine boho effect.
· Instead of buying a new swimsuit coverup, you can cut an old T-shirt.
· Cut the back of T-shirts to create interesting patterns using beads
No sewing required
If you don’t own a sewing machine or simply don’t want to put a lot of effort into upgrading old clothes, these no-sew techniques are for you.
· Distressed jeans are really popular, but nobody wants to spend more than $50 on a pair of jeans that lacks most of the fabric. You can make your own distressed jeans by scrubbing the fabric with some sandpaper or pumice. This way, even your most worn, favorite pair of jeans can live on for at least one more season.
· Wear ribbons. Find cute ribbon patterns online and, instead of using them to wrap gifts, use them to revamp your clothes. You can either stick them to the shoulders of blouses or you can wear a longer ribbon strand as a belt to add shape to a straight, oversized dress.
· The distressed clothing trend is bigger than ever. Just like you did with distressed jeans, you can make your own shredded T-shirt by cutting holes in it. If you don’t like the look of skin showing through, then another idea would be to take a large, men’s cut band T-shirt and cut the neck and sleeves to create a muscle top.
· Draw patterns using lace. Take a piece of lace (including from a curtain, if you don’t mind the damage) and apply in on top a clothing item you want to revamp. Then, using a waterproof sharpie or some special clothing paint, color the lace. This will create a unique pattern that withstands the washing machine cycle.
· Loving that cold shoulder trend, but you’re not convinced you should break your capsule wardrobe rules for a new top? Then make your own by taking a basic tee or a floaty blouse and cutting off the shoulders!
· Everyone has a top that looks good, but needs something extra to shine. Enter the statement necklace. For this project, you will only need a statement necklace and some glue. Next time you’re going out clubbing, you’ll save a few minutes on looking for accessories.
· Buttons may be small, but they can make a huge difference to your outfit. To add a fresh touch to an old jacket, remove its old buttons and replace them with novelty ones. For example, you could add heavy, golden buttons to create a powerful military look.