Everyone knows how much fun buying new clothes for summer can be, but it’s not always the best option financially. Luckily for us DIY enthusiasts, there are plenty of ways to transform your older clothes into new pieces without buying something brand new! One of our very favorite summertime clothing alterations is to use lace. It doesn’t matter how you use it; it’ll look gorgeous and whimsical any which way!
Check out these 15 adorable lace techniques for turning old garments that you’re tired of into new ones that you can’t wait to show off!
1. Tangerine Flicker DIY Anthropologie dress
Everyone loves a good brand name recreation! Why pay big bucks for the label when you can just make something very similar using your own skills? Our Life is Beautiful teaches you how to recreate the pretty Tangerine Flicker dress by Anthropologie without spending quite so much.
2. DIY lace infinity scarf
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Whether you’re a beginner at clothing alterations who wants to start by using a pre-made infinity scarf, or a more experienced crafter who wants to sew one from scratch, adding lace to your design will transform it into something very impressive. Urban Threads walks you through the entire process.
3. Lace denim jacket
Plain denim jackets are a classic look, but to DIY enthusiasts they’re also the perfect blank canvas for something a little more eye catching. Check out how Fashion Salade used a simple rectangular strip of lace to give the back of this jacket a little extra something.
4. Lace boho boots
Rather than getting rid of last season’s summer stylish summer boots, why not give them a lace makeover instead? We bet your friends won’t even noticed that you’re repeating fashions! She Knows teaches you how it’s done.
5. Lace denim shorts
Are your favourite denim shorts starting to fray in a way that doesn’t look quite stylish, but you’re just not ready to part with them? Adding lace along the edges and up the sides will give them a whole new lease on life! Check out how Minkette made this pretty design!
6. Black lace accessories
Okay, so technically this doesn’t really count as a clothing alteration, but we thought you’d be interested in Plan B‘s DIY lace accessories tutorial anyways!
7. Faux lace aviator sunglasses
Are you feeling artistic? Are you very patient and detailed oriented? Then you probably have what it takes to hand paint a delicate little lace pattern along the edge of your sunglasses so that they match your other lace clothing alterations! Check out how Wild Amor made these ones using a toothpick and white nail polish.
8. Lace-edged scarf
If the lace infinity scarf we talked about previously isn’t quite your style, check out this tutorial from A Beautiful Mess instead! You’ll learn the easiest way to transform a regular straight scarf into a delicately decorated piece.
9. Purple lace clutch
Working with coloured lace is a lot of fun too, and the results are absolutely gorgeous! Pick a fun summer colour like this bright purple and check out Runway DIY‘s tutorial for making your own lace clutch.
10. Anthropologie-inspired gilded lace bow necklace
Sometimes the cutest lace projects are the ones that involve the tiniest amount of lace! Small Good Things shows you how to create a little gilded bow from a strip of lace, a necklace chain, and some paint. No need to spend extra money on that brand name necklace you saw in the store yesterday!
11. Lace-backed hoodie
Do you have a comfy old hoodie that started to wear small holes through the back? Brit + Co. has the solution for you! Cut a circle (or any shape, really) out of the material in the back and fill the hole in with a delicate lace patch. Besides looking adorable, this lets the colour of your shirt underneath peek through and also keeps you cool in warm weather!
12. Layered lace shorts
This lace shorts design by Sincerely, Kinsey looks so much harder than it really is! You’re more than capable of altering your plain shorts to look like these cute tiered lace ones. We believe in you!
13. Plain bustier to high lace collar
Sometimes a simple alteration is a serious upgrade! Interesting for Me suggests using black lace to transform a plain old bustier into a high-collared formal piece with a ribbon accent, and we completely love the idea!
14. Lace cap sleeves
Do you have an over-abundance of old tank tops that could use a little more style and flair? Follow Dododo‘s instructions to learn how to add a cute little cap sleeve at the shoulder!
15. Lace accented short pockets
Whether you’ve accidentally torn a hole in your pocket or simply decided that your shorts need an upgrade, this lace alteration by Trendhunter is the perfect balance between simple and noticeably cuter than before!
Have you made other kinds of lace clothing alterations that you don’t see here? Tell us about how you did them in the comments section!
