4.15 how can I dress up inexpensively?

From: Ariadne
You don't need a lot of money, you just have to learn to be creative. Learning to sew will pay off big time in the long run if you are looking for victorian/medieval clothes. However, there are a lot of things you can do with very little sewing knowledge.

If you are just starting out, it is best to buy clothes in only one or two colors. I'm not saying that one has to only wear black clothes, but it is easier if all of your clothes will "mix and match."

Thrift stores do have great finds, but you have to shop often to find the good stuff. More important is what you do to the stuff you buy. Find a plain button-down shirt. This shouldn't cost more than a few dollars. Go to a large fabric store and look at the buttons. It is a good idea to take one of the old buttons from the shirt with you so you can get the correct size. Look for silver or pewter colored buttons with some detail to them. I've found little silver roses, fleur de lys (sp?), and once during halloween, little silver skulls! Buttons are the easiest thing you can sew on. I do this all the time, and people constantly ask me where I buy my clothes.

Little details that draw the eye matter. Accessorize. You could wear a simple black dress but always look different by what you wear with it. Gloves, shawls, belts, and jewelry can be changed for a new look. Weave dried roses and baby's breath into your hair. Maybe add ribbons. Dark red ribbon threaded through black hair looks fab if done right.

Confidence is free and will make you look good wearing almost anything. How you carry yourself says a lot about you.

I don't judge people by what they wear. It is much more important to me that they have something interesting to say. You will often find that the really pretentious goths who judge people by what they wear are not worth talking to at all. No matter how beautifully they are dressed.

From: Lady Bathory
Quickie Glam Clothes -- Most any goth outfit w/a hint of color is instant glam if you wear a coordinating feather boa w/it. Go buy some of that cheesy metallic red beaded 'holiday garland' & make yourself a Jack Fairy necklace. Wrap tinsel around your neck like a boa, or stitch it along the hem & cuffs of a fitted jacket. Edge your existing clothing with maribou.

Get a studsetter & make a shower of rhinestones on a shirt, or spell something funny with them, like "Rock Star" or "Glitter Queen" or "I'm In Drag".

Spray a length of plastic ivy with glitter hairspray & wear *that* as a boa, or wrap it in your hair. Get a really, really long scarf & tie it around your neck. Buy a 2nd-hand pageant dress & cut it off at mid-thigh. Take an old, plain pair of shoes you never wear anymore & paint them silver; then cover them w/glitter.

Found something 2nd-hand that's *almost* awesome (i.e., cool fabric, ugly style)? Is there a way you can change it easily into something cool? Can you cut the sleeves or hem off to a better length? Can you cut the skirt off a dress & just wear the top? An example: i found a cheesy bright red military-style jacket for $5, but it looked a little too '80's-slutty-secretary for me to deal as-is. *But* it was fully lined in a red acetate lining that had a sparkly sheen to it; i turned it inside out, moved the buttons to the wrong side, & covered up the tag in the back with a huge gold iron-on of the planet Saturn. A few edgings of gold trim & it *rocks*.

From: Sparky
I just put together a page on How to Make a Coffin Purse, having recently cobbled together a few for fun. I also put together a page called Grow Your Own Horns, which covers my experience with basic clay horn makin', has pictures of the pairs I've made and some (hopefully) helpful tips.

From: Ilen Zazueta-Audirac
my approach to goth on a shoestring (aside from having learned to sew) is to redesign "normal" clothes in interesting ways, invest in a few key basics, and accessorize like mad!!!

some non-sewing ideas for under $20 (U.S.) admittedly all of these come out looking vaguely 'fetish.'

(approximate cost $2) Buy a bag or two of safety pins... use as decorative elements... a row of large pins along the legs ... or a row of small pins. around a collar (or a chain of them *as* a collar). you can even stick them in your ears for that eighties punk look :) and they're a great way to meet people, for even those with perfect clothes occasionally find themselves in need of a safety pin... Of course, you've got to be careful about overdoing this, because it can look very silly... particularly if you're not confident about how *wonderful* safety pins are

($2 a roll, depending) electrical tape. much like safety pins. you can use electrical tape for just about anything... a friend of mine once made a dress out of it. it's also good for wrist bracers, covering nipples, PVC-looking collars, bras, etc.... you can either stick it directly to your skin (avoid this if you're hairy) or cover otherwise mundane items with it.

($5-$20) go to the hardware store and buy some chain and some baby luggage locks. have the hardware store guys (who are *used* to this, *really*) cut the chain to appropriate lengths for neck, wrists, waist or whatever you want to wrap metal around... fasten shut with luggage locks (or safety pins!) it takes some looking to find silver-colored luggage locks, a lot of places just have brass ones, but while you're at the hardware store you can invest in chrome spray paint (just remember to tape over the keyholes)... if you know any bike mechanics (or happen to own a chain breaker) you can use bicycle chain for similar purposes.

From: Lady Bathory
Cool hats can sometimes be found at thrift stores for $5 or less (i've a big ol' millinery fetish). You can make 'em look cooler with a length of black tulle/net purchased from a fabric store and pinned on the back. Or get some chenilled Russian net and make a veil in front that goes over your face.

For that matter, a lot of stuff can be found at thrift stores for cheepo. Even if you don't have a 'treasure-trove' thrift store where you always find good stuff, you can usually find some decent plain black things for cheap.

Plain button down shirts in solid colors like black, red, grey, etc., can be transformed into a smooth collarless shirt by just cutting off the collar above the neckband with a pair of scissors.

Simple garments like basic black pants, skirts, etc., can be jazzed up with trim from the fabric store. You can sew it on by hand (even if you don't sew, this is really easy) or use a craft glue like Aleene's or E-6000. One of my friends has created some beautiful garments from basic thrift-store finds (black button-downs, suit coats, vests, tux jackets) by simply sewing on trim, cording, and lace.

There are patterns in the accessories section of many pattern books for add-on cuffs (i.e., a band that buttons around your wrist with a ruffled cuff.). These could be worn with a jacket and turtleneck or fishnet shirt or button-down shirt for a cool effect.

I've begun experimenting with a couple new hairstyle ideas that are cool looking and inexpensive to do. I've bought a $5 length of marabou and thread it thru my hair-ties when i do the 2-ponytail style. Also, i got a $0.99 spool of ribbon and tie little lengths of it in my hair all over so it looks a bit like hair extensions (but not).

From: Rook
I make lots of chokers -- it is so easy. If you buy any appealing fabric ribbon, just buy some velcro. Snip out velcro pieces the right size for the ribbon and sew or fabric-glue them onto the appropriate ends of the ribbon -- it does help, also, to hem the ribbon ends before doing so. Unraveling is no fun. When you measure your neck, leave a little room to breathe -- if the choker is lightweight, i.e., unadorned or adorned with lightweight ornaments, even if it is a little loose it will still sit prettily in the middle of the throat. If you choose to put a heavy brooch, button, etc. as the accent on the choker it helps to use a sturdy ribbon so it does not sag.

Oh, another neat thing is buying good-quality, heavy, fancy lace ribbon -- the lovely woven kind, not lightweight trim. This comes in beautiful, elegant patterns, most often in white or black or ivory, gorgeous with open-work. This sort needs no central ornament, but what does look very nice is, after you hem the ends of the lace, fasten it by attaching two or more jump rings through one of the cut-outs in the lace at each hemmed end and then link a decorative necklace clasp to the jump rings. It looks very dressy and sort of antique.

From: Norman Padilla
I just found some very cheap collars at walmart in the pet care section. If you don't mind wearing a doggy collar they're only like two bucks a collar (compared to the fifteen for a human collar). Also, they have choke collars for ninety seven cents each, I bought a whole bunch; I got one of those snap shut/open keychains (instead of a little lock, which doesn't quite go with some of the outfits I wear) and strung five or six choke collars and wrapped it around my neck. Pretty cool and insta-jewelry without the hassle of having to sew, glue, or weld together anything.

From: Demonica Del Rio
go to Pet Food Warehouse (or the pet supply store of your choice) and get doggy choke collars (i usually get the 12" length) and loop it as you would if you were putting it on a doggy, but put it around your wrist...choke it tight, and slip the other ring around your first or second finger... i think it looks really cool, and i've heard it referred to as a 'slave bracelet'

From: Bathsheba
So, I've been obsessed as of late with getting a net skirt. My mother suggested I try a ballet store. She is brilliant. I was able to find a 27" black net skirt with three layers for only $12.99. True, it's a little pouffier than I'd like and not quite as long as I'd want, but it's a far cry less expensive than the net skirts you see in goth stores and catalogs which seem to run $60 or so. This one will certainly do until I can get myself motivated enough to sew one that exactly fits the description I'm looking for. In conclusion, if you're looking for a net skirt and don't want to shell out too much cash, get thee to a dance supply shop.

