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."

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.

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