Post Six: Summer Wardrobe

The sun is shining brilliantly in Bristol today and it's got me thinking ahead to summer, which is perfect really as now is the time to be thinking about your summer wardrobe! Don't wait until summer actually hits and expect to find a bargain in the charity shop. Unless you're buying brand new clothes for the season (in which case, this blog isn't for you) you have to think about things now so you have time to get what you need.

My sunny weather must-haves are denim short shorts. When the sun comes out so do my legs! In the shops a decent pair can set you back anything from £15-£40 depending on the shop and when you're on a shoestring budget that takes quite a bite out of it. But with a bit of time, effort and some creative designing you can make your own shorts for as little as £0. Below are a few videos on how you can turn an old pair of jeans (either from your wardrobe or bought as a bargain in a charity shop) into a brand new pair of shorts.

First of all making them:

Then a how-to on distressing, bleaching and other edits you can use to create your own unique style!

Other things you need to think about are sunglasses (I found a pair in the charity shop just last night so it's definitely not too late to pick up a pair), jewellery (you can make your own out of buttons, beads or even taking apart old/broken pieces of jewellery) and a summer beach bag! A bag is definitely the most fun to make as it can be as simple or as complicated as you like.

A very simple method is to get two identical pieces of fabric (size will depend on how big you want your bag to be) and with the pattern facing inwards, sew them together along three sides. Then turn out the right way, get two long strips of fabric (matching, contrasting - be creative!) and sew them onto the remaining open side to create handles.

If you want something a bit more challenging and you have a pair of old jeans that you're not using to make shorts, you can try this:

If you don't have the skills to create your own summer wardrobe there are plenty of people who would happily help you out. Ask friends round for a customising party or even swap clothes with them. You'll both be getting a bargain and a whole new wardrobe!

And finally, if you have a small budget but not enough to go highstreet shopping the charity shop is your best friend. From vintage to current fashions, if you're willing to put in the leg work you can get some real unique finds. Here's a guide to charity shop hunting taken from Superscrimpers on Channel 4.

I wish you luck with all your crafty endeavours and I would love to hear how you get on. :) Or if you have any other DIY summer wardrobe tips please put them in a comment below - I'm always looking for new ideas!