Penny Pincher Fashion

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DIY Blazer Makeover

While thrift-store shopping last month, I found this J. Crew gray wool blazer for less than $10 – obviously, I didn’t even think twice about snatching it up.  But, when I got home, I realized that this was an older version of their current schoolboy style and it needed a little updating.  So, I did some research and then got to work!

First, I took tiny scissors and carefully cut the threads in between to remove all 3 pockets.  This doesn’t work with every type of fabric (it all depends on how the pockets are sewn on and the quality of the piece), but I knew if it didn’t look right afterwards, I could always take it to my tailor and have them put back on.  Thankfully, once they were removed & the wool was lightly pressed, you couldn’t tell they were there in the first place.

I then took the jacket with me to the craft store to pick out some different buttons for the front & the sleeves, making sure I matched the size of the old ones (I tried to find a style that closely resembled the buttons used on the current schoolboy blazer).  I removed the brown buttons and sewed on new ones (which only cost me $6).  I threw it on with a plain tee & jeans so you could see the finished product:

Love this detail under the collar!

Considering that this same style of blazer from J. Crew normally costs $198 and I only spent $16 for mine…I was thrilled, to say the least.  I know I will get a ton of wear out of it this fall and, because it’s such a classic piece, it will last me for a long time.  This just goes to show that you shouldn’t pass up on thrift or vintage items just because they aren’t 100% perfect.  With a little re-working & some imagination, they could become a wardrobe staple!

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Comments

  5. Kathryn says

    Great example of thrift DIY! I often find that J. Crew's buttons fall off anyway, and I've picked out new buttons simply because I couldn't find the ones I lost and ran out of the extras. I've ended up liking my replacements better, just like you did 🙂

  13. Niki says

    What a great find! It's amazing what a difference removing the pockets and swapping the buttons can do! Will have to keep my eyes peeled for one of my own 🙂
    Niki

  14. Kultur und Stil says

    I love this post and it's so true what you say! But unfortunately, thrifting and salvation army and shops like that, aren't really popular in Munich where I live. I always try to go into second hand shops when I'm in other cities, but well, I've never found any gorgeous pieces. Apart form once, I did an internship in Nancy, France, and just around my corner was a book thrift store (they sold all the gorgeous novels for about 1 Euro) that also had a tiny ranch of clothes, where I found some wonderful things! And I also found there a grey blazer that I altered slightly – and I really love this piece!

    xxx Anita

  16. Carlin says

    i love this! the best pieces are the ones you make your own, or ones that you get for a great deal. this has both! 🙂

  34. Maja says

    $16? That's amazing.
    The updated version looks absolutely fantastic!

    Maja – clotheskinksandcurls.blogspot.ca

  45. Lindsay Patrick says

    I love how you re-worked this blazer! I am still working on how I look at thrift pieces and trying to imagine a fresh look on older pieces..it can be difficult but you did so great with this piece..love it Kim.

    Lindsay @
    LindsayJEveryday.blogspot.com

  49. Jamie says

    Wow, that is an impressive DIY! The blazer looks great! So awesome that the blazer plus the updates only cost $16! I am going to more open-minded about thrift store pieces now that I realize I need to think creatively!

  50. Carmen Iris says

    This post is right on time. I have been coveting one the schoolboy blazers currently available at J.Crew. I know what I'll be up to this weekend.

  55. Katherine says

    Wow, I'm so surprised what a difference just removing the pockets makes! Love your chose of buttons, too. I absolutely love thrifting blazers, so I'm definitely going to keep this in mind next time I'm at the thrift store. Great job!

  67. laurenfoode.com says

    This is an even better find than you might've thought. I worked at J. Crew for years and steadily watched the quality decline while nothing ever got any cheaper. This vintage find is probably twice the quality of their current blazers, which have skyrocketed in price. Well done!

  69. Lauren @ Sassy Molassy says

    Love it! I have a Banana jacket just like that and never wear it (but it's more because I don't know what the heck to wear it with). Granted, if I brought it to a more casual level, I just might be inclined to wear it with jeans…