I’ll admit, I’ve always been a “t-shirt and jeans” gal. Frankly, nothing makes me happier than a comfy pair of jeans paired with a basic white shirt and some sneakers.
Maybe it is a pre-mid life crisis, but lately I’ve grown tired of looking like I walked out of a Gap commercial. It’s time to spice things up a bit.
Thankfully, I was able to consult with two of my favorite frugal fashionistas (my cousins) during our holiday get-together. Trust me, these gals could give the folks at Project Runway a run for their money. My college aged cousin (Ally) always looks great on an extremely limited budget. Her older sister (Diane) is a Stay at Home Mom yet she looks like she walked out of the pages of “Thrifty Vogue” – if there was such a magazine.
They are crafty,artsy and clever. They always make the best of what they have on-hand and look great.
So I decided to pick their brains a bit and share the tips with you. “How can I look better on a “t-shirt and jeans budget?” I asked.
I fell in love with the first idea the moment Ally walked in. She was wearing an adorable pair of jeans decorated with plaid patches. She told me that she had torn her favorite pair of old jeans and rather than tossing them she grabbed a cheese grater and created a few more holes. Then she took various fabrics she’d collected and patched the holes (from the inside). While many of you may not be crazy about the “torn jeans” look, I can assure you that it made an otherwise boring pair of jeans bright and stylish.
I complained that many of my old jeans were too short and didn’t fit well anymore. Diane suggested that I cut the bottoms off of the jeans and add a “cuff” made of vintage lace. She added that you can make adorable capri pants this way too. Simply cut the bottoms off below the knees and add a fun fabric or lace “border” to them
Another way to liven up a plain white t-shirt is to add a little art. Have you noticed how vintage advertising, rock-band logos and artistic t-shirts are all the rage this Spring? If you are reading this, you have the technology at your fingertips to make your own trendy tee.
My cousin loves making unique shirts for her boys using images she finds on the internet. Do an images search on Google and print the graphic onto iron-on paper. You can also find creative commons files (free for personal use) on websites like Flickr.com and Morguefile.com.
Personally, I love the vintage advertising created by the US Government and thankfully all of these images are considered public domain (like the classic Rosie the Riveter “We Can Do It” ad). Why not find a black and white picture of a vintage race car or airplane and add it to your son’s white shirt? The internet images and the possibilities are endless.
Even if you are trying to liven up your style a bit, you don’t need to toss them out just yet. Get creative, save money and create a style that is all your own.
Do you have any suggestions for recycling your old jeans and t-shirts? Share them with us in the comments section.