This Woman Upcycles Old Clothes Into Stylish Outfits (20 Pics)
Jillian Owens, aka Refashionista, upcycles old thrift store clothes into amazing stylish outfits.
Jillian Owens, aka Refashionista, is a 38-year-old fashion blogger from South Carolina who upcycles old thrift store clothes into amazing stylish outfits. In a recent interview with Bored Panda, the woman said she started creating these outfits around 10 years ago when she was working for a nonprofit and didn't have enough money to buy high-end clothes. And even though she lacked the money, she certainly did not lack creativity. "I decided to take on the ugliest, saddest, and cheapest (just about everything I refashion costs $1) thrift store clothes I could find and turn them into my own unique designs,” said Jillian.
Image source: therefashionista
Image source: therefashionista
When thrifting, Jillian looks for weird, dated, or otherwise unique items as she believes they have the most potential. "From there, I wash the garment, then evaluate what it will need to be refashioned. Sometimes this means completely taking something apart and re-imagining it entirely. Sometimes it's as simple as removing a ruffle or raising a hem. It all depends on each unique piece,” says the woman.
Image source: therefashionista
Image source: therefashionista
The fashion blogger believes that creativity is like a muscle. "Lots of people think they aren't creative, and I don't believe them. There's something about the 'adulting' process that seems to leave creativity and the bravery that comes from it behind," pondered Jillian. "Creative problem solving is a vitally important skill in our society. I feel like every time I refashion a dress, I'm solving a problem, and that's an incredibly rewarding and empowering feeling." The woman believes that solving these small problems can help train your brain to look creatively at larger problems.
Image source: therefashionista
Image source: therefashionista
“We all know that how you dress is important. It affects what others think of you and how you're treated. I don't like it, but it's sadly true," said Jillian. "Fashion can be democratized when we take a DIY approach to how we clothe ourselves. We can look great on the cheap and without supporting unethical fast fashion processes. We can all look fabulous while still being sustainable. That's what Refashionista is all about.”
See more of the Refashionista's outfits in the gallery below and don't forget to check out our previous post here!
Image source: therefashionista
Image source: therefashionista
Image source: therefashionista
Image source: therefashionista
Image source: therefashionista
Image source: therefashionista
Image source: therefashionista
Image source: therefashionista
Image source: therefashionista
Image source: therefashionista
Image source: therefashionista
Image source: therefashionista
Image source: therefashionista
Image source: therefashionista
At first, the woman started out with just a basic sewing machine stored on top of the fridge of her tiny apartment but nowadays she has her own dedicated sewing room. Eventually, Jillian started the Refashionista blog where she shared her work with the world, seeking to inspire people who had little money or were simply looking for a creative hobby. "I want people to look at my blog and be inspired to start thinking more creatively about how they can solve problems they might have (just like I did with my wardrobe)," says the blogger. "We're all creative. We're all makers. And we can all take things that aren't working in our lives (for instance, a lackluster wardrobe) and find creative and innovative ways to make them better.”
More info: refashionista.net | Instagram | Facebook
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Image source: therefashionista
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Image source: therefashionista
When thrifting, Jillian looks for weird, dated, or otherwise unique items as she believes they have the most potential. "From there, I wash the garment, then evaluate what it will need to be refashioned. Sometimes this means completely taking something apart and re-imagining it entirely. Sometimes it's as simple as removing a ruffle or raising a hem. It all depends on each unique piece,” says the woman.
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Image source: therefashionista
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Image source: therefashionista
The fashion blogger believes that creativity is like a muscle. "Lots of people think they aren't creative, and I don't believe them. There's something about the 'adulting' process that seems to leave creativity and the bravery that comes from it behind," pondered Jillian. "Creative problem solving is a vitally important skill in our society. I feel like every time I refashion a dress, I'm solving a problem, and that's an incredibly rewarding and empowering feeling." The woman believes that solving these small problems can help train your brain to look creatively at larger problems.
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Image source: therefashionista
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Image source: therefashionista
“We all know that how you dress is important. It affects what others think of you and how you're treated. I don't like it, but it's sadly true," said Jillian. "Fashion can be democratized when we take a DIY approach to how we clothe ourselves. We can look great on the cheap and without supporting unethical fast fashion processes. We can all look fabulous while still being sustainable. That's what Refashionista is all about.”
See more of the Refashionista's outfits in the gallery below and don't forget to check out our previous post here!
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Image source: therefashionista
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Image source: therefashionista
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Image source: therefashionista
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Image source: therefashionista
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Image source: therefashionista
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Image source: therefashionista
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Image source: therefashionista
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Image source: therefashionista
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Image source: therefashionista
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Image source: therefashionista
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Image source: therefashionista
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Image source: therefashionista
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Image source: therefashionista
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Image source: therefashionistaDE
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