men's clothing

13 DIY Clothing Projects for Men

Ashley Marcin — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 09:00:07 +0000

We've already covered 20 Simple and Stylish Clothing Projects for Women and Cute and Frugal Clothing You Can Make for Kids. Though men's clothing projects are much harder to find online, they're well worth seeking out. Any time you can bring new life to the duds you already own, you're saving money.

So check out these 13 cool projects for DIY men's clothing and accessories and feel free to add your own in the comments!

1. (Re)Dyed Jeans

Have a pair of faded denim jeans? This smart tutorial will show you how to refresh them for just $3. Grab a box of RIT dye at your local grocery or drugstore. You can go with traditional navy or blue, but there are a wide variety of colors from which to choose.

2. Cutoffs

If you have a comfy old pair of jeans, turn them into cool cutoffs with this simple tutorial. It's really as easy as cutting the jeans and cuffing them. The author also uses a standard razor to create a naturally distressed look.

3. Pocket T-Shirt

A printout pattern and piece of your favorite fabric jazzes up a plain t-shirt with a new, useful pocket. There's a bit of basic sewing involved, but it's nothing a novice can't handle.

4. Skinny Tie

Need a unique tie for a special occasion? Skip the store and try making your own. You'll need a vintage tie to act as your pattern, but once you get going — you'll want one in every color.

5. Bow Tie

That's right, you can also create your own stylish bow tie for special events or, well, just because. This tutorial requires some basic sewing, but you can use whatever fabric matches your theme. And making the bow tie might be easier than tying one!

6. Leather Belt

Create a custom DIY Leather Belt that will last you years and years. Find an old belt to serve as your pattern, as well as a long strip of leather, some hardware, and a few leather-working tools. You can dye it whatever color you like and then condition using olive oil.

7. Tank

All you need is an old t-shirt, a sharp pair of scissors, and a marker to make this casual Tank Top. This piece would be great to wear to the beach or at the gym for lifting weights. Plus, it's a good way to reuse an old shirt that might have pit stains!

8. Screen Print

This specific tutorial features a women's shirt, but the same basic screen printing process applies for men's (and kid's) shirts as well. Choose a design you wish to print and draw it onto freezer paper. Iron it onto your shirt on a flat surface. Then paint over the design using fabric paint and remove the freezer paper to let set.

9. Elbow Patches

Again, this DIY Elbow Patch Sweater tutorial features a women's shirt, but it's just as stylish for men. Plus, you can buy leather or fabric elbow patches if you want to skip the stitching for less than $10. Otherwise, you need an old sweater, iron-on adhesive fabric, and an iron.

10. Button Up Shirt

This manly sewing project creates a button-up shirt for a fraction of what it would cost at the store. You can use whatever fabric you might have on hand or choose something specific, but you'll need two yards in all. The pattern is free after you sign up for the blog's email list.

11. Card Holder

These awesome leather card holders come together quickly and require minimal stitching. You can also play with the pattern a bit to get the look you want. A great place to find leather in all textures and colors is on Etsy.

12. Paracord Bracelet

I see these Paracord Bracelets everywhere, and I never thought to make my own. Though the images might look tricky, you can click them for a closer view. It's a lot of figure eight weaving, but after a while, you should get the hang.

13. Hoodie

This DIY Hoodie Project surely requires some sewing skills. However, it doesn't look out of the realm of possibility. And the pattern is loose. You can use an old t-shirt — just make sure to leave a seam allowance.

Alright you manly DIYers: what projects are you getting into?

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This article is from Ashley Marcin of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

How an Expensive Wardrobe Saves You Money

Nicholas Pell — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 15:00:03 +0000

No one wants to spend more than they have to. Still, the saying "you get what you pay for" is a truism. While you might ask "why pay more?" when it comes to clothes there are ways that having an expensive wardrobe can actually save you money in the long run.

Here are some ways that spending a little more up front will help you to avoid costs on the back end or even increase your earning potential. (See also: 8 Cheap Ways to Update a Wardrobe You Hate)

Shoes

When it comes to shoes, there are basically two ways they're going to save you money: buying quality dress shoes and quality sneakers.

