Being the younger of two siblings raised by a single mother putting herself through school, I’ve been forced to wear quite a few hand-me-downs over the years.
Being in the unfortunate position of having someone born before you can cramp your style, especially if your family is on a budget. With a little work, however, hand-me-downs can be the most fashionable pieces in your daughter’s wardrobe.
I know- you are probably having visions of that geeky girl that everyone made fun of in school whose well intentioned mom sewed designer patches on generic label clothes because they couldn’t afford the real thing. Luckily, most of the hottest fashions right now are easy to duplicate at home and no one will know the difference.
Over the years, I picked up a few tricks of the trade that I actually still use to this day which can turn your daughter’s newly acquired hand-me-downs into one of a kind pieces her friends will hate her for. (That’s a good thing in girl world.)
Fitted t-shirts:
Logos are big, so turn those old, baggy, ill-fitting t-shirts into vintage and pricey looking tops. My sister was always quite a bit bigger than I was, so instead of swimming in her old t-shirts, I would just remove a few inches from the sides and sew them up. Everyone thought they were designer and fit me like a dream. Measure around the bust and waist, and divide by two. Turn the t-shirt inside out, and mark the bust and sides with the divided circumference. Cut up to the arm pit seam on either side, and close up with a simple hand stitch, or sewing machine if you have it. That baggy old sports t-shirt is now a perfectly tailored fitted top.
Tie-Dye:
Yes, it’s back, and thankfully, it’s cheap. When I was younger, I wasn’t allowed to get white clothing because I would ruin it in 3 wears, tops. To this day, it still holds true, but I’ve found a way to not let white drain my wallet. When those white pieces start to get dingy, it’s time to change the color. Grab some RIT dye, rubber bands and rubber gloves and bring back the eighties. White and light colored cotton fabrics work best, but just last weekend I tie-dyed some light grey jeans with black dye and they tuned out great. Follow the directions on the dye, and remember to always wash them separately or you can ruin a whole load of clothes.
Destroy Those Jeans.
Jeans are always changing, and right now, destroyed is in. While most parents cringe at the holes in the hottest brands, and wonder why they are paying for already ruined clothes, you can breathe a sigh of relief that they didn’t cost you a penny. Instead of using scissors, give your daughter a square of sandpaper and tell her to go to town. Wearing through the fabric will give the jeans a more designer, intentional feel that just shredding them. Go for the knees and below, but leave the thighs and pockets in tact. You don’t want any calls home from the principal.
Add some glitz.
Any t-shirt design can be livened up by adding a few rhinestones. Just a little dab of fabric glue and some strategically placed sparkle can do wonders for updating an old piece. This works great on jeans, too.
Shorten it up.
Billowy mini skirts with busy patterns are the it-thing for spring. Long, floor-length skirts with elastic bands (which my friends and I refer to as ‘elementary school teacher skirts’) can easily be cut and hemmed into cute minis. Depending on the age between your children, you may not have any of these skirts, but I often go to thrift stores and find long skirts with patterns I like to shorten up for just pennies. For older girls, you can also wear these skirts as dresses, pulling the waist up to the arm pits and cinching it around the waist with a cute belt.
Saving money doesn’t have to look cheap. Personalized pieces are always more fun, and your daughter won’t ever have to worry about showing up to school in the same outfit as a friend.
