For the fashion-conscious, it can be hard not to want to update your whole wardrobe every season. While dull, cold Winter gives way to Spring, the pull to ditch heavy, darker Winter clothes in favor of light, warmer-weather confections can be irresistible. However, if you’re like me, the pull to be able to afford your phone bill, rent, credit card bill, and groceries is probably a little stronger. A little. It used to be cheaper to sew your own clothes, and, depending on your skill level and what you’re looking for, it still can be.
But ... what do you do if you’re DIY-challenged?
Invest in good-quality basics. Basic doesn’t have to be boring. Alternative Apparel has some wardrobe staples in updated designs (I bought one of their A-line v-neck tees. I liked it so much, I bought three more in different colors) and even a collection of pieces in organic cotton. Best of all, it’s not hard to find their items discounted Amazon.com. Other places to check include thrift stores, Bluefly.com, or the clearance areas in mall boutiques. I once found an $86 raw-silk camisole for $2 at a Goodwill, Bluefly always has incredible sales, and since mall boutiques’ stock is often determined by a central corporate office, you can find some really great discounts on their overstock as they’re forced to make room for the newer items.
Invest in a lobster pot and take a trip to your local craft store. Have you ever had a piece of clothing that you loved, that was still serviceable, but had faded until it was just too worn looking to wear? The solution used to be to donate the item to charity and go shopping, but now, with Dylon’s dissolving dye packets, giving your favorite fade piece is no longer a messy, tortuous affair. You open the box, follow the instructions for your specific fabric, toss the entire dye packet into the pot (the “bag” is made of some type of soluble polymer that disintegrates on contact with water) and stir away. They even have formulas for linen, wool, and silk!
