It looked good on the screen, so I added to cart and waited patiently for it to arrive. When she did, she just didn't quite sit right. I meant to exchange her or return her, truly I did. The days passed. The weeks passed. The returns policy had expired and still she sat, the not-quite-right dress, waiting for her moment to shine.
Sound familiar? In our "no new fashion Feb" I'm challenging myself to get into the depths of the wardrobe and give a few poor lost outfits the chance at a regular outing. I've been on the lookout for easy fixes (missing buttons? sticky zippers?) and tougher fixes (say a nip and tuck 😉, or even a proper tailoring).
Those that don't make the cut, well they have to go. If they're not being worn, I don't want them ending up in landfill. Later this month we'll be looking at what to do with things that don't fit (your style or body).
So why would we go to the trouble of fixing and adjusting clothes we already own? Besides the obvious right thing to do, check out the impact the fashion industry has on the environment in my post: The big problem with fashion.
"Every year, Australians buy an average of 27kg of new clothes and purge our wardrobes of 23kg. In 2018-19, Australia generated 780,000 tonnes of textile waste, only seven percent of which was recycled (the rest went to landfill)." Choice: Is Australia waking up to its textile waste problem?
I am no sewer (seamstress?) and those roots run deep. I have a distinct childhood memory of my mum walking her sewing machine out to the curb and throwing it there in a fit of frustration.
That was the end of our home-made clothes phase and it's been safety pins and iron-on tape ever since.
But let me convince you, that even for the uninitiated, the wonders of YouTube and Google can give you 'good enough' skills to get 80% of your clothes fix jobs done. The one freebie I always hold on to? Those teeny, little free sewing kits you find in high end hotels. They have pre-threaded needles (best time-saving hack around), a few buttons, and a little safety pin. If you're not a hotel frequenter hit up an elderly family member or neighbour - and scam yourself some mini sewing kits.
Quick fixes:
Missing or loose buttons - see handy tutorial here, there are loads to be found on the internet and it's a less than 5-minute job.
Stuck zips - rub the teeth with candle wax and it will be gliding in no time!
Dropped hem - yep, lover of iron-on tape which can be purchased at textile houses or pretty much anywhere.
Too tight? Depending on where the pinch is, try unpicking a seam to allow more space.
My fixes so far this month:
1. Unpicking the elastic on a summer dress that was a bit too tight around the bust (fits a charm now). Really simple one: got an unpicker and just pulled out the stitches holding the elastic in place, cut out the elastic completely and left seam expanded. T
his blue summer dress is now in high rotation, and was definitely on track for wardrobe purgatory, or to be donated unworn. A 15 minute, in front of the TV, job.
2. Shortening a fixed-strap sports top (too long and hence low in the bust), not the neatest job in the world, but does the job. For this one, I folded over the back strap and sewed in two rows of stitches to keep it flat. I could have cut and sewed a new seam in, but that seemed tricky given the cross-over design of the existing strap. More of a half hour job with a bit of focus to keep the stitches small and the strap lengths even (though an experienced sewer would have nailed this in 10-15 minutes).
More substantial:
When you need a more substantial fix or adjustment to sizing, it makes sense to extend the life of your garment and go and see a tailor in your area. For those lucky enough to have sewingly-talented friends, try hitting them up in exchange for bartered goods, free babysitting! or a home cooked meal from you.
Examples of more substantial fixes I've had done by experts at my local tailor:
sewing in a cutout that left me feeling a bit exposed in an otherwise lovely evening dress (have worn 3 x more often since having this done).
adding in a panel in the crotch of a jumpsuit that was a little camel-ey (if you know, you know). The additional room was worth it!
tailored suit jacket - fits like a charm and gets all the complements.
I challenge you to go find a few 'waiting for a fix' items in your wardrobe, crack out the sewing kit (even a mini one will do!), a pair of scissors and settle in with some mindless TV or calming music in the background. Give yourself one hour this month and I know you can resurrect three items that would otherwise never get a rotation.
According to Laura Strutt's Fix your Fashion, "if we wear an item of clothing for an extra nine months, we can reduce its carbon footprint by 20-30%". Give your old ones a chance again!
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