Hype Up Your Hand-Me-Downs

from February 2022

The Macro-Effect of Microtrends

BY HANNAH CAMPBELL PHOTOS BY MICHAELA FREY

Vintage clothing is all the rage nowadays, but it can get pretty expensive when items are older and more valuable. Ditch the local thrift store and shop through your parents closet. Your parents have probably held onto special items throughout the years, just in case you would ever ask for them. Now’s the time to bring vintage back with a customized touch. Here is Thread’s guide to making your parents’ old clothes look brand new:

HANG LOOSE

Oversized anything looks great all year round, but going as big as possible is ideal now that the days are getting colder. Grab your dad’s jackets and shirts for a look that is cute and comfortable.

Old corduroy and denim shirts make perfect shackets – shirt jackets – for those lazy days. These can be flawlessly paired with a crop top underneath, leggings, and winter boots. For a special night out, a black leather jacket can complement a shorter midi dress and Chelsea boots to look put together without much work at all.

WORKING GIRL

Whether you are actually going to work or just running errands, your mom’s old work clothes can be just as stylish now as they were then. Anyone’s mom who grew up in the ’80s has to have a blazer hidden somewhere in her closet – probably with massive shoulder pads, too.

To look professional, yet casual, add a cropped turtleneck and jeans. For a look outside of the office, pair a blazer with a hoodie and leggings and heavily accessorize the jacket with belts and pins with a personalized touch.

I’M WITH THE BAND

Everyone has an old concert T-shirt that they have held onto for memorabilia, and this includes your parents. Instead of going to Urban Outfitters to find a new one, grab the original from your parents’ closet for a vintage look.

Concert T-shirts can be dressed up or down. For smaller or fitted tees, pair them with some flare jeans and sneakers for a more casual look. Add to this when winter comes around; throw a patterned long-sleeve or a turtleneck underneath the shirt for an extra pop of color. For more oversized T-shirts, wear them with a colorful pair of bike shorts.

NOT YOUR MOTHER’S JEANS

Mom jeans have come back into mainstream fashion over the years, but there are many ways to put a personalized touch on your mom’s old ones.

The great thing about jeans is that there are so many cheap DIY projects to try. For a modern look, dip one pant leg into bleach for a two-tone effect. Another customized option is to sew a printed fabric into one of the back pockets. Lastly, add holes in a straight pair. The possibilities are endless. AN OLD SCARF

Scarves are usually worn in the winter, but they can work any time of year when styled correctly. Let us just hope your mom did not leave it at someone’s sister’s house.

Silk scarves may seem average; however, they also make for great crop tops. Depending on the size and how short you want the top, tie and twist the scarf to fit your needs. Colored printed scarves are great for tying up in your hair as a headband or bandana.