Recycling 101 for Fashionistas

First of all, rope in a bunch of your girl friends and have a clothes/shoes/accessories-swapping party. You’d be amazed at how easily just that one small step can create a new, fresh wardrobe. Just because you are tired of something doesn’t mean your pal hasn’t had her eye on it for a while. Outside of that, go through your closet and set aside clothes that need work, anything you’re tired of, hate or don’t wear because it is worn out or too big/small. Go through the pile and find the things that you really like for one reason or another – great fabric, unique flair, fantastic print, etc. The things that can simply be tailored to fit are easily fixed. Always have a good tailor or seamstress in your contact list.

Other things may be bases for great new do-it-yourself designs. Get design and recycling ideas from an artistic friend or a funky design book or website and turn old Tees into new tank tops, tube tops, skirts or dresses. Don’t automatically throw out clothes that are too small. Jeans that are too short can be cut into sexy summer shorts or remade completely into a cool, one-of-a-kind messenger bag. If a top is a little short, turn it into a midriff blouse. If you have more complicated design ideas and you sew or have a friend who does, consider reworking or even combining different items from your wardrobe. For example, you could swap the sleeves of two different shirts to create a colour blocking effect; cut off the collar of one shirt and sew onto that of another, or a closed neck shirt, to fake a layered look; turn a t-shirt into a sleeveless vest; cut a long strip of a pretty fabric to make a belt or scarf or headband. Adding iron-on decals, doing hand-painted designs, simply adding rosettes, ruffles or pretty buttons can also give a brand new look to something you already have. Give away or sell the things you can’t rework. If they are not in good physical condition DO NOT GIVE THEM AWAY. That’s just wrong.

Outside of revamping your clothes though, there are so many other practical ways of recycling or re-working other items in your home. Old towels can be used as bedding for your pets or for cleaning and dusting. Why spend so much money on those brand name fancy mops with their clip on wipes? – cut old towels into squares and use them for cleaning the floors and furniture. Old towels can also be used for washing and polishing your car. Old sheets and pillow cases can be de-constructed and re-stitched to make laundry bags or little pouches for holding shoes when travelling. A pretty sheet can always be converted into a tablecloth, window dressing or slip cover for your sofa. Squares of different fabric from old shirts, sheets, pillow cases, etc can also be stitched together in a pretty patchwork pattern to make a brand new quilt or spread for your bed.

Before throwing out anything at all, stop and think of all the other ways that the item can be used…think outside the box. Wine bottles can be wired to make really nice lamp bases, or cut down to make drinking glasses (remember to polish edges). Beautiful mismatched china plates can be mounted on the wall as interesting art, and…the list goes on and on. A friend of mine framed her old straw place mats and mounted them on the wall. Utilize the internet and bookstores for do-it-yourself suggestions on how to turn your old items into brand new treasures so you can get your creative juices flowing and save a few dollars.