STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Hermes

new life for old clothes...

KaffeeKlatsch · Marc Jacobs

Great post! I need the inspiration!
Let's see...the only halfway creative thing I've done lately is using scarves in the place of camis. Basically I fold the scarf into a rectangle and loop it around my bra straps so it peeks out under v-necks.

lynnie · Chanel

I like to change buttons on my clothes. Gold pyramid studs, spheres, vintage, etc. Trim budgets are usually low (each $1 you spend on trim could add $5 + to retail) so buttons that come with things are usually kind of boring. I also have been draping chains to things- down the back of a coat for example.

I have some old jeans that I want to turn to cut offs then dip in bleach (diluted). You can also paint with bleach on things- a blue fabric could turn out fuschia from the bleach.

Elle · Hermes

Lynnie - speaking of trim sorts of items, where would one find such things? None of the fabric stores around me have anything more buttons, and I have a (faux) leather jacket I want to add studs to. I suppose I could try online ...

lynnie · Chanel

Elle-

I'm rather spoiled in that I have a garment/trim district with thousands (millions? infinity?) of options. This is one of the biggest trim stores in NYC and they offer online shopping, though i'm not sure how big their selection is compared to the store.

http://www.mjtrim.com/?refArea=Top

Some studs have to be machine applied.. do you know a tailor that could do this or is there a garment center in the nearest city? Nailheads could also work, or something where you have prongs that you fold behind the fabric.

Elle · Hermes

I think the nailheads would do just fine, so a bedazzler my be in my immediate future

!

twinkle_star · Kenneth Cole

Just wanted to say "ditto" on the buttons. I put gold buttons on a shirt dress from Target this summer that totally classed it up. I put crested, gold buttons on a blazer that suddenly looked much more up-to-date. Recently I bought a cardigan on clearance at Ann Taylor and put matte silver buttons on it, it now looks way more expensive than the $19.99 I paid! When I went to my fabric store to look for the silver buttons I came away with a ton more ideas for updating other cardigans - crystal buttons for a plain black wool cardigan and whimsical buttons for a pink cardigan I've had forever. A while back I also put some black and white check buttons on a black pea coat, it made it look totally different.

I was also considering some navy embroidery on a white cord jacket. I saw a white jacket at Anthro last year that had black embroidery, I was totally obsessed with it but it wasn't the right cut for me. I'm planning on practicing on some scrap fabric and giving it a try on an old jacket. I think Anthro clothing has so much cute detailing that I often peruse their site for inspiration. I just wish I was more crafty!

Kelly · Hermes

leah leanna - I love that idea!

I haven't done a whole lot. I've seen people on different blogs layering dresses so it looks like a skirt (with a sweater on top, whatever) and I think that could be a good way to stretch a closet.

AllieGurl · Marc Jacobs

I have been the queen of alterations latly.

I went through my closet and all my older jeans that were too big, I had taken in to fit. I have also had quite a few skirts shortened to make them look more current.

I have been using A LOT of belts too to change the look of my tops.

ico · Dooney & Bourke

AllieGurl wrote:

I have been the queen of alterations latly.

I went through my closet and all my older jeans that were too big, I had taken in to fit. I have also had quite a few skirts shortened to make them look more current.

I have been using A LOT of belts too to change the look of my tops.

same thing! I was going to buy a couple of black pencil skirts, then realized I could just haave an old, too big skirt taken in, and now it fits really nice.

I have an old bag which looks fine, except for the long strap, which is ruined. I have to buy some belt/chain/trim to replace it and give it a new look. I am as lucky as Linnye: have a trim shop across the street from BF home, but I am too lazy to go chek! May be I'll do it this weekend (and post the experiment result!).

I have re-started knitting, but I am lazy for that too. I'd do it more if I watched more TV, but at night I just sit ont he couch and read, and it's a bit difficult to knit while reading!

Also, I have embellished jeans and shirts with sequins/little beads in the past, I should restart doing it on my old clothes!

NCshopper · Hermes

I've also been altering/fixing a lot of my clothes instead of rushing out to replace them. The clothes that I no longer want I'm selling on ebay and will use the money I get from that to do some spring shopping.

I'm definitely going to have to look into replacing buttons on old stuff. It's such a great idea, but I've never done it!

Hermes

I'm going to have to try the dress layer thing today, methinks. my ass is fat, and I have a lunch meeting then an old high school girlfriend is coming over. either the dress will make me look like a cow or will create that vertical slimming line I'm seeking...

buttons are a great idea. I have a suit waiting for some buttons I bought for it. I took the suit jacket to JoAnn fabrics and buttoned the buttons that caught my eye through the jacket button holes so I could see what it would look like. It's a black brocade, and I found some matte black engraved buttons that look perfect with it. I was seeking a button that would blend in so I would have more options with the suit (the current buttons have rhinestones.)

I also bought an entire card of antique wooden buttons with birds hand painted on them. they're so special, I can't decide what I want to put them on! probably a wool cardigan or something I can hand wash so the buttons don't get ruined. I have also purchased huge, carved vintage bakelite buttons to replace coat buttons with.

I like the idea of pyramid studs - I'm going to have to look into that.

