By Danielle Silvia
Columnist
Now that it’s officially spring, it’s time to pull out your T-shirts, cropped pants and sandals to celebrate the warmth. Although it’s tempting to buy a whole new spring wardrobe, it can be tough when you’re trying to save money. Instead of going to the mall for spring deals, you can make the most of your existing wardrobe by “DIY-ing” a few trends. Whether some of your clothes don’t fit or are worn out, there is always something creative you can do to spice up your style just in time for spring. Here are some trendy ideas to get your wardrobe ready for spring and save your money.
- Ripped denim. Last season, one of my favorite pair of jeans began to fray and fade at the ankles and knees. Because they still fit me well, I wanted to see if I could salvage them with a pair of scissors. You can cut your jeans around the ankles to either make a v-shaped cuff, add more frays or cut the ankles shorter for cropped pants. For the ripped-knee look, use one side of the scissors to lightly scrape the kneecaps until you get a few rips.
- Cropped bathing suits. I had a few tankini bathing suits that didn’t fit well anymore and started to fade, but instead of getting rid of them, I grabbed a pair of scissors and a pencil to help turn my old tankini into a cute bikini top. Before you begin cutting, use the pencil to draw a horizontal line on the flowy part of the bathing suit where you’d like the suit to end. As you cut, stick to using straight edge — fringes can cause the bathing suit to fall apart.
- Layered belts. Throughout the winter, I noticed I have a lot of belts that I never wear, so I decided to weave together different parts of my belts to make the most of my wardrobe. If you’re looking to create a new accessory that’ll go with everything in your closet, use three neutral-colored belts, such as tan, black, brown or navy. Begin by cutting each belt into thin strands and gently braiding them together. When you’ve reached your desired length, detach the belt buckles from the two other belts to create one belt.
