I'm broke. And except for that cute sweater my mother-in-law gave me for Christmas -- thanks, Fran! -- my wardrobe looks pretty tired.
I took my "closet of clothes, nothing to wear" blues to Judy Oshiver.
She is 70, a Virginia Beach actress who puts together outfits that turn heads at her apartment house. "My mother dressed kind of outlandishly and showy, kind of an Auntie Mame."
Oshiver herself had a fashion coordinating business and presented luncheon fashion shows. Last year she lost nearly 50 pounds. Unfortunately, she also lost her job.
"On the one hand, my body was better, and I wanted to dress nice. Yet I had very little money to spend on clothing. So I was forced to be creative."
Here are some of her ways to coax new looks from old outfits:
- Pins aren't just for lapels, Oshiver said. "Invest in a really smart wardrobe of pins. You can wear them on a scarf, on a hat, the point where you close a jacket or a coat." She showed off a cranberry-toned coat, anchored at the waist with an elaborate, vintage-vibe flower pin. Very chic. Designers showed pins on belts, and at waistlines, the last few seasons, she said.
- Rethink the seasons. "Stretch your summer wardrobe by wearing a blouse under a summer dress." This isn't going to work with a pastel, spaghetti-strap confection, but Oshiver herself was rocking a black cap-sleeve, knit dress layered over a sheer, white blouse. It looked great, especially paired with black-and-white, animal-print bangles and flats and textured, black hose.
Cinch it. "Belt fashion is the quickest way to change an outfit." Try everything hanging on your belt rack with your tried-and-true outfits. Oshiver whipped out a half dozen belts and swapped out everything from snakeskin to a mock-leather corset, completely changing her black dress. A belt is also the fastest way to update your silhouette. "If your clothes are too long, or too loose, put a belt around it, and there you are." Flip it. For a change, Oshiver likes to flip-flop her sweaters, back to front. A V-neck or embroidered front creates back interest. She finishes the look with a pin centered at the neckline in front. Remember that one woman's trash might be your treasure. Oshiver showed off three thrift-store sweaters, all turtlenecks, in red, cream and metallic bronze. "I paid $3 each for them. So now I have basics from The Salvation Army, and I can spend money on great belts or jewelry to spark it up." Who says a scarf has to be a scarf? Oshiver re-purposes her accessories, making scarves into belts (and the other way around), and she finds even more novel ways to re-use. "I'll take a headband, like some kind of fake fur, and put it on my neck. Very luxurious." Maybe my closet just needs a second look after all. If you have ideas for how to make your wardrobe do double duty or ways to save money on fashion, give me a call or drop me a line, and I'll pass them along. Contact Roberta T. Vowell at (757) 446-2327 or roberta.vowell@pilotonline.com. Source: Virginian - Pilot. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. Powered by Yellowbrix.