Dress Shoes

Dress shoes are a serious "you get what you pay for" kind of thing. People thought I was nuts when I shelled out $800 for a pair of biker boots. They thought I was less nuts when I told them the boots have a lifetime guarantee and that I met a guy once who owned his for over 20 years. A lot of companies have similar guarantees, be they lifetime, 25 years or 10 years. Divide $800 by 20 years and $40 a year doesn't sound that bad.

When buying shoes with a 20-plus year guarantee, keep in mind that fashions change over time. As such, you're going to want to buy something basic and versatile — something that will go with your wardrobe just as well in 10 years as it does today.

Sneakers

Quality sneakers will save you money by saving on hospital bills. A pair of ten dollar running shoes from Payless just aren't going to get the job done — no matter what "the job" is. Good sneakers last longer, work better for what they're designed to do, and keep your feet and legs better protected.

The National Center for Biotechnical Information found that 60% of running-related injuries were due to poor training, with the wrong footwear cited as a major contributing factor. The NYU Lagone Medical Center found that poor footwear contributed to such injuries and ailments as bunions, hammer toes, blisters, corns, callouses, and even athlete's foot.

If you're just using sneakers to walk around the block, this might not be as much of a concern; But if you're engaging in any physical activity, get yourself a pair of good sneakers.

Denim

I don't wear cheap denim and I urge you to do the same. Not only will one pair of $150 jeans last longer than five pairs of $30 jeans, they also look and fit better. High-end denim is a huge trend right now. But again, the upside of it is that you only have to have a couple of pairs. Honestly, anything more than three is sort of overkill.

Remember: You shouldn't be washing your jeans. No less a source than the CEO of Levi Strauss says so. Buy them, wear them and throw them in the freezer when they start to smell bad. This works because it kills the bacteria that create smell. Maybe wash them every six months or a year or so, if you must. And hang them in your closet — don't fold them or throw them in a heap. (See also: 25+ Secrets to Keep Your Clothes Brighter, Whiter, and Lasting Longer)

Suits

To be honest, I think "expensive" is the wrong word here. You can get killer suits from the thrift store for cheap. However, you need to meet a minimum bar of quality.

Quality Materials

The suit has to look nice from far away and close up, even if you only paid $100 for it. Inexpensive suits can look nice. "Cheap" suits cannot. Look for things like wear (especially on the knees and elbows) or "pilling" — those little balls that form on cheap materials.

Canvas

If your suit is glued together, it's not going to last as long as a half-canvas or a full-canvas suit. There are several ways to tell if a suit is canvassed or fused, including feeling for a third layer of fabric on the jacket torso, looking for stitching underneath the lapel or just asking the salesperson if there is one.

Fit

Even if you get a made-to-measure suit it's going to require some tailoring. A good fit means a better-looking you, which can result in a higher earning potential. Nothing makes you look more pro than a well-tailored suit when you head down to that job interview.

A Good Suit Is Easy to Find

Again, the issue here is not "more equals more." It's an issue of meeting some minimum requirements — no matter what they cost. So where do you find suits?

Thrift Store: This is a bit risky, but you can also score some killer finds for next to nothing. Still, if you're especially concerned that you won't be able to tell what's acceptable, try the next option.
Suit Outlets: These have the advantage of a salesperson on site who can answer your questions like "Is this a full-canvas or a half-canvas" and "Do these suits pill quickly?"
Made-to-Measure Online: One of the great things about the 21st Century is that you can get a MTM suit for cheap online. My personal favorites are Indochino based in Canada and LA's own Thick As Thieves.
Your Local Tailor: Yes, you can still get a suit from the local tailor. This is probably the most expensive way of doing it, but if you have the money to throw around, why not?

Dry Cleaning

Here's something else I do that people think is nuts: I dry clean all of my clothes. Seriously. I never wash anything.

First of all, it's not as expensive as you think. A home dry-clean kit can be got for pretty much nothing and that will get you through 2-3 "washes" before you have to bring the heavy hitters in.

When you spend more money on clothes, you're going to want to maintain them. I liken dry cleaning my clothes to putting gas in my car: Sure, I put low-octane regular in my 2002 Chevy Cavalier. But when it comes to my 1968 El Camino, it's premium only.

Maybe have some stuff around you don't need to dry clean. But the stuff you spend money on you should treat as an investment; The more you wash it, the faster it depreciates.

