Making That Old T-Shirt Stylish

I have more t-shirts than anyone should really have ever. Not only could I dress myself for about a month just in t-shirts baring my university’s logo, but I have countless free beer promotion shirts (bonus from working in a bar), funny saying shirts (my favorite being the “I have reservations” Native American one), and shirts from every event/concert/outing I have attended forever.

By Candy

And I wear a lot of them. I used to boycott getting really dressed up during the day (who needs to look cute in a 9 AM class?), and rock my comfy jeans and a tee. On the rare occasion that I actually decide to enter the gym I’ll throw on one from my collection. But a lot of the time they sit in my dresser unused and unloved. And it makes me kinda sad. Cause all clothes should be loved, right?

One day I thought I might wear one out to a bar if I could create something with it. I was trying to go for the “I – didn’t – really – try – to – look – cute – but – somehow – I – just – look – adorable” look. Except I’m seriously not that creative and the only thing I could think to do was cut the neck a little, and maybe do something to the short sleeves.

So out came my scissors. I experimented first on one of the many plain black AUP college shirts I had. Round one did not end up so well. I cut the neck way too huge, and the sleeves looked like I had gotten attacked by a lawn mower. But I kept trying (perhaps finally getting it on round three) and was quite pleased with the final product. I nice little off the shoulder number with a sexy bra strap showing. But I knew I could do more. I just didn’t know how to do more.

One day wandering around Urban Outfitters I came upon a little book that I thought could be the answer to all my fashion creativity problems. Generation T is a step-by-step manual to how to mutilate those long forgotten shirts into a style masterpiece. There are 108 different guides— some really easy, others requiring the use of a sewing machine.

Even if you can’t be bothered with the sewing machine ones, you still get great use out of this book. Each project has variations allowing for even more than 108 different methods. And they teach you how to make other stuff—everything from dresses to legwarmers.

For someone who doesn’t like to throw things out (me), and who wishes they could transform their wardrobe without spending any money (me) this was a great purchase. Not only has the D.A.R.E. shirt I’ve been hording since elementary school made an appearance on the scene again, but people are always asking where I got my shirts. And then I get to smugly say, “I made it.” Which, for some reason, makes me feel really good about myself.