What if we had a competition, including before and after pictures, modifying a current clothing item? we could set up a poll to vote for a winner... maybe the prize would be a $20 GC to JoAnn's or some other national chain fabric store. Or maybe an on-line store... we could do a stitch asking people to come vote, and maybe an exclusive stitch on the winner, who they are, and their style inspirations...

pollyjean23 · Marc Jacobs

This gets me thinking about a strapless dress I have that I'll never wear again. Maybe I can have it turned into a bustier - - similar to the attached one (but with no underwire and less stitching detail). The dress is made of a lighter-weight brocade and has spring greens and golds in it.

or maybe a skirt?

KaffeeKlatsch · Marc Jacobs

Things I have done in the past include:
`cutting and hemming to shorten my prom dress into a cocktail dress
`removing spaghetti straps and using a scarf to create a single, one-sided strap that flowed
`replaced the handle on a thifted purse with the leather strip from a thrifted belt (i sewed a scarf on around it for decoration(
`covered up bleach stains on a shirt and two skirts by sewing on some beads in the same color as the fabric

and my current project is making a button covered sash belt like anthro had years ago...i'm trying to use up all the old buttons i've been collecting

FashionPrincess · Hermes

D wrote:

What if we had a competition, including before and after pictures, modifying a current clothing item? we could set up a poll to vote for a winner... maybe the prize would be a $20 GC to JoAnn's or some other national chain fabric store. Or maybe an on-line store... we could do a stitch asking people to come vote, and maybe an exclusive stitch on the winner, who they are, and their style inspirations...

LOVE that idea!!! And for the prize, I think an onine store or a visa giftcard cause I know we don't have JoAnn's so they're not everywhere. Or maybe Hobby Lobby, are they everywhere? I would love to see people's creations though!

Hermes

FashionPrincess wrote:

D wrote:

What if we had a competition, including before and after pictures, modifying a current clothing item? we could set up a poll to vote for a winner... maybe the prize would be a $20 GC to JoAnn's or some other national chain fabric store. Or maybe an on-line store... we could do a stitch asking people to come vote, and maybe an exclusive stitch on the winner, who they are, and their style inspirations...

LOVE that idea!!! And for the prize, I think an onine store or a visa giftcard cause I know we don't have JoAnn's so they're not everywhere. Or maybe Hobby Lobby, are they everywhere? I would love to see people's creations though!

I think an on-line store would be best, since I don't think there's a Hobby Lobby near me, either! I wonder if Lynnie's notions resource could be a possibility. I haven't checked out their site, and don't have time right now, but something of that caliber on-line would be great.

FashionPrincess · Hermes

D wrote:

FashionPrincess wrote:

D wrote:

What if we had a competition, including before and after pictures, modifying a current clothing item? we could set up a poll to vote for a winner... maybe the prize would be a $20 GC to JoAnn's or some other national chain fabric store. Or maybe an on-line store... we could do a stitch asking people to come vote, and maybe an exclusive stitch on the winner, who they are, and their style inspirations...

LOVE that idea!!! And for the prize, I think an onine store or a visa giftcard cause I know we don't have JoAnn's so they're not everywhere. Or maybe Hobby Lobby, are they everywhere? I would love to see people's creations though!

I think an on-line store would be best, since I don't think there's a Hobby Lobby near me, either! I wonder if Lynnie's notions resource could be a possibility. I haven't checked out their site, and don't have time right now, but something of that caliber on-line would be great.

What?!? How does one survive without Hobby Lobby?!? I heart that store :)

Or what about an etsy giftcard, is there even such a thing? So the winner can get vintage buttons, etc. Just some ideas.

Hermes

FashionPrincess wrote:

D wrote:

FashionPrincess wrote:

D wrote:

What if we had a competition, including before and after pictures, modifying a current clothing item? we could set up a poll to vote for a winner... maybe the prize would be a $20 GC to JoAnn's or some other national chain fabric store. Or maybe an on-line store... we could do a stitch asking people to come vote, and maybe an exclusive stitch on the winner, who they are, and their style inspirations...

LOVE that idea!!! And for the prize, I think an onine store or a visa giftcard cause I know we don't have JoAnn's so they're not everywhere. Or maybe Hobby Lobby, are they everywhere? I would love to see people's creations though!

I think an on-line store would be best, since I don't think there's a Hobby Lobby near me, either! I wonder if Lynnie's notions resource could be a possibility. I haven't checked out their site, and don't have time right now, but something of that caliber on-line would be great.

What?!? How does one survive without Hobby Lobby?!? I heart that store :)

Or what about an etsy giftcard, is there even such a thing? So the winner can get vintage buttons, etc. Just some ideas.

LOVE that idea!

Collette · Chanel

Ok so how did you all learn to do these things? Like I don't even know how to sew on a button. Did someone teach you, is there a book you can read that will show you?

Metric · Gucci

I love the contest idea. I don't care about the prize, I'd be happy just to have bragging rights!

I've been eyeballing an old ON blazer in my closet and thinking of altering it into short sleeves. Maybe I'll change the buttons too.

There is a show on the Life network (you might not get it because its Canadian) called Renovate My Wardrobe. They clear out someones closet, go through what works and what doesn't and do alterations to a few peices while an interior designer builds a new closet organizer. Its hosted by these two gay guys and its a really fun show.