We all have them.
You know what I’m talking about, clothing we’ve had for years but still have the tags attached and ill-fitting dresses that were bought on impulse because they were on sale. What about those pre-pregnancy or more aptly phrased, pre-pandemic clothes that are now two sizes too small that we’re still optimistically holding on to because ”one day, one day, they just might fit…again”. (Oh yes, we all have those.)
With reduce, reuse and recycle campaigns on everybody’s minds nowadays, we take inspiration and tackle our bursting-at-the seams closets and suggest some guilt-free “shopping” (and some eco-friendly fashion strategies).
We share five ideas on how to breathe new life into your old clothes. (Now, let’s see if that forgotten dress in the back of your closet still has a second chance at life.)
1. Create Two Out of One
What are you saving it for? Finally get some use out of that unflattering dress (the one you never wear) and create two pieces that you just might love to finally put on.
2. Add a special detail
A touch of color, a playful patch, a ribbon detail or some sparkly buttons could be all that plain Jane outfit needs. In this case, a colorful fabric belt from another piece of clothing was all this drab dress needed to give it some personality!
3. Incorporate custom design
What do we mean by this? It means now’s your chance to slip in a trend or designer detail into one of your outfits. This old shirt dress really only had enough fabric for a skirt (the top was going to be too short) so we got creative and added a paperbag waistline to give it a custom touch.
4. Remove the Sleeves
Sometimes, all the look needs is a haircut–in this case, a little off the sides went a long way! Created a halter neckline by cutting a few inches away from the collar–a style that’s both practical (it instantly makes it summery) and flattering.
5. Lastly, style it up!
I didn’t really change the shape of this kimono robe. Aside from shortening the cuffs and lessening the width of the front panels (the seamstress removed the pockets to make the knot look less bulky), all I did was hike it up around my waist and knotted it in front. Voila! Instant favorite. See if you can style your least favorite item in a different way–it just might work!
So, there you have it! Five ideas to resuscitate and revive your aging, forgotten clothes with some CPR or more precisely, some TLC. We hope this gets you motivated to go deep diving in your closets and to find hidden gems you never knew were in there.
And if not, I’m sure there are lots of charities which would gladly take them off your hands.
Happy shopping!