Socks

Dress socks? Save your money. But when it comes to athletic socks, or socks you're wearing out hiking or hunting or doing other outdoor activities. Not only are they going to keep your feet in better shape (drier and warmer) when you wear them, they're also going to last longer, which as you might have noticed is a recurring theme here.

What part of your wardrobe do you splurge on?

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This article is from Nicholas Pell of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

10 Great Uses for Old Ties

Kentin Waits — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:24:18 +0000

One of the casualties of our more informal work world is a surplus of neckties. Visit any thrift store of a respectable size, and you’ll find whole nests of colorful old ties coiled and tangled in bins and snaked through hangers. Exploring them is a history lesson in fashion and in the vagaries of style. They come in paisleys, college stripes, argyles, and checks; in wool, acetate, polyester, and silk; in skinny, wide, and extra wide. They wait to be reclaimed and repurposed. But if you’re not a vintage clothing hound with a penchant for formal wear, what can be done with these cast-offs? Here are ten ideas that can give new life to old ties.

1. Napkin Rings

Ties with classic designs can be cut hemmed and stitched into small rings to create unique matched or mismatched napkin rings. Since napkin rings seldom get dirty, choose more expensive tie fabrics like silk or wool.

2. Tab Tops for Café Curtains

Restaurant owners I know in Portland, Oregon fashioned the tabs of their tab-top café curtains from old ties. First, they removed and saved the narrow section of each tie, and then created a loop from it. Next they sewed each loop neatly to the curtain at 4” intervals and embellished each new tab with a vintage button. Since curtains are in direct sunlight and prone to fading, choose more durable necktie fabrics like polyester or acetate.

3. Curtain Tie-Backs

Add a unique accent to your curtains by using thin or medium width ties as curtain tie-backs. Just cut to fit, add a button or piece of Velcro, and voila!

4. Belts

Narrow wool or cotton ties (especially in argyle or plaid) make great belts. Add a D-ring style buckle and pair with dark-wash jeans for a casual look.

5. Quilts and Throws

If you have the skills and are up for an intricate and challenging project, try creating a quilt or throw crafted from neckties. When sewing ties together or using cut pieces of tie fabric, be sure to pay attention to the weft and warp of the material. Each fabric has not only a distinct weight, but a particular weave that affects how it stretches. Choosing fabrics with similar warp and weft characteristics will prevent misshaping or unnecessarily stress on a particular section. For a good tutorial on how make a quilt from old ties, check out eHow’s step-by-step tie quilt overview.

6. Rugs

Apply the same method used in the quilt creation to make a rug from polyester or cotton ties. If you like to knit or crochet, experiment with crafting a rug using ties as the yarn. Just cut the ties to a uniform width and sew the strips end-to-end. Add a non-skid backing or pad for safety.

7. Scarves

Wool or cotton ties staggered and sewn together end-to-end can create a unique and durable scarf. Leave the edges natural or finish with velvet or denim.

8. Table Runners

Use rich paisley patterns in silk to create a distinctive table runner using the same method as the scarf. Finish with tassels or some simple beadwork.

9. Dish Towel Ties

Remember when every kitchen had those little dish towels with the tab that fit through a drawer handle and buttoned in the front? Maybe I’m showing my age, but it seemed like every kitchen in the 1970’s had one hanging at the sink or from the oven handle. It was a great little utilitarian craft project that could be reinvented to include old neckties. Using the widest part of the tie, hem and sew one end to the back of a dish towel or hand towel and attach the pointed end to the front with a button or piece of Velcro. Because these will be used and washed frequently, choose a durable polyester or cotton tie.

10. Custom Pillows

Add a unique and custom look to your accent pillows by centering and sewing a tie vertically and another horizontally to create a "gift wrapped" look. This works especially well with white pillows and deeply patterned bold black ties or denim pillows and vintage plaid ties.

So, the next time you’re thrift shopping or hitting the yard sales, keep an eye out for those old orphaned ties — there’s still a lot of life in them. With a little creativity and craftsmanship, you can turn something that was a pain in the neck to the fellas of yesteryear into something that’s inspired and practical.

Do you have a closet full of old ties? How have you repurposed and recycled them? What ideas have I missed?

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This article is from Kentin Waits of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: