Goodwill Alterations with Chanté Gibbs
Chanté is a local thrift blogger and sustainable designer. She is our inspiration and guide to exploring what can be done with some creative alterations and updates of thrifted finds. Each month she starts with a concept, shops our stores, and reworks her thrift finds into high-fashion pieces. She takes us on a thrift journey from start to finish, and it’s a great ride every month!
When I went to Goodwill, my goal was to find a flowy maxi skirt that I could upcycle into a “bubble” skirt. A bubble or tulip skirt has a puffy silhouette created by tucking fabric back under the bottom hem. After searching through their skirt section, I found one that was a beautiful lilac color. I loved how it looked, with multiple layers. And because it had an elastic waistband, I would not have to spend time making the skirt fit at the waist. I knew this would be perfect for this month’s Stitched Up project.
How do I make it?
- After I washed the skirt, I tried it on to see how it fit on me. While I had it on, I kept in mind how short I wanted my skirt to be.
- Keeping in mind how short I wanted my bubble skirt to be, I pulled the bottom edge of the hem up inside of the skirt to the waistband.
- I played with the pleating and length of the skirt by hanging the excess fabric over the elastic waistband before pinning.
- Once I was satisfied with how everything would hang, I sewed the bottom hem down to the waistband.
- Lastly, I was ready to try it on again to see how it looked on me and if I needed to make any adjustments.
What was your inspiration?
One of the many trends I have been seeing lately, is the “bubble” or “balloon” skirt. I first noticed the skirts late spring of this year, and many influencers are rocking this trend. There is also a lot of bubble skirt outfit inspiration on Pinterest right now, so I felt like this this could be a great styling piece for the summer.
Plus, a few thrift tips:
- Make a list before you shop: Thrift stores often have a wide variety of items, so it is best to have an idea of what you need or looking for.
- Wear clothing that fits close to your body: Goodwill does have fitting rooms, but it’s still helpful to wear an outfit that you can easily try things on over.
- Have a budget: It is easy to get carried away with all the fun finds and great deals. Try to decide how much money you can spend before thrift shopping.
- Bring reusable bags: Help the planet and make your life easier by bringing some reusable bags to carry your thrift finds home in.