From: Gachaman
I like to get very plain skirts or shirts from my local discount stores and replace the buttons with antique-looking silver ones or sew lace onto the edges.

From: Elaine Park
a large hose clamp makes a nice choker necklace and smaller ones make good bracelets or rings. also sew together keychain rings to make choker and other such stuff. little hardware notion type things are really really pretty sometimes. like you can use a steel hinge attached to a chain for a nice necklace.

From: The Doctor
For gothic boots -- go to a thrift store and get a pair of cowboy boots. If they're not black, a little dye or even three hours and a couple of magic markers will work well. Grab a couple of old, thin belts while you're there. Cut the belts down and set them in place. Add some studs or steel plates (my fave) if you've a mind to, and off you go.

From: Nikolai Kingsley
i wanted a pair of boots that came up to my knees and had lots of glittery silver things like buckles attached to them. defeated only by a lack of funds and a lack of anywhere in melbourne that i know of that actually SELLS anything like that, i decided to cheat.

i got about a metre of black vinyl, cut two irregular cones out of it and punched grommets along the edges. then i threaded some ribbon through the grommets and stuck 'em on my shins, over a pair of depressingly normal shoes. in the dim half-light of your average goth nightclub, they look remarkably like boots, and when worn in conjunction with a pair of normal shoes, very comfortable.

From: tofugirl
for a pair of elbow-or-longer semi-gloves, try this: take a pair of knee-high panty hose, slide them onto your arms, and snip a small hole where your fingers come to. this makes a pair of fingerless gloves reminiscent of the lace mitts of the 1800s and is very cheap.

From: Sparky
Most craft/jewelry supply stores have an interesting supply of charms and such -- I've made some unique military "medals" out of them in the past. Look at pictures of some real decorated military folks in old military uniforms for ideas... crosses and hearts are easy to find and look great dangling from a bit of purple or red velvet ribbon.

How To: Fold over a piece of wide satin or velvet ribbon, attach your charm to the bottom (sew or thread it on), and sew the ribbon up at the top so the charm won't fall off. Sew the whole thing directly onto the coat -- or add a pin back with hot glue (or by sewing to make it real sturdy) if you want to be able to wear your ribbons on different coats. You can get pin backs in craft/jewelry stores as well. To make the smaller "bar" pins, just wrap a small rectangle of cardboard with satin or metallic ribbon (the thin gold/silver cord stuff works great) in your choice of colors, glue it down in back, and then glue/sew it to the pin back. Voila -- you're a major general.

You can use interesting military-looking buttons or bits of old thrift shop jewelry if you can't find new charms -- or if you're good Sculpey, Fimo, or any other modeling materials, you can make some really creative "awards" for your ribbons. General Bead here in San Francisco has some wonderful metal charms, their 3" bat with outstretched wings would make a great Goth Army medal... hmmm...

From: Jackie Manni
I had a lovely black silk boned longline bra/bustier thingee that had cups that just didn't fit, and the straps were thin and dug into my shoulders. I would wear it occasionally just because it was so pretty.

So, I carefully cut out the cups, leaving the underwires, snipping the tiny strings with baby scissors. I then sewed three silk ribbon roses to the three points made by cutting out the cups. Viola! A fab waist cincher! (I wear it "points down".)

I tried it on for the boi, and he said "Wow! Did you get that at the Fetishes Boutique around the corner?" Yay! So it looks professional, and *Not* like I have an upside down bra around my waist! And the beauty of it is that I've been in the market for a waist cincher for a few months!

From: Amy Stebbins
Buy some black, tight cotton gloves, and stitch some danglies on the wrist end (if you can find coin-style beads this would be delicious, or spiders or ankhs or whatever tweaks your goth heart). Get some of those mini-stickers for the face, and wear one at the corner of your eye. If you have any tight, lace-up boots, wrap them in charmy, dangly necklaces.

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