DIY Fall ’09 Wardrobe Updates

Just because your budget is tight doesn’t mean you’re immune to the urge to splurge on the latest fashion trends! But luckily, with a bit of creativity and effort, you can update your wardrobe to include the newest styles for fall 2009 without breaking the bank. Check out our five ideas to try!

 

Dye an old pair of jeans. Bright colours and acid wash are what’s in for denim this season, but you don’t necessarily need to splurge on a new pair to get the look. Grab an old pair from your wardrobe you wouldn’t mind parting with, get your hands on some fabric colour remover and clothing dye that is appropriate for denim (like Rit Dye), and try your hand at changing their hue.

 

Add some girlie embellishments to a dress or top. Bows and flowers are in this season, and they are super easy to wear as accessories, or even to add to clothing. Go to a textile store and buy some large ribbon, then sew a bow onto the collar of a dress, a blouse, or even a plain T-shirt. You’ll find artificial flowers in crafts stores; use a hot glue gun to put them on hair ties or to decorate a large belt.

 

Get crafty with plaid. Checked clothing and accessories are also hot this season and sure, maybe your dad’s old flannel shirt may not be in good enough condition to be worn as is, but you can use it to give certain pieces a style update. For example, why not cut it up and sew a piece of it into a cuff for your wrist, or use it to cover a large bangle? Large plastic hoop earrings or big plastic stud-type ones are also easy to cover with fabric using a hot glue gun and your dexterity.

 

Make your own shirt dress. If you can find a men’s shirt that is long enough to cover your behind (ask your boyfriend, dad, or even grandpa!), you can easily turn it into a shirt dress, another big trend this season. If you’re handy with a sewing machine, take in the side seams to give it more of a tailored fit. If not, simply add a large belt over it—and voilà, the perfect piece to wear with those leggings!

 

Add a blazer to your outfit. To get the boxy-shoulders look without purchasing a whole new wardrobe of clothing, simply go for one essential item: a blazer. It can be worn over anything from a dress to a T-shirt, and can provide you with the look you’re going for. See? You hung on to that old blazer from your high school uniform for a reason (just make sure to take the emblem patch off from the chest)!