‘Making it work,’ Thrifty Style
Submitted by Liz Novak, edited by Meg Chellew
How did you acquire this outfit?
Thrift store find.
Why is this your favorite go-to outfit?
The softness of this sweater paired with its rich color is a tonic for the weathered winter soul. I made a few adjustments to its fit and now it is in heavy wardrobe rotation.
Any other comments?
I recently purchased this green sweater from a local thrift store. An alpaca/merino/nylon/elastane blend from J. Crew, the fabric made me feel like I was snuggling a basket of little kittens but the high-low cut and the boxy, stretched-out shape were not my preferred vibe. My budget for experiments with imperfect clothing maxes out at $5 so for $3.50, this sweater felt like a worthwhile investment.
Initially, I had the foolish belief that this would be a lickety-split job. The fabric shears would snicker-snack and I would be galumphing around in a kicky crop top befitting the current style.
Alas! This was not the right choice!
I was not feeling the result of the first cut. I went out on a limb and cut off some more. That was also a bad move. Despite being very soft, the fabric hand of the fabric just was not suited to be lightly oversized with a raw edge. Following this, I spent a day or two with a bruised ego.
I didn't want to admit defeat and throw away what was formerly a perfectly good sweater, now ruined by my delusions of sartorial grandeur. I took my sewing machine off the shelf and, crossing my fingers, I dug the old, ribbed hem out of the trash. Turning the sweater inside out, I cut about 1.5-2"off of each side seam, gently tapering the cuts upwards towards the armpits to create a slight V shape in the torso. After sewing up the sweater's sides, I recut the waistband so that it was about 1" smaller than the bottom opening and sewed it onto the sweater body. This not only nips in the waist but gives the sweater a clean finish on the hem. With this type of knit, a little tight was just right!
I mostly stick to natural fibers for my sweaters so this blend was already a bit of a stretch (some pun intended). I'm so happy that I was finally able to nail the adjustments. Now this sweater will be a colorful wardrobe asset for years to come.
A fantastically reworked sweater that is definitely worth repeating! Thank you for sharing Liz. It’s obvious that the Clotheshorse community is no stranger to crafting or mending. But if we are being truly honest with ourselves, not every single DIY attempt is successful on the first try. The challenges of garment making and alterations (not to mention finding clothes that fit our human bodies) can make thrifting and secondhand projects daunting or even discouraging. Personally, I am heartened by Liz’s perseverance and vision! She didn’t give up on this super soft sweater and ultimately re-worked it into a custom made favorite that fits her perfectly. Her dedication and innovation made this J.Crew piece special and one of a kind. Shopping, altering, and mending secondhand clothing can help us connect with our wardrobes and feel more invested in each piece. This helps us to see clothing as something other than disposable; clothing can be something that we are proud of.
Do you have a favorite outfit that makes you feel totally rad? Do you have a thrift store find that you flipped into a beautiful wardrobe staple? Show us and tell us all about it. Strike a pose and interrupt conventional internet traffic with your awesome e-couture HERE.
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