Perhaps a more accurate name for this thread would be "Completely Free Decora", because that's what I'm here to teach you kiddies. ;D Basically, it all started when I realized that 1) clothing costs money, and 2) I have none. My parents are on a budget this month, and my sister is just as broke as I am. What's a decora-chan to do? gonk
The answer is: become a master in no-cost decora. What I mean by that is rustling up all sorts of goodies right in your home that you don't even remember owning. Interested? All right then, listen up.
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The first step is to find your basic pieces like tops, skirts, etc. Even if you like the style but not the color of an item, grab it. There are many ways to alter clothes, as I explain a little later. Here are a few places to look:
-Hand-me-down boxes for cool vintage stuff
-Your mom's, little sister's, and even brother's closets and dressers for clothes they don't wear or like
-Your basement (you'd never believe what my parents hid from me down there! xD)
-Those old piles of clothes you used to wear when you were little
-Dress-up boxes
...And basically anywhere else in your house there might be clothes. It's amazing what you can find!
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Now. The decora's best friend--you probably saw this coming--accessories. Our appetite for them is ravenous and never-ending. But even cheap plastic ones can be pricey! Here are a few places to look when finding them around the house:
-ANYWHERE YOU USED TO PUT STUFF WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE! Boxes, jewelry cabinets, anywhere and everywhere. I put it in all-caps because it's super important! I guarantee you'll find at least one uber-cute item.
-Craft supplies boxes, for beads or pom-poms (much easier on the wrists) to make your own jewelry with
-Winter clothes storage for old gloves and hats that can be creatively utilized (I suggest you find your scissors...)
-Again, the basement
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There are also ways to alter clothes that you like, say, the color of but not the style and vice versa. I've written down some suggestions:
-Snotty Screen Tees: You know the ones I'm talking about. They were really popular a couple years ago and we all bought tons, until we realized they made us look like crazy egotists. Not what ANY of us are going for. But the colors...so preeetty~! I suggest turning them inside out so the stitching shows--way cooler than mean slogans. You can also sew a couple strips of fabric with bright thread over the words to create a cool patchy look.
-Old sweaters: You can probably guess what I'm going to suggest. I'll just get it over with...LEG AND ARM WARMERS! ;D
-T-shirts, socks, etc. that are so plain they burn your eyes out: Invest a little cash in acrylic paint--you'll only need the three primary colors. And you'll be glad you did. They can be used for dying fabric, paint-splattering, stamping shapes and letters, and lots more. My paints are my most trusty sidekick in the world of clothes modification.
-The pants that have weird stains in weird places ("How did Cheese Whiz get here?"): Find some cute pin buttons, buttons, pins (it sounds confusing, but you know what I mean. xP) and sew/fasten them over whatever you want to cover up. You can also buy patches at the store, then decorate them yourself, or else make your own out of cute fabric.
-The thing that fixes everything: Sharpies.
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There you go. I've shared everything I know with you, and I hope you can use some of it! 3nodding
