Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Thrift that Trend - Polka Dot Pants

Welcome to a new feature here on the ol blog. I have been accumulating lots of ideas on my pinboard over the past couple of months and I finally decided to do something about it. In the next couple of weeks (and hopefully longer), I will be showing you ways to get the trendy items you want without having to spend a lot. I'm sure not all of my ideas will turn out as well as I planned but hopefully some will!

2eatsleepwearLight-brown-backpack-forever21-bag-brick-red-polka-dot-jeans-ag-pants_400

First up, polka dot pants.  I've been seeing these pop up around the blogosphere lately and I thought to myself, "These are so cute! Let's look at how much money we're talking here."  Here are the ones I liked:
AG Stevie Polka Dot Ankle Big Product
      $99                                              $189

True Religion Brand Jeans, TRUE-6978 WOMENS PRINT POLKA DOT JEANS - Slim Fit (Cherry), truereligionbrandjeans.com
$198

Really? Just have jeans with dots on them, I have to spend at least $100? No way. They might not even be cool in 6 months.

So, I headed to the thrift store.  I found these jeans at Savers for a mere $7.99.  Somewhat high for jeans but I was looking for colored jeans that were a slimmer fit so I sucked up the extra cost. Then I headed to Joann. I picked up the fabric paint and brushes for about 8 bucks. Instead of $99, I'm out only about $16. If you already have fabric paint or made your own brushes, you could do this for even cheaper.

9.24.12 188

WHAT YOU NEED:
1 pair of jeans (any color you want)
1 bottle of fabric paint (I went with white)
1 sponge brush, easier if it is already round
1 paintbrush
Paper plate and newspaper

9.24.12 190
Stuff newspaper or any other paper in between the two layers of the pants

9.24.12 191
Dip the dobber/brush into the paint and make sure to knock off the extra paint before making a dot

9.24.12 193
Proceed with dotting the entire front of the pants

9.24.12 194

9.24.12 196
Then I took a regular paintbrush and filled in all of the dots where the circle wasn't quite filled in

9.24.12 197
Yay!  Do the same thing on the back and you have a cute pair of polka dot pants for mere dollars!

Stay tuned for an outfit post with these babies!

11 comments:

  1. Brilliant! And super cute! Now I want to see them on you.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Awesome!! I love this new feature!! I would like to try this sometime - you make it seem pretty easy! Can't wait to see you style them!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks! I'm so glad you like it. Hopefully I can keep coming up with new ideas :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm working on it! I'm thinking maybe green or teal on top.

    ReplyDelete
  5. dang!! Those look like they're going to be really really cute. How much do you think the dots will fade in the wash?

    ReplyDelete
  6. You know, I'm not sure. The back of the fabric paint says to set with an iron and then wait 72 hours before washing. I'll let you know!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow, this is genius. I can't wait for the outfit photos!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I know! I was the same way. $200 for jeans with dots? Glad you like them! Let me know if you make a pair yourself :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Honey this is fabulous! You have the patience of a saint. Great post and new blog feature. Nice to meet you! Dawn suitcase vignettes

    ReplyDelete
  10. hi, your blog is very cute. I love the pokka dots. I had pokka dots (yellow) until last week and then I decided I was trying to rob the cradle or some such, so I switched my background to a water rolling slow-mo over polished rocks...? Me, oh the newest person to find you and join you and hope that you'll follow me if you'd like? Have a great rest of the week/day/hour? :D

    ReplyDelete
  11. and ...doh! found you via Two Birds, that are so cool. Your DIY is very ambitious you!

    ReplyDelete