20 Easy Tricks For Improving Vintage Clothes

Thrifting can be awesome (clothes are cheaper and more unique, you get a smug sense of accomplishment), but sometimes things just don’t fit right.

1. Make a baggy blouse into a fitted top:

Bow optional. Instructions from Extra Petite.

Source: extrapetite.com

2. Pant legs too long? Here’s how to hem them:

It’s a lot easier than you might expect, and you can keep the original hem.

Source: makeit-loveit.com

3. Take in a dress to make it slimmer:

Here is how to do it.

Source: wearingitonmysleeves.com

4. You can achieve a similar effect at the waist just by adding elastic:

Directions here.

Source: cottonandcurls.blogspot.com

5. If a T-shirt is too small, add a panel of fabric to each seam:

It’s also a great way of making a plain shirt look more interesting. FInd out how at Craftster.

Source: craftster.org

6. Just because a seam is ripped, it doesn’t mean you should pass over a great piece of clothing:

Here’s how to fix it.

Source: diyfashion.about.com

7. Turn a too-small sweater into a cardigan:

Instructions here.

Source: iammommahearmeroar.net

8. If you happen to find a fabric you love, use it to add embellishments to your cardigan:

Here’s how.

Source: sisters4saymoreismore.blogspot.com

9. Remake a vintage dress by removing the shoulder pads:

Find out how here.

Source: collegefashion.net

10. Easily repair a broken zipper:

Instructions here.

Source: diyfashion.about.com

11. Turn a dress into a shirt:

Source: craftleftovers.com

Directions here.

Source: craftleftovers.com

12. Like the fabric of a men’s shirt but hate the fit? Turn it into a skirt:

Source: rufflesandrosescrafts.blogspot.com

Find out how here.

Source: rufflesandrosescrafts.blogspot.com

13. A dress shirt can also become a bag:

Directions here.

Source: pm-betweenthelines.blogspot.com

14. Sometimes, simply sewing on new buttons can make an item look brand-new:

This is a good skill to have no matter what. Instructables provides the directions.

Source: instructables.com

15. Alter a pencil skirt for a custom fit:

Here’s how.

Source: simplydove.com

16. A thrifted silk tie can become a headband:

Instructions here.

Source: aredribbon.wordpress.com

17. Or a necklace:

Source: alethaisraels.blogspot.com

Full instructions here.

Source: alethaisraels.blogspot.com

18. Make sleeves and armholes slimmer:

Avoid the gigantic-arm look so popular among the very tragic. Find out how from Extra Petite.

Source: extrapetite.com

19. Make cozy leggings out of a gigantic men’s T-shirt:

Source: andreasgarden.blogspot.com

Like seriously it has to be so big. Directions here.

Source: andreasgarden.blogspot.com

20. Lengthen a dress or skirt with lace:

If you’re not so into the frilly stuff, you could always use a contrasting or complementing strip of fabric. Directions here, and more ideas for lengthening here.

Source: elementalcarbon.blogspot.com