How Green Is Your Closet? musings on Fashion's environmental footprint...

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Fresh for Fall DIY

Celebrate your closet clean out with a great new DIY project. Laurence King has recently published DIY Fashion: Customize and Personalize by Portobello Market stall holder Selena Francis-Bryden. The August 23rd Daily Candy London report includes steps to turn your boyfriend's old sweater (jumper for the Brits) into a dress. Check out this fine book for 40 no sew projects or use it as a starting point for your own creations.
--till next week Restore, Recycle, Refresh & Renew

15 comments:

Krista Hayes said...

I might just have to go out and buy this book. I am constantly taking my brothers old clothes and altering them. In high school I took numerous different color Lacoste shirts and spiced them up a little for my liking, with his permission first of course. At urban they have a book I think it's called "The Big Ass Book of Crafts" I was skimming through and found a ton of cute stuff. I've always had my hand in things like this since I was little and my dad said "Can't she go to school for just ... making things?" hahaah we still talk about it to this day. But I am for sure going to look into this book, I just cleaned my closet out and have a ton of stuff I was going to give away but I picked out a few things that I can make cute bags pillows blankets etc out of.

Rachel said...

All of my friends from childhood love arts and crafts. When we were little we would spend entire days making puppets or pictures. I feel like this book could provide us with a way to that now. We could definitely spend a day talking and updating our wardrobes. We could even alter each others old clothing so our pieces feel like new.

Alyssa said...

I love love love this idea. Instead of shopping YOUR closet, shop HIS closet. For that matter, why stop at sweatshirts? his button downs make great shirtdresses and his blazers could make your cocktail dress edgier than the standard wrap. The trick is, getting him to part with his goods...

Unknown said...

I'm so intrigued by this idea of refreshing old clothes without sewing. I actually got a sewing machine a while ago mainly for this purpose but it never really worked out... It's so much nicer to change your own outfit with your unique vision so no one else would have the same clothes with you. In my eyes, fashion is all about self expression and this DIY project takes this even further. I'll definitely look into this book.

saragaut said...

The part that is so great about this to me is the timeliness of it all. The DIY Culture is blowing up right when everyone is buying less so DIY makes sure that you don't get bored with your wardrobe while we are all forced into this shopping hiatus during a time of economic struggle. I have been doing DIY for a long time as I have always known how to sew and get bored very quickly with my wardrobe. Something people really haven't been talking about is DIY Jewelry, I have been making my own jewelry or using pieces of old jewelry for new things since I was very little. In fact I even used to see my pieces in middle school. Old clothes can even be integrated into this. If you have an old bag chain and some old fabric from clothes you're ready to give away, weave the fabric through the chain and there you go, a new necklace. There are so many ways to refresh our old clothes and accessories and it's a great way to spend a rainy afternoon...after you do your homework of course!

Unknown said...

I need to get on this, I have only made jewelery in the past using glass beads, trinkets, etc., but I haven't really gotten creative with clothing. I tend to just bring it to buffalo exchange or the salvation army, which is equally as green but not as economical for myself. I have a sewing machine at home, but I kind of forgot how to use it and lost my enthusiasm. I can hand sew, but I haven't taken on anything more ambitious than pillows.

Sarah Santos said...

The fact that this book states that the projects in it require no prior skill or a sewing machine is what catches my attention. I can improvise if I am required to sew in a small project, but I really don't know what I'm doing. I hate cleaning out my closet and getting rid of things because I always think that I might wear it again someday. Altering and finding new uses to some of the stuff in my closet would be great! This book seems like it can definitely inspire me and give me some ideas.

Ashley said...

I personally am a thief of my boyfriends band shirts. I manage to wear them oversized and all, but I have always contemplated trying to alter them into something more suited to my size. The mere fact that there seems to be minimal sewing (or sewing skills) involved, sold me. I think this book is great because I don't have much money to spend on new clothes these days and I have a slight problem with getting rid of older pieces.

Carly Gerstman said...

I used to love wearing my ex-boyfriends clothes. Not only are they super comfy, but they look adorable. His plaid shirt was my favorite, so when we broke up I got one of my own :) It's a great style, so who says you have to have a boyfriend to own it?

I also just recently went through my closet and got rid of A LOT. I put everything into a bag and let my roommates go to town. That's pretty green I'd say. If they didn't take everything, I would have donated everything. I think it is extremely important to donate old clothes. You never know who you can cheer up with some new clothes!

Stacey Matzkin said...

I need to go out and buy this book. I have TONS of clothes that I do not wear, but I hate parting with my clothes. I am horrible at sewing, so being able to update my wardrobe without the use of one is a major plus. This might be a fun activity to do with my roommates and I think my dad would love this idea especially when his visa bill has less charges on it!

Christy Lucca said...

I've never been the one to dive into the DIY culture, but this post actually made me rethink this. I'm constantly handing down my old clothing to my younger sister and my cousins. I tend to get bored with my purchases fairly quickly, so DIY projects would be perfect for me to try. I've always loved creating arts and crafts ever since I was young, so I don't know why I've never tried something like this before. Once I get some free time, I might actually give it a go.

Unknown said...

Theres nothing I love more than lounging around the house in one of my brothers/dads big T-shirts or sweatshirts and a pair of leggings. If there was a way to make this comfortable outfit a socially acceptable stylish look to wear outside the house I am definitely all for it. I love DIY projects, so I'll definitely look into buying this book.

Jenna Smith said...

I'm definitely interested in reading this book to come up with some new ideas. I'm not so much into the DIY culture, but I'm constantly stealing my older brothers basic tees and oversized cardigans to tie them into my own wardrobe. Its great because it puts a fun twist on your own style.

Amanda Rodriguez said...

I just need to say that I love taking old clothing and making them into something completely different. I feel very unique and different when i can do so because it allows me to create whatever i can imagine. I am a big arts and crafts nerd so whenever i can create something different that expresses who I am, I am all over it.

Candice said...

I am a huge fan of DIY fashion. Ever since I was five years old I have always been making my own clothing. In high school I even got voted best dressed, not because I had the most expensive clothes but because I made almost all of my clothing or bought it from a thrift shop and altered it. But I do not think that you have to know how to sew to put together a cute top on your own. Like you said, you can create men's clothing into fashion pieces without even sewing! I used to always steal my dads old oxford shirts and belt them and fold-up the sleeves to create a cute new top for myself. I love this book! I just wish I had the idea to write it first!