Project Remake

What started with frustration, was seasoned with inspiration, and resulted in something truly satisfying. Two sisters had the same complaint.

As they sat toiling away, friends went out shopping;
Buying up new clothes, shoes, and purses without dropping
Much more than their credit cards could stand…
But who knows how much they spent out of hand.

And that’s when it occurred to these two
‘Spending when one needing to save’ wouldn’t do.
Instead they would put heads together and think
And from creativity’s deep well they would drink

To remake their wardrobes, that was the plan
Plenty of raw materials were available at hand
Knowledge of sewing, knitting, and crocheting they had
And loads of inspiration from websites and fashion mags.

So they worked up ideas and put together style sheets
They cut up old shirts and pants, and sewed pleats
They retrofitted and remade, and the rest donated
So they themselves – and others – were aided.

Introduction

It’s not surprising that most Americans are in debt. We are constantly bombarded with ads telling us that everything from our cars, to our clothes, to our tvs are out of style and need to be replaced, even if they are fully functional. While few people will judge you for the style of your tv, so long as it works (ours is an old, clunker of a full-depth model, whereas everyone else’s is a flat screen), it isn’t really quite the same with clothes. Nice clothes are an expression of caring for one’s appearance, which translates to caring about details. They also give one a feeling of confidence and symbolize strong self-esteem.

But, like everything good, this consideration for one’s appearance and confidence can be taken to extremes. People use nice clothes – and shopping for them – as a crutch, an object onto which they cling. They translate shopping into a past time, a recreation and use it as a measuring stick against which they compare themselves with others and force themselves into debt and longer working hours just to make the hideous system function. It’s dangerous both financially and spiritually.

The solution to this conundrum is (as usual) moderation.
1) Choose several classic pieces of high quality and mix and match them with accessories that are also classics.
2) Take good care of these clothes with careful cleaning, ironing, repair, and storage, and keep them for a long time.

3) Old pieces that don’t fit, or are too trendy to last, need to be removed. They can be remade into something else or donated to a local charitable organization. There is no room in a real workable wardrobe for things that won’t be worn, for whatever reason!

An example of a real, workable wardrobe is as follows: Black trousers, a silver bangle, and grey suede pumps can be worn with any number of classy button-up tops, colorful sweaters, and dressy blouses that take one from work to cocktail hour. These three pieces can be the foundation of a number of looks taken together, or broken apart. For example, the same grey pumps and silver bangle also complement a black coat dress with a colorful scarf. The same pumps, bangle, and green sweater play up an otherwise plain charcoal pencil skirt. The possibilities are endless so long as one has a few key pieces to rely upon. This is the key to building a classy wardrobe as well as the key to packing lightly (bonus)!

The Inventory

The first step in creating lasting change in your wardrobe is to do an inventory. Take down, in a notebook, everything that you have. Then examine the pieces individually. Consider: 1) what can this go with? 2) why have or haven’t I worn it in so many weeks, months, years? 3) does it fit well (try it on!)? 4) is it too trendy to keep as is? 5) can I remake it into something that will fit into my wardrobe?

Then, for each piece individually, the decision must be made whether or not to keep the piece. If it doesn’t fit well, if it is too trendy, if it hasn’t been worn in a long while, it probably needs to go to to be re-made. If it can be a functioning piece in the wardrobe, then keep it.

The Rebuild

After completing the inventory and taking the rejected pieces to the local charity thrift store, you need to start rebuilding outfits out of the remaining pieces. Look for holes in the wardrobe. By this I mean that every piece should contribute to multiple outfits and that every outfit should be well balanced. For example, if a nice pair of trousers and a cardigan can contribute to multiple outfits, what shirt will be worn underneath the cardigan? Perhaps a classic white tailored dress shirt is missing from the equation? If this shirt can contribute to multiple outfits as well, then all the better.

I recommend the following basics: black trousers, pumps in black and one other color (either brown or grey), black or charcoal skirt, white tailored dress shirt. From this list, one can add shirts, blazers, and sweaters in a myriad of colors. Look to your local thrift store as sources for these classic pieces, being careful to consider the quality of the garment before purchasing.

Above all, have fun. Your sense of style should propel your decisions of what to keep, what to remake, and what to purchase but your life shouldn’t be slavery to keep up with every last fashion change. Some things in fashion seem to be eternal and classic: think Coco Chanel. For nearly a century Chanel’s style has been the epitome of fashion no matter what else has arisen and disintegrated within that time. Use your own inate sense of what looks good on you and what will continue to look good on you as the final decision-maker. Don’t be afraid to let go of what doesn’t make the grade.