Thursday, April 28, 2011

reuse & recycle

being extremely poor means there's NO chance i'll be going shopping for new clothes anytime soon.  at first i was miserable about this, but then i told myself, "self, didn't you just write a post about being creative with the clothes you already own as a way to be sustainable? i think it's time you read what you write."

so i took to my closet and began playing dress up.  turns out, i discovered all sorts of fun new looks with the clothes i already own, plus a couple additions from the mister's side of the closet {he realized a part of living together meant me acquiring some of his things right?}.  i also pulled out a few dresses that i never ever wear and went to town with my seam ripper.  muah-ha-ha!  

the result?...

new combo of clothes i already own: button-down striped shirt with floral skirt.

borrowing from the mister: dannon's shirt with my skirt.

totally deconstructed: took the top off this ugly dress {hello, that peach/tan color on my skin? blech!}...
before:

 ...for a super cute, high-waisted skirt.
after:

a whole new remodel: i've had this dress for years {this was at our friends' wedding 3 years ago}.
before: 
it got way too stretched out to properly fit me as it was, so i removed the straps, let the triangle fabric flop over and voila! a strapless dress for those sunny summer days at the beach...
after:

...or add a belt for another chic high-waisted skirt, perfect for coffee dates.


have you breathed new life into anything old and worn out lately?


ps - this is our new fence, sans termites.  isn't it gorgeous?!  plus, our whole yard now smells like cedar.   
Posted by kimbirdy
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27 comments:

  1. TiqApril 28, 2011 at 1:05 AM

    OMG super talented Kim !!
    What else can you do???? Ayayai...I think I'm going to ship my stuff for you to refashion !! :)

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  2. keishuaApril 28, 2011 at 4:59 AM

    I tend to wear the same wardrobe year round, with a very varieties here and there. However, I usually wear it the same old way. Great ideas!My favorite thing you did was with the black dress.
    I love the whole idea of seeing so-called limits as a way to be creative and sustainable. It is definitely a way to tap into the abundance under your noise. Peace!

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  3. Dee PaulinoApril 28, 2011 at 5:04 AM

    I am impressed with the results, specially with what you did with the navy blue dress, it looks so different. you're so creative :)

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  4. ConnieApril 28, 2011 at 5:13 AM

    Ohh, you are so creative... I wish I could do the same, but first I need to loose the last couple of pounds so I can fit into my pre pregnancy clothes!

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  5. AlliApril 28, 2011 at 5:13 AM

    Wow! You have an eye for these things Kim. I wouldn't ever think about cutting apart a dress to make a skirt or reworking a dress! That's so smart.

    I follow a blog and the young woman has only been going to thrift stores to shop this year and her outfits are amazing!

    It's surprising what you can do with old clothes. Great job reusing your clothes!

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  6. Danielle (elleinadspir)April 28, 2011 at 5:14 AM

    Omg, amazing! I wish I had your eye and ability to sew! Great job!

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  7. sensiblyluxeApril 28, 2011 at 6:56 AM

    All the outfits are adorable. No need to go shopping at all. You have an eye for this kind of thing. Quite impressed!

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  8. Lillian CApril 28, 2011 at 7:13 AM

    Kim, you're a genius...and an inspiration!! I have no doubt that you would be able to get so creative with your clothes (as I always say, you've got such amazing style!). I LOVE these outfits - you've transformed and enhanced it all!! Love, love, love. And love your new fence too :)

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  9. Krysten @ Why Girls Are WeirdApril 28, 2011 at 7:20 AM

    Okay you are a genius!

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  10. AshleyApril 28, 2011 at 7:26 AM

    Love all the new outfits that you created! I recently cleaned out my closet and decided that I need to do the same thing. =)

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  11. BrandiApril 28, 2011 at 8:28 AM

    Kim, I love these transformations! Will you come over and help me with my closet? I feel utterly uninspired lately and have really been wishing I had more dresses.

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  12. Tiffany KadaniApril 28, 2011 at 8:44 AM

    I so need to do this! Why haven't I thought of it before? Thank you for inspiring, once again, to be a better me. You rock!

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  13. Erin {pughs' news}April 28, 2011 at 9:17 AM

    Yay! I was hoping for a post about this {as I may have mentioned on Twitter last night}

    You are amazing! So talented, and such an eye for fashion. Your new outfits are fantastic, and to think that they didn't cost you a thing... wow! Well done!

    Your fence is, indeed, gorgeous. But the girl in front of it is even prettier! And how fab that your yard smells like cedar. Mmmmm!

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  14. brlracincwgrlApril 28, 2011 at 10:00 AM

    You are so darn creative! I love the strapless dress! So cute!

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  15. GloriaApril 28, 2011 at 10:07 AM

    you are so awesome! i love "shopping" in my closet (there are always treasures hidden in the back). but transforming stuff i don't wear? totally and completely out of my league

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  16. elisabethApril 28, 2011 at 11:12 AM

    this is awesome!
    i'm totally impressed with how creative you got.
    & they seriously all look so cute!

    good job!

    ♥elisabeth

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  17. Sandy a la ModeApril 28, 2011 at 11:55 AM

    you are sooo cute!! i especially love the dress you turned into a skirt so you could pair different tops with it!! i think something like the kendi 30 for 30 challenge is a great idea!!

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  18. Alicia LundApril 28, 2011 at 1:19 PM

    Go you!!! Way to transform old dresses into new skirts! I too like to play in my closet and often find that my best outfits come together from things mixed and matched in a new way.

    PS Your sweet comments always make my day!!! xx

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  19. jenna marieApril 28, 2011 at 1:36 PM

    oh my, I'm inspired to go dig around in my closet for some rediscovered love. I especially love the last outfit with the stripes. So fun!

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  20. UnknownApril 28, 2011 at 2:24 PM

    Wow - way to go! I need to do some similar stuff but I'm not very good (okay, not good at all) with a needle and thread. Or a seam ripper. Yikes. But you, you did EXCELLENT!

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  21. Kaylia PayneApril 28, 2011 at 6:19 PM

    Wow, you are really talented!! I love what you did with the clothes!!
    I don't have any money for clothes either, you have just inspired me to do something creative with what I do have!

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  22. KathleenApril 29, 2011 at 8:36 AM

    perfection!

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  23. mypixieblogApril 29, 2011 at 9:00 AM

    Oh, I love your new looks!!! So creative and that black dress at the bottom looks soooooo stinkin' adorable on you. Nice job, girl! This inspires me to breathe some life into some of my older clothing, too. Maybe this weekend :)

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  24. Kayla PooleApril 30, 2011 at 5:36 PM

    yowza! I need to go attack my closet with a pair of scissors and a measuring tape!

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  25. LaurynMay 1, 2011 at 7:45 AM

    Wow, I love what you did with all of those random pieces! They all look like brand new outfits! I'm a big fan of the high waisted skirts and you pull off that look beautifully.

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  26. oomph.May 2, 2011 at 5:28 PM

    so fabulous! love what you did with the blue dress, but my favorite is the first stripes/floral mix! i've been trying to do the same and go thru my closet with new eyes!

    rockoomph.blogspot.com

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  27. PilarMay 2, 2011 at 11:13 PM

    such great make over projects!

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