Tailoring tricks: Get creative with your closet

Out with the old and in with the new? Not so fast! Give your clothes a second glance and your wardrobe a second chance with easy alterations. Small design details and minor tailoring tweaks can transform pieces from the past into modern masterpieces and give you a fashion-forward edge. It can be fun to fall in love with your favorites again and save the splurge you haven't worn. Just call it Project “Your Way!”

Bobbie Thomas, TODAY Style editor and author of the Buzz column for “In Touch Weekly,” shows you how:

By their very definition, trends come and go, and you certainly can’t buy a new wardrobe for every fickle fashion moment. As any sophisticated and stylish woman knows, the key to looking fabulous is in the fit! Secondhand stores and designer discount shops are plentiful resources for finding quality garments, and with a few minor nips and tucks, you can customize these fashions to fit your wants and whims. We found our easy-to-update garments at Filene's Basement and TJ Maxx, but chances are you already have many of these items in your closet!

Top tips
The secretary-style tie-neck blouse had its moment in the fall, but if you find this look just isn’t working for you anymore, don’t just toss it. Try removing the collar and using the fabric as a belt, as we did in our example. This simple switch creates a whole new sillhouette. For other tried-and-true tricks, consider adding or taking away buttons to a blouse for flare, turning a conservative shirt into a sexier style by making it backless, or lacing yarn through the knit of a sweater to create contrast and ruching. 

Jacket tips
While suits are classic, proportions do change. There’s no doubt the basic blazer is a great wardrobe staple, but the one we had felt a bit boxy. We made a quick fix by cropping the sleeves (which is very on-trend at the moment), and adding belt loops. A belt was the perfect way to cinch in the waist and create an hourglass shape. Another instant update that can change the structure of your jacket is to add a panel to the backseam. Choosing a creative print will add contrast, extra material will add a swing effect, and let's face it — sometimes we may just need a little extra wiggle room!

Bottom tips
Women who work in the corporate world can attest to the fact that the pants from a simple two-piece suit aren’t always the most flattering. Often, they’re meant to be worn with a jacket covering the top, so the waistline hasn’t been carefully constructed. But easy alterations can allow you to wear these pants both with a blazer and on their own. We took a pair of flat-front pants, slightly lowered the waistline, and added topstitching (both simple adjustments) to create a clean-cut, flattering style. If you want to try this tailoring tweak, keep in mind that the horizontal top-stitched line approximately 3 inches below the waistline is key. It will create the slimming illusion of a wide waistband and visually drop the waist. 

Or, if you’re disillusioned with your denim, consider taking in side seams or nipping in around the knees to slightly update the cut. And my personal favorite: You can turn a straightforward skirt into a stylish garment.  By raising it to your rib cage, cinching in the waist, and adding pleats, you can play with the shape to create an architectural effect.

Dress tips
Everyone has a go-to garment, the one item you find yourself buying over and over again despite the stack already in your closet. If you’re a little-black-dress-aholic, you may want to consider revising one! Think outside the box, and add pockets (or the illusion of pockets with carefully placed, angled fabric), or change the neckline. We took a shift dress and added an empire waist by weaving a ribbon belt through four vertical slits. This small adjustment created a whole new silhouette and added interest to our garment. 

But whether you opt to remove, add, crop or tweak, by taking one item and revising it to work for you now, you’re bringing new life to an old buy. And that’s a bargain you can’t beat!

More from TODAY Achoo! Girl, 12, sneezes 10 times a minute | Video ‘Loser’: Player sets record, but gets sent home Andre Agassi: I have the body of an old man To win back her kids, she lost 340 pounds Images: Celebrating the bold, bright colors of autumn

MORE FROM STYLE BUZZ

Don’t just recycle  – 'upcycle' your wardrobe!

Don’t just recycle  – 'upcycle' your wardrobe! Stumped? Try an easy DIY Halloween costume Over 30? Dare to wear bold styles at any age Did French Vogue cross line with blackface photos? Tress a mess? Lather away bad hair day blues Dos & don’ts of dressing for your body type The strange, the stylish and the just plain silly Should there be a law to label retouched photos? New day dawns for full-size fashions Beat the handbag hang-ups with fall’s finest   Add Style Buzz headlines to your news reader: