September 5, 2011 by
Kathryn on
September 5, 2011
Every “fashion expert” tells you that you should alter items to improve their fit (as well as salvage old clothes). However, how do you know when it’s more cost effective to donate an item versus send an item to tailor? to help my fellow fashionistas out, I developed the Tailor Ratio ©, which is a simple way to know whether or not you should tailor it or trash it.
The Tailor Ratio©
The ratio is simple: Divide the cost of the repair or alteration by the number of times you wear the items in a given time period (usually a month or year is a good measurement).
More: Not Sure If Tailoring an Item is Worth the Cost? Use the Tailor Ratio →
June 14, 2011 by
TBF on
June 14, 2011
May 25, 2011 by
AshleyD on
May 25, 2011
One of the downsides of being a fashionista: your clothes are bigger divas than you are. Take suede, for instance. The high-maintenance fabric looks chic, and definitely looks expensive… until they get dirty.
But take comfort, dirty does not mean ruined. You can make that suede jacket look practically like new as long as you know what do to, which we’re here to help you out with.
1. Read the Directions
Not all suedes are created equal. Some versions of the fabric are easier to clean than others, so check the label to see what you’re working with.
More: How to Clean Suede →
May 17, 2011 by
Kathryn on
May 17, 2011
April 4, 2011 by
Kathryn on
April 4, 2011
Dear Budget Fashionista:
Is there anyway to unshrink a pair of jeans?
A: It can be difficult, but no impossible, to “stretch” a pair of jeans. Most jeans are made with 1%-3% of stretchy spandex/lycra fabric to help the jeans retain their shape and cotton, both fabrics’ fibers can be broken (aka stretched) when wet. Below is a way to do this (try at your own risk).
How to Stretch a Pair of Jeans
Soak the jeans in lukewarm water for a few hours or, if you are brave, you can wear the wet jeans around for an hour or so (best way to try and stretch jeans that are too small width wise). After soaking, do not wring, but hang the dripping wet jeans up on a clothes line or over a drying rack. There’s a possibility that gravity (along with the additional weight added to the jeans by water), might stretch the jeans.
More: How to Unshrink/Stretch A Pair of Jeans →
Founded in 2003, TBF is a fashion blog dedicated to helping you live your best for less. We give you the 411 on the latest fashion trends & tips and sample sales. 
