Thrift stores offer treasures for fashionistas on a budget. However, finding stylish pieces among rows of outdated clothing can feel daunting. With some clever tricks, you can transform thrift store finds into modern masterpieces. This blog shares five easy ways to turn your ready to wear second-hand picks into today’s hottest fashion looks.
Trying Simple Alterations
Even minor changes can help large t-shirts, blouses, dresses, and coats look like tailored clothing. Basic adjustments that can be made in relative ease include increasing the fabric intake at the bust/waist line by applying darts or pleats and cinching at waist lines or on the sleeves to provide more form to a previously flimsy sack-like number. You could also alter the bust area by shortening crop top or dress hems to add immediate soph and short hemlines are a trend favorite at the moment. Adjusting necklines is another easy way to update the style: suggest that necklines could be made lower or necklines are changed into additional frills, lace or fabric in different color.
Adding buttons, tassels, appliques or other enhancements also revitalises and brings into the contemporary style as well. Or it can be done in the contrasting color – experiment with the buttons, zippers, velvet ribbons or lace appliqués. Other revealing small particulars such as exposing the hemlines or making intentional tears create additional stylish looks. The important thing is not to be ashamed of going very individualistic when it comes to the sense and placement of style on the garment. Subtle changes like embroidered flowers because you like gardening or pins and patches because of band if you are into music.
Redesigning Details
Subtle changes made to the design of an object help in creating the best possible look. Sleeker collars of jackets and tops should be replaced by stand up collar varieties where they exist to form a structured look. Replace metallic buttons with some rough textures such as wooden buttons or leather or acrylic buttons. Add a personal touch by embroidering fabric patches; vinyl designs, or screen prints. If you’d like something less geometric but more unconventional, add more colorful threads to your current embroidery. Such creative touches transform thrift items into trendy fast fashions that many people want. Another method to personalise your thrift items is through replicated wear and tear using sand paper, scissors, razors, stitches for intentional holes and rips in any area of the garment – the more the merrier when there are holes in jeans or jackets!
Another simple fabrication update is to incorporate lace and leather details or insertions such as at the bottom of skirts, seem edges and round the necklines. Thus, contours of the neckline and armholes can be decorated with ribbons. If sewing is present on seams, put gold or silver studs and grommets there, or use them instead of buttons may be. Hand embroidery also has a simpler practice of weaving in brightly colored embroidery floss. If manually skilled, consider beading, sequin or jewel – or simply stick or sew on bangles to make a super fancy work.
Trying Trendy Tie-Dye
Tie-dye patterns are making a major comeback lately. Transform neutrally toned garments by hand dyeing or bleach-tie dyeing vibrant designs. Gather ideas from Pinterest before gathering supplies like dyes, rubber bands and gloves. Swirl together unique patterns in trending shades like pink, purple, blue, or neon. The resulting creations channel a fun, artisanal aesthetic perfect for festivals or vacations. You can get really creative with the tie-dyeing technique too – try things like scrunching areas tightly before securing with elastics or clamps for cool organic patterns as the dye permeates the material.
Layer different colors over each other in a random or intentional way to achieve almost marbled effects. Consider using an eyedropper for precision in placing dye colors. You can control set patterns by tightly pleating fabric or twisting it into spirals before tying off sections. Use stencils and shapes to block out areas from dye for negative space effects. What’s great about tie-dye is that even dye “mistakes” yield super cool one-of-a-kind designs – so don’t stress trying to execute it perfectly. The more daring and bold you get with swirling and layering the dyes, the more awesome and unique the finish result will be.
Attempting Upcycling
With some imagination, cast-off clothing can morph into completely new garments! Deconstruct shirts to harvest fabric for items like scrunchies, headbands, or face masks. Reconfigure neckties, scarves, and sarongs into chic tops. Cut apart a dress and refashion it into a skirt and cropped blouse combo. Repurpose old jeans into handy carryalls like belt bags or totes. Post your upcycled projects online to motivate and inspire fellow fashion lovers.
In Summary
Rifling through thrift stores in search of fashion gold might seem hit-or-miss. But with clever tweaking, pre-loved items transform into personalized statements. Altering garment silhouettes, modernizing details, tie-dyeing fabrics and upcycling clothing creatively reimagines second-hand picks. Compiling and coordinating various pieces concocts one-of-a-kind looks. So next time you visit thrift shops, unstitched sale or grandma’s hand-me-down trunk, view the contents through the eyes of a stylist rather than a scavenger. A few simple refashioning tricks help uncover the true potential waiting within.
