Thrifted Clothes Can Be Trendy Too

This winter, I’ve really gotten into the boots/skirt/leggings trend.  I’m a few years behind on this one, but that’s ok.  A few months ago, I found these great Teva boots at Goodwill for ten dollars:

They’re as comfy as tennis shoes, but much cuter.  And the price was hard to beat.

I also came across a brand new pair of grey cable knit leggings at a thrift store for three dollars, with their original $25 price tag still on them.  The only problem was that they were a size XL.  I’m on the small side, but I don’t like small leggings and tights.  I don’t like feeling constricted in my clothes, and I hate “crotch-sag.”  I also like leggings to be on the long side, going all the way over my ankles without stretching too much.  So through the legs, the XL leggings were actually perfect.  But around my waist, they were just too big.  There was too much material there, and even with the elastic waistband, they were falling down. 

So I spent ten minutes altering them, with some help from my little boys.  Since they’re leggings, the waist area is never going to show (I am not one to wear leggings as pants… mine are always under a skirt, dress, or at least a tunic-style top that covers my rear end).  So I wasn’t worried about perfect sewing and just eyeballed everything. 

I put the leggings on, pinched in the extra fabric on one side, and pinned it so that they weren’t too tight, but weren’t falling down.  Then I took them off, turned them inside out, and hand-stitched a seam down the side, extending a few inches down from the waistband (I would have used the sewing machine, but it wasn’t working right, and this was a very easy hand sewing project).  Then I chopped off the excess fabric, and this is what the inside of the leggings look like now:

Once I turned them right side out, this is what I had:

They fit perfectly now.  Not tight or constrictive, and they’re very comfy, cute, and warm.  And the $3 price tag for brand new leggings was pretty awesome. 

In general, I’m more into comfort than trends.  But since leggings and comfy boots (no high heels here…) fit into both categories, I’m all about them.  Especially since I’ve been able to find exactly the pieces I want at thrift stores, for a fraction of their retail price.