Wake up that wardrobe
Rev up the closet, rest the wallet
Whitney DeGroat
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: Lifestyles
What can you say? Things happen. It might be schoolwork that's piling up faster than you can finish it, leaving no time to shop. Maybe it's this darned economy that's draining your fashion funds.
Whatever the case, you've neglected your wardrobe for so long that you've now opened your closet door and dresser drawers only to find it fast asleep. Your tired Ts and dreary jeans have got you nodding off.
Well, don't count sheep - count your sources. There are an endless number of ways to pull a wardrobe out of a rut, and they need not require a spending spree. Here are just five suggestions; think of each as a cheap shot of espresso for your closet.
1. Fumble around in the fabric shop. Anyone can sew on a button, and if you can't, you probably know someone who can. Switching buttons may be just the treatment for that old coat or jacket you never wear anymore. Plus, a cool set of buttons costs only a few dollars.
Not sure what kind to buy? Try pairing bright or baubled buttons with tweed. Big, round buttons will give a boring pea coat a fun, retro look.
2. Clean out mama's (or grandma's) closet. Fashions may change every six months or so, but one old adage stays the same; what's old is always, always new again. Grandma's old brooches would glam up a dull handbag or cardigan. Can't fit in mom's old sundress with the gorgeous print? Cut it into a large square big enough to fit around your head and make a head wrap, Erykah Badu-style. (Don't worry, you can find directions on a website like ehow.com.) I recently took two of my mother's old chain belts from the 80s and turned them into necklaces. All it took was the prying of a few hooks.
3. Make hot clothes cool. Or is it, make cool clothes hot? Eh, never mind. The point is, hot-weather clothing can be reworked for the cold, and vice versa. Try sticking elbow-length gloves, or even a long-sleeved top, underneath a jacket with cropped sleeves. While you're at it…
4. …make ugly clothes cool. Don't throw away that unfortunate-looking sweater you got for Christmas! You'll only hurt Aunt Judy's feelings, and leave your closet a bit more barren. Instead, snip off the sleeves, hem the bottoms and you've got yourself some legwarmers. (Yes, legwarmers. The 80s are back, baby! That's why we're seeing things like spiky shoulder pads and asymmetrical haircuts.) Wear them underneath knee-high boots, leaving a couple of inches to stick out from the top for extra warmth and a pop of color or print.
5. Mismatch to the max. Got a bad habit of misplacing things? Here's a way to fix that problem. Take a chain necklace (or two, or three, depending on their size) and hook it onto the belt loops of your skinny jeans. Draped across your pocket, it'll give a little edge.
Those random buttons that popped off a coat you wore once-upon-a-time? Don't sew them back on; buy some earring backs for just a few dollars and, with a few drops of good, strong glue, turn them into earrings.
With these tips in mind and a few household items in hand, anyone can rouse her sleepy wardrobe. A bright accessory or a shiny button can enliven an outfit in a manner that eludes even a brand-new piece of clothing.
How many possibilities lie undetected on your own closet floor?
Whatever the case, you've neglected your wardrobe for so long that you've now opened your closet door and dresser drawers only to find it fast asleep. Your tired Ts and dreary jeans have got you nodding off.
Well, don't count sheep - count your sources. There are an endless number of ways to pull a wardrobe out of a rut, and they need not require a spending spree. Here are just five suggestions; think of each as a cheap shot of espresso for your closet.
1. Fumble around in the fabric shop. Anyone can sew on a button, and if you can't, you probably know someone who can. Switching buttons may be just the treatment for that old coat or jacket you never wear anymore. Plus, a cool set of buttons costs only a few dollars.
Not sure what kind to buy? Try pairing bright or baubled buttons with tweed. Big, round buttons will give a boring pea coat a fun, retro look.
2. Clean out mama's (or grandma's) closet. Fashions may change every six months or so, but one old adage stays the same; what's old is always, always new again. Grandma's old brooches would glam up a dull handbag or cardigan. Can't fit in mom's old sundress with the gorgeous print? Cut it into a large square big enough to fit around your head and make a head wrap, Erykah Badu-style. (Don't worry, you can find directions on a website like ehow.com.) I recently took two of my mother's old chain belts from the 80s and turned them into necklaces. All it took was the prying of a few hooks.
3. Make hot clothes cool. Or is it, make cool clothes hot? Eh, never mind. The point is, hot-weather clothing can be reworked for the cold, and vice versa. Try sticking elbow-length gloves, or even a long-sleeved top, underneath a jacket with cropped sleeves. While you're at it…
4. …make ugly clothes cool. Don't throw away that unfortunate-looking sweater you got for Christmas! You'll only hurt Aunt Judy's feelings, and leave your closet a bit more barren. Instead, snip off the sleeves, hem the bottoms and you've got yourself some legwarmers. (Yes, legwarmers. The 80s are back, baby! That's why we're seeing things like spiky shoulder pads and asymmetrical haircuts.) Wear them underneath knee-high boots, leaving a couple of inches to stick out from the top for extra warmth and a pop of color or print.
5. Mismatch to the max. Got a bad habit of misplacing things? Here's a way to fix that problem. Take a chain necklace (or two, or three, depending on their size) and hook it onto the belt loops of your skinny jeans. Draped across your pocket, it'll give a little edge.
Those random buttons that popped off a coat you wore once-upon-a-time? Don't sew them back on; buy some earring backs for just a few dollars and, with a few drops of good, strong glue, turn them into earrings.
With these tips in mind and a few household items in hand, anyone can rouse her sleepy wardrobe. A bright accessory or a shiny button can enliven an outfit in a manner that eludes even a brand-new piece of clothing.
How many possibilities lie undetected on your own closet floor?
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