The mindset of the modern girl is marked by a deep yearning for brand new things—she is always ready (and willing) to be an active consumer. In other words, women love to shop! Why else would we have closets packed with clothes, many of which we never use and oftentimes throw out without batting an eyelash?
This is hardly in keeping with the eco-friendly fashion sense that every stylista should abide by. How are we supposed to clean up the environment when it’s perpetually littered with last season’s collections? Instead of giving in to that deadly urge to shop—which empties your coffers and takes up precious closet space at the same time—why not work with what you’ve got?
This eco-chic workshop will show you how to create storefront-worthy looks by jazzing up your existing wardrobe. And you won’t need fancy design classes or an expensive tailor to execute this fashion feat. All it takes is a gleaming pair of shears.
Before getting started, here are a few important tips that every girl should heed before attempting to cut up her clothes:
Use Shears, Not Scissors
Get yourself a good pair of shears; do not use scissors. Scissors tend to be blunt and a bit unwieldy, especially if they have child-safe plastic handles; shears, on the other hand, come already sharpened and are much more effective when dealing with garments. You can get a good pair of shears from just about any hardware store.
Clear Polish Holds Things Together
If you aren’t an expert seamstress, and are unable to hem a garment properly, apply colorless nail polish to any raw edges. This prevents the fabric from “running” or unraveling even after it has been washed.
Be Foxy about Your Fabric
Understand the kind of fabric you’re dealing with so you will know how to cut and finish its edges. Feel it between your fingers and try to see how close the threads are to one another. If the threads are wider apart, this means that the fabric has a tendency to fray; if they are closer together, then there is a smaller chance of having the fabric unravel after it has been sheared.
BLAZERS
A blazer can become boring after it’s been used over and over again. The sleeves can also loosen up with wear, giving the coat a bulky, unnatural shape.
Streamline an old blazer’s silhouette by simply taking off its sleeves! Remember, sleeves are sewn on separately after a garment has been constructed, so it is best not to just “chop” them off, as this will leave you with a jagged edge. Just follow these steps:
Step 1: Use a small pair of scissors to pull out then snip the stitches around the shoulder and underarm region of the sleeve.
Step 2: Carefully separate the sleeve from the shoulder of the coat.
Step 3: Do this for both sides.
A little fraying will be evident at the edges, which you can opt to leave as is for a casual, cutoff effect. Otherwise, trim off the frayed ends with your shears and then have the edges hemmed. If the fraying is minimal, you can just use clear nail polish to seal the raw fabric.
And there you have it—a “sleeveless” blazer. As silly as that might sound, a sleeveless blazer—or a coat-length vest with the lapels, back vents, and overall structure of a blazer—is actually a sophisticated alternative to cropped outerwear. And given our tropical climate, it’s a great summer staple that will transition seamlessly from day to night!
VESTS
Vests are any girl’s go-to garment for adding layers to an outfit. But as fashion seasons wax and wane and silhouettes change, the cropped vest styles that were once so popular can end up looking a little tired.
But don’t throw out the vestiges of your vest collection just yet. All you need are a few buttons to take an old vest that’s still in good condition and turn it into a unique blouse!
Step 1: Pick a vest that fits snugly on your body so that you still show off your shape once it’s been buttoned—not too snugly, though, or else you won’t be able to button up at all!
Step 2: Sew the necessary amount of buttons on one flap of your vest so that it gives you the right amount of coverage when fully fastened.
Step 3: Measure the diameter of your buttons so that you’ll know the correct size for the buttonholes you’ll need to cut—too small, and the buttons won’t slip through; too large, and they’ll keep slipping out!
Step 4: Use your shears to cut buttonholes into the opposite flap.
Once done, you'll have a new top to wear that's perfect for these hot summer months!
PANTS
Every so often, a new cut of pants turns into a fad—and every single time, we ride on the trouser trend. Which means, unfortunately, that in an era of skinny jeans and harem pants, our flares, bell-bottoms, and “elephant” trousers go straight into the bin.
But here’s a secret: you can save the earth from an overrun of denim and earn yourself a breezy new pair of bottoms by cutting your old slacks into shorts. And yes, it’s as easy as it sounds. Here’s how:
Step 1: Lay your pants down on a smooth flat surface and mark the length you want to cut them into. It’s best to measure both pant legs to the point that you’ve marked in order to ensure that they come out the same length.
Step 2: Take your shears and snip away. You may want to ask someone to hold the other side of a pant leg taut as you cut through it so you end up with a straight line.
Step 3: Do this on both sides.
Step 4: Finish off the shorts by cuffing them at the hem: fold each leg once or twice to secure the cuff in place. Running stitches around the cuff will help prevent fraying, but if it is made from a stiff enough fabric, just iron it down.
Your cute new shorts should fit right in with the summer trends!
(Photos by Cara Sumabat)
