How to Dress Up Denim Jeans

Saving money on clothes is always a thrill. It is funny that we don't always remember what we paid retail for an item of clothing, but we always remember when we get a great bargain for an item we love. We always remember (and often announce) the price of what we are wearing, especially if someone admires it. We all love our bargain finds and announce them to the world. Below are some tips for finding new life in old clothing and creating a bargain out of thin air.

The thrill of shopping can be replicated by going through your old clothes and finding new treasures. We all have clothes stuffed away in closets, just waiting to be discovered and re-purposed. Everyone has old pants that fit beautifully and feel wonderful but are old and tired-looking; especially a favorite pair of old jeans. Why not drag them out and spiff them up for today's casual wear?

Remember that old faded jeans with today's trims keep coming back on an average of every 3-5 years. You've even seen brand new jeans hanging in upscale shops that look worse than the old ones that you threw away when you were a teenager. Why not pull out that old pair of jeans and decide on a style that will update your look while making use of a piece of clothing that was headed for the trash?

If you have access to old trims and ribbons, get out a needle and thread and make a few tiny ribbon flowers. Old buttons, rhinestones, and lace and woven trims can also be sewn onto old jeans. If there are tears and you like them, enhance them a bit by tearing them a little more. If a tear affects the structure, you may want to reinforce it on each side.
Needless to say, if undergarments are actually showing, you may want to repair rather than enhance.

Garage sales are a great place to look for vintage trims, ribbons, appliques and laces. Very few people use these sewing notions anymore, but there are plenty available. Sometimes you can buy a big box or bag of them for just pennies. Repurposing old jeans truly is a sustainable form of shopping that will provide you with a new look at a fraction of the cost of shopping retail.

If you are looking for gift ideas or sewing for charity, this project can be very cost-effective. Often old tattered jeans and notions are incredibly cheap or free. How many projects do you know of with the basic materials in this price range? Have fun, save lots of money, and find new life in that old pair of jeans.