Oscar Wilde once called fashion something so ugly that it must be changed every six months. He said this ironically, but he did have a point about the cycle. Fashion trends are non-stop. As Heidi Klum famously said, “One day you’re in, and the next you’re out.” Of course, she was talking to the contestants on her reality competition, but the concept applies to fashion trends.
Staying stylish and relevant is almost a full-time job. It can certainly be a huge investment. How many of us have gone crazy one season buying something that was very trendy only to have to get rid of it the following season because it was clearly not in fashion anymore? Not only can it be taxing on the wallet, but it can also create a lot of clothing waste that puts a strain on our environment.
If you’ve spent the lockdown reflecting on your fashion choices or feel like you want to get a little bit more conscientious about your choices, then thrifting is a fun alternative. We often give away a lot of the clothes we’ve accumulated to thrift shops. In recent years, thrifting has become somewhat of a trend in itself. A lot of people have turned to thrifting as either a sustainable alternative or to get creative in their own way by up-cycling vintage finds rather than purchasing fast fashion.
One 33-year-old mom of three and a military wife spent the majority of her pandemic lockdown combining her love of thrifting with her love of sewing. Caitlin Trantham loves to hunt for bargains at the thrift store. She never spends more than $10 on an item. After she brings them home, she uses her sewing skills to transform them into fashionable wear that is her style.
Her creations are quite incredible and they certainly show how one can breathe new life into old clothes. She posts a lot of her transformations and alterations to Instagram. But we have 10 of our favorites below:
1. A shirt becomes a dress.
Here Caitlin shows how two sizes too big can actually fit – if you nip and tuck it in the right places.
2. From 80s bridesmaid to modern-day wedding guest.
The 80s fashion was definitely something. But to wear it now would be very jarring and dated. But here she took an 80s dress and gave it a modern facelift.
3. Summer fun.
Another perfect example of taking something two sizes too big and making it fit. It might be hard work but the results are worth it.
4. No more shoulder pads.
Sometimes all a dress needs to feel fresh and modern is to have the sleeves removed and the waist taken in.
5. Less fabric.
Flowing dresses are great. But sometimes there is such a thing as too much fabric.
6. When in doubt turn it into a romper.
Sometimes all you need to do with a big, overflowing dress is to turn it into a romper. It definitely looks much more modern afterward.
7. Dye the ends.
Just like our hair, there are times when a dye job for a dress can give it a brand new look. And this dye job definitely made the dress feel more youthful and fun.
8. Skirts can become dresses.
This skirt has a great pattern. Caitlin decided to use the ample amount of fabric to create a top portion in order to transform it into a dress. Clever.
9. Adios applique.
From tacky prom dress to princess, this one was a pretty straight forward change. Not a lot of drastic measures were taken other than removing a peacock appliqué and adding some dainty off the shoulder sleeves.
10. Tags still on it.
A lot of people will often buy something new and then when they get it home they realize they don’t like it anymore or don’t know how to style it. Eventually, these items end up in a thrift shop with the tags still on them. It’s not because they’re ugly and a lost cause, they just need someone with a vision to have a little fun re-designing them.
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