Beg, borrow, and steal
Designer duo Dev and Nil opine that rather than making the rounds of
roadside stalls to look for cheaper but trendy options, you can raid
your own wardrobe or that of your family members. A little snip and a
cut and you will get a whole new outfit.
They say, “Denims lend themselves easily for a makeover. Cut your old
denims and turn them into funky shorts of your favoured length. Boys
can use the loose baggy denims and cut them to the Bermuda length.” If
you are too nostalgic to part ways with your favourite old T-shirt that
is extremely comfortable and fits you well even today, then chop it and
convert into a crop top, which is the latest trend in town. If you want a
desi look, then tie-dye the T-shirt at home using natural colours.
If you always envied your mother’s sari collection but didn’t know
how to make the most of it, then turn some of those printed chiffon
saris into flowing maxi dresses or kaftans, with some assistance from
your neighbourhood tailor.
Get a white shirt from your brother or
father as the anti-fit boxy, sporty look has a classic charm to it.
Enhance it with a statement necklace, suggests the duo.
A cut and sew in time
Young designer Nishka Lulla believes that cutting your old clothes or
adding a glamorous element to them can give you a whole new look. “Add
your own patchwork or a little lace at the bottom of your denims. Cut
off the collar or the sleeves of an old shirt and go retro. Add crochet
to the collar or the side of your shirt to give it a sophisticated
look,” she suggests.
If you are not in for leg show, cut your old denims into shorts and
pair those with leggings. With the rains just around the corner, it
wouldn’t be such a bad idea after all.
Turn your old plain tees into something funky by adding lace or beads
to them. Lulla has a quirky idea to convert your mother’s sari into
western attire. She says, “One of the most exciting trends right now is
to turn old saris into blazers. One can also use sari borders to make
kurtas and skirts.”
Colour and wear it with style
Designer duo Falguni and Shane Peacock believes that minor changes in
your old outfit can give it a whole new look. “Restyling is the best
option. Minor things such as adding some fancy buttons or zippers or
sewing on a quirky patch on your old outfit can do wonders,” says
Falguni.
Shane suggests that sometimes all you need to do is add a dash of
colour that can turn your old drab outfit into trendy attire. “Old
clothes are usually faded. But you don’t want to dump them, as they fit
you well. In such cases, dying the fabric is the best option. If you
love the print of your clothes, but do not wish to wear them anymore,
then make fabric accessories such as headbands, hair ties, scarves or
belts with it and flaunt your favourite print in style,” he adds.
