Got nothing to wear? Re-invent!

Got nothing to wear? Yeah, right! Us neither. Lara Beard shows you five ways to see beyond your drab clothes and accessories to reinvent your look, minimum spending required.

Lara writes:

I think we can all confess to expecting miracles from our wardrobe. We all feel the frisson of hope that we’ll find something exciting on our clothes rail that we’ve forgotten about. You know, like that original YSL smoking jacket shoved at the back.  But, let’s face it, unless we buy something new to add to our abundance of clothes, we can safely say that’s not going to happen. Or is it?

With a little ingenuity, and the odd new accessory, it is possible to give your wardrobe a new lease of life without spending a penny. Rather than parting with your cash (recession anyone?) and adding to the pile, why not make your wardrobe go further? Feeling a little lost? All you need to do is take a second look with a new set of creative eyes (get some from a charity shop near you), and the possibilities are endless. Here are five ways how, with minimal to no spending required.

1. Learn to accessorise
If you think your clothes are too plain, introduce some colour with a statement necklace. You can transform your look by playing around with your old jewellery. Look in your mum’s old jewellery box too, or your gran’s, where you’re sure to find some vintage classics she’s forgotten about.

You can even add a little something to a chain; if you think creatively you can put anything you can imagine on it and make an eye-catching pendant which will get people asking you where it’s from. Shame they can’t buy it. Not.

Need inspiration? Check out the Mana collection of stunning recycled jewellery. You won’t believe how ordinary household objects can be transformed into one-of-a-kind classics, though Mana’s Manda La Ca Pet necklace made of recycled plastic bottles, rubber and Swarovski crystal beads (pictured above) might be a bit beyond a DIY job. Gorgeous isn’t it?

2. Hate it, swap it
Hate that old purple jumper? Don’t throw it away when you could swap it for something new and exciting; just because you don’t like it anymore doesn’t mean your friend won’t! Why not organise a swap party, they’re great fun, a good chance to socialise, and what’s best is you get something new.

If you need inspiration, check out Swishing or Oxfam.org.uk which will give you the pointers you need. If your friends clothes don’t appeal (no need to tell them) keep your eyes peeled for a swap event in your area.

There are some great swapping websites you can check out too, such as Fashionspace.com, Bigwardrobe.com and Whatsmineisyours.com, where you can buy, sell or swap independently designed, vintage or secondhand fashion.

3. Rip it up and start again
Think you’ve heard this one before? I bet you haven’t heard of Frocky Jack Morgan have you? No, didn’t think so. He’s about to become your new best friend. Frocky Jack features in How to videos on Expertvillage.com and his own site Frockyjackmorgan.com, one of my favourite sites for finding tips on how to chop up my clothes and turn them into something new.

This ‘be you own fashion designer’ thing sounds more daunting than it is. Repeat after me: “Scissors are my friend, not my foe!” And hey, you didn’t like that old dress / pair of jeans anyway. If that T-shirt-to-off the shoulder classic really does go wrong, there’s always the textile recycling bin. Just close your eyes and take that first snip. Erm, hang on…best leave the eyes open.

Shy of scissors? Try safety pins instead. Remember you are the boss of your look, tuck and pin the fabric where it works best with your body shape, and don’t add volume where it is not needed.

As I said, there are lots of videos online for you to look at. As well as Frocky Jack, also try Threadbanger.com and Treehuggertv.com , which will tell you all you need to know to successfully re-invent your clothes.

Get inspiration from award-winning young designer Mia (pictured) who collaborated with Junky Styling to win a design award at London Fashion Week this year. Mia sources secondhand clothing and traditional textiles from Malawi, which she reinvents into new pieces.

4. Inject some colour
If you like the style and shape of a garment but hate the colour, the solution is simple, dye it.  But rather than using conventional dyes which are harmful to both yourself and the environment, use natural dyes which are available online at sites like Dharmatrading.com.

You can add a little life to your footwear too, if you’re feeling really creative, show your eccentric side and consider spray-painting an old pair of trainers to give a dynamic edge.

While you’re busy dyeing your clothes, spend a little time mending them too. Learn to love your clothes for longer, fix the items that need a little TLC, and give them the new lease of life they deserve. You’ll remember why you liked it so much.

5. Wear it in a different role
If that evening dress is just not getting worn, add layers and wear it during the day. You’ll be surprised how it makes you feel – gorgeous hopefully, rather than hideously overdressed – and your wardrobe will suddenly seem so much larger. Result!