So I’ve been mulling over the concept of shopping your own wardrobe. Over the past few months, I’ve heard the phrase a
lot in light of the credit you-know-what. It certainly makes a cheap way to
problem-solve updating your wardrobe on a small budget, but most of the
do-it-yourself suggestions I’ve seen magazines and newspapers give are way more
complicated than the average person’s sewing skills allow.
Sure, I can update
my trench coat or button-down shirt by changing the buttons (and have been doing so
for years), but I don’t necessarily have the time, nor wherewithal, to
deconstruct an old dress and then add ruffles and bedazzle it to look “just
like” a Marc Jacobs (the way one fashion guru suggested on television a few
weeks ago.) And by the time I
tricked out said dress with the right trimmings, I probably would have blown my
credit crunch-induced “I’m not supposed to be shopping” budget anyway. Besides,
isn’t the point of all of this shopping at home talk to avoid spending money?
Skepticism aside, I decided to get out my
sewing kit and do a little experimenting with the idea last weekend when I
finally rotated my winter and summer wardrobes. Each season, I toss or give
away anything I don’t wear. These items are usually sample sale purchases that
I bought on a euphoric markdown whim. But this time, I decided to give those
items a hard, second look. Was there any way to make them work? Some items were
easy. An old 3.1 Phillip Lim beaded tuxedo shirt that I bought several years
ago felt too heavy for New York’s blazing summer and too light for its
nonexistent fall. But in London’s mild temperatures, it works. A vintage
bracelet with a broken clasp, meanwhile, looked like new after I took a
grosgrain ribbon off of another blouse and tacked it on to the back (you can
see me wearing it in the video interview with Jonathan Kelsey.) I also
resuscitated an old pair of cut-off shorts on the strength that the whole
ripped and frayed look is having a moment.
So that’s three “new” items for
spring, which is better than nothing I suppose. But the real bulk of my summer wardrobe “updates” will come from the few items I’ve budgeted to buy: a light jacket that will carry me into fall, a swimsuit and a great pair of sandals, for instance. All in all, I think most of these recession sartorial tips we’re given are carefully packaged bits of common sense (”Shop strategically!” “Spend less on trendy items!” ) Do with it what you will.
