Give Old Clothes a New Life

This guest project comes to compliments of Linda LaSala of Girlawhirl. She shares her ideas on updating old clothes with simple changes to give them new life. You'll feel as though you have brand new clothes, without the cost!

Ribbon Sweater Before

I don’t know about you, but I’ve definitely cut back on frivolous fashion purchases. Just a couple of weeks ago I went though a drawer full of sweaters and tops that I rarely wear, thinking that I could sell some of them at my local consignment shop and clean up a bit, making the drawer available for things I wear more often. But instead of ditching everything, I found a few items that just needed a quick face lift to turn them into special pieces it’d reach for again and again.

I swapped the basic white buttons on a sleeveless cashmere sweater for some pretty pewter ones I had purchased in Paris a few years ago (before and after below), and covered the beige ribbon on the creamy white sweater above with a gorgeous velvet ombré that I found in my local stationary store. I love the way the sweater looks with a black skirt or pair of skinny grey pants!

Ribbon Sweater After

It’s as if I got some new clothes – and all I did was re-work some items that I had in my wardrobe but wasn’t wearing. As spring rolls around I intend to liven up some of last year’s clothes using the same principles. Maybe I can add some white topstitching and colorful buttons to an old jacket, or create a pair of slim ankle length pants from an old pair of boot cut ones. I could use a printed scarf to create a cowl to compliment a colorful V neck sweater or just make an inset that looks like I have a pretty camisole on underneath.

Cashmere Sweater Before

Cashmere Sweater After