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How to Style Recycled Clothing

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So you have decided that you are tired of living in a society that simply takes from its environment without thinking of ever giving back. Well, you should be commended because that kind of thought comes with sacrifices. Some big, some small, and some are just unexpected. One of the unexpected sacrifices is your wardrobe. You want to be stylish but it’s hard when you are using recycled clothing. Never fear, because you can look hot no matter what you wear. Here’s how:

Accessorize

Yes, this is the fast track to looking good no matter what. Just a few things accented will help you go from geek to chic in no time. You can start by finding different hats and different colors that will make your outfit pop. Now, you will have to get a little creative with things like shoelaces and belts, but these things are just a part of making your outfit the hottest it can be.

Colors

Just like with Halloween costumes, you can be assured that your ability to go bold with your colors will help you stand out in a crowd. It’s not just what you wear but more importantly it’s how you wear it, so make sure you are thinking vintage. There is nothing that draws more attention than vintage clothing worn right. Mixing it with some modern day clothes in a brightly colored ensemble will be what you need to make a bold and stylish fashion statement about your commitment to the environment.

 

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Eco-Friendly Fashion Trends

Eco-friendly is the theme everywhere, even in the fashion world. If you are like many people, you are looking for a way to stay stylish while also choosing clothing that fits your needs of being environmentally conscious. Can you have both? Chances are good you will find a way to mesh the two.

Tips for Fashion Sense

Finding ways to dress up your look without breaking any eco-friendly rules can be a challenge. With a few tips, though, you can transform your wardrobe easier than you think.

  • Consider using clothing made of soy. This is one of the most sustainable of all fibers available, and some designers are enjoying using it in their clothing lines. There are no petrochemicals involved in these clothing options.
  • Some designers are going high-end using bamboo. This type of clothing has no chemicals and does no damage to the environment during the production process. It is a nice, breathable fabric, too.
  • You do not have to give up on your cotton, either. However, do choose organic. Organic cotton is comfortable and enjoyable to wear, but it is also a great choice because it is sustainable and biodegradable. Some fashion designers are using more of it in their clothing lines, especially undergarments and tees.
  • Know that you can find all sorts of unique options for any occasion. You can find costumes that fit your style and even recycled dresses that reduce your impact on the environment.

As you consider these and other fashion trends, know that you can feel good about the way you look. Finding fun, trendy styles can be a lot of fun, too.

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Clothes on the Cheap

In a day when most folks are just trying to keep their heads above water, others seem to be moving forward in their cruise boat without a hitch. They are classy dressers, and somehow keep the latest styles going. How do they do it? How do they look classy without the added money to do it?

Creativity. A creative mind can make a “mountain out of a molehill” and can keep others guessing as to how they do it. Here’s what they do:

  • Money savers wait for what they want. They use prepaid cards rather than cash or their regular credit card. They put money into their Reach Prepaid Visa Card, and keep putting money in it. When they go out shopping they use only what is on their card for purchases.
  • Money savers restore their old “unworn” clothes. Instead of throwing them out when they get bored of wearing them, they add embellishments to them; they find ways to wear them with the new clothing they have purchased.
  • Money savers aren’t bothered by searching for their clothing at thrift stores or garage sales. They realize that the best deals are often someone else’s cast offs. They are frugal as they look, and never buy anything that looks “worn” by someone else.
  • Money savers watch the sales. They aren’t embarrassed at getting a good deal, and are able to shelve the money they save on something else.

Cheap clothes don’t have to look cheap; rather they come from a creative mind, someone who isn’t afraid to search (maybe a little longer) for that terrific deal to make them look like a million bucks.

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Promote Your Cause Through Fashion

Are you a vegetarian?  Do you love saving trees?  Should recycling diva be your middle name?  If so, express your passion for the good that you do for the world through your wardrobe.

To Write Love on Her Arms

To Write Love on Her Arms is a series of t-shirts you may see popping up on teens around the country.  These t-shirts promote suicide prevention.  Wearing a t-shirt like this will show others that you are there to help if they are in need.  People at your school will know that you are a friend that they can reach out and talk to.  The brand also makes bracelets and other accessories.

Vegetarians and Vegans Unite

Alternative Outfitters is a clothing shop online dedicated to promoting a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle.  The brand produces several cute t-shirts with saying ranging from “I love tofu” to “love me don’t eat me” with a picture of an smiley animal on it.  The company also makes all sorts of belts, buttons and other accessories that can help today’s young people live a veggie loving existence in style.

Zazzle.com

Websites such as Zazzle.com, where graphic designers can sell their own t-shirts is a great place to find save the earth clothing and clothing for other causes.  This site is filled with really hip designs created by unique artists with all sorts of passions for doing good.  Recycling shirts and go green clothing have never looked so hip.  There are also several styles available promoting saving the rainforest and preventing animal cruelty.  The site also sells eco friendly tote bags that can be used as a purse or for grocery shopping.  Don’t forget to accessorize with hats, key chains and jewelry to match.

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Craft Projects for Kids Made from Used Items

Before throwing away used items in the garbage see what you can save for your children to use to make craft projects.  This can cut down on the amount of items that you throw out and bring hours of fun for your kids.

Coffee Can Bank

Give your child a used coffee can once you have clean it out.  Your child can glue construction paper around it.  Give your son or daughter crayons, markers and glitter to decorate the can.  When your child is finished, put the lid back on the can and cut a slit in the top.  You child now has a great new bank to put his or her allowance money in to save for a special treat.

Coat Hanger Fun

If you have a plastic coat hanger that has been better days, allow your child to weave or bedazzle the coat hanger.  One option is to give your child some yarn and let them weave a braid around the hanger.  Use fun and bright colors.  Another option is to help your child hot glue fake rhinestones and gems onto the hanger.  Your kid will be excited to show their “designer’ hanger off to their friends next time they have someone over for a play date.

Make Your Own Bowling Game

This project serves as both a craft and a game that can be used over and over again.  Collect a set of used plastic bottles.  When you have enough, set your child up with a smock and paint and allow he or she to decorate the bottles.  Once the paint has dried, you and your child can set up the bottles in the formation of bowling pins and have a fun afternoon of indoor bowling.

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New Uses for Ruined Clothing

Do your children have stained t-shirts or ripped pant that you were about to throw out?  Stay away from the trash can.  There are many ways you can save soiled or torn clothes.

Tie Dye

If your kids have a shirt with a stain that just won’t budget, allow them to turn the t-shirt into a tie dye shirt as a project.  Tie dye works best on light colored shirts.  The tie dye design should hide the stain nicely.  Make sure that your child wears a smock while creating their tie dye project as it can be messy.  You do not want to ruin yet another piece of clothing in the process.

Jeans

If you child has ripped or ruined the bottom of their jeans, you can cut them into a pair of Capri pants or shorts.   Cut the shorts to your desired length and then sew a cuff in place.  You can also take this opportunity to add on fun extras such as lace or rhinestones.

Shrinking

If your child has an outfit that you accidentally shrunk in the washing machine don’t just throw it away.  First, see if it now fits one of your younger children.  If you do not have another child of the same gender, you can even see if your child can use it to dress up a doll or a stuffed animal.  If neither of those options work you can always give the clothes to a friend or neighbor with a smaller sized child.

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Ways to Make Items Last Longer

Due to the economy and an increased awareness of eco responsibility, more people are looking for ways to make items last longer.  Using a few simple steps and taking a few extra minutes can help you to get the most out of what you already have.

Milk and Eggs

Keep your milk and eggs towards the back of the refrigerator and they can last several days past the expiration date on the carton.  Even though refrigerators seemed to be designed to keep these items towards the front, the back of the fridge is much colder and will keep these items a lot fresher.

Jeans

Don’t wash your jeans after just one use.  Jeans are very durable and will not smell after only one wear.  You can wear jeans for up to two weeks before washing them as long as you don’t get a stain on them.  The less you wash them the more durable they will be and they will keep their color longer and rip less.

Stretch it a Little

Stretch what you have a little longer.  Add a little water to shampoo or soap that is getting low.  When you have ketchup or mayo in a squeeze bottle that seems like it is about to run out, start storing the item upside down and you can get a lot more product out of the container.  Don’t throw away left overs.  Combine left overs from a few meals to create a new meal.  You can make soups, stews, casseroles and sandwiches out of food that you may have previously thrown out.  Also, send your kids to school with left overs for lunch.

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Spicing Up Your Old Clothes

If you are sick of your tired old wardrobe, but don’t have the money to go out and buy new clothes, you can utilize what is in your current closet to create fresh, new looks.

Denim

If you have jeans that are on the older side and ripped denim is back in style again, you can cut or shred your jeans to make this style for yourself.  Your friends will not know the difference between your recreated pants and a brand new pair.

Mix and Match

Put pieces together that may have not belonged together in the past.  If you have a full suit, take the jacket only and pair it with a chic top and trendy jeans.  Add a thick belt that came with a dress to a blouse.  You can also wear a dress with leggings under it to give it a new look.

Layer

Reuse that plain white top by layering two or three shirts.  You can also spice up the outfit with multiple necklaces or bracelets.  Don’t be afraid to try new things, you never know when you may start a new trend.

Use Items Differently

Have you ever thought of putting leg warmers on your arms?  What about using a big necklace as a belt?  Celebrities do things like this all the time and you can too.

Embellish

Use rhinestones to enhance a plain dress, top or jeans.  You can border the sleeves or neckline or even create a pattern.  You can also use beads, buttons and other items of your choice.

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A Big Benefit of Volunteering

“Killing two birds with one stone.” This is not an expression to be taken literally, but to be viewed as a way to accomplish multiple tasks at the same time. When it comes to helping the environment, there is a way to apply this expression, and it is especially true if you are also looking to get into the job market.

The environment appreciates it when people give back and keep it preserved. Employers appreciate it when they come across an interviewee who is selfless and who likes to give back to the community. There is undoubtedly a correlation here, and with so many people having similar work/educational backgrounds, volunteering can be the deciding factor to help nab that dream job.

Getting involved with volunteering is ridiculously easy. Unlike hiring organizations, volunteer organizations and non-profits are always willing to “hire” people eager to give back. By simply searching online or looking in the newspaper, there are always events going on around every area.

Telling an employer you spent three hours last Saturday picking up trash on the side of a major road, while your friends were still sleeping off their hangovers, is never a bad direction to take the conversation.

One of the main principles behind volunteering is helping out without receiving any monetary benefits. This principle can easily be viewed as a quality that will transfer to the work place. If you show you can give back to the community, regardless of how big or small the contribution, an employer may you as someone who will truly want to make a contribution in his or her organization. What could be more appealing than someone who goes the extra mile because they want to, not because they have to?

So get out there and volunteer! It can be a quick resume builder, a confidence builder, and a way to make you stand out in the crowd.

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