Three months ago, before quarantine started, my family and I gathered at my mom’s to celebrate Asian New Year. While there, I rummaged through some old boxes of clothes in her basement and found this dress that belonged to one of her relatives. I could tell with one glance that it wouldn’t fit as is, but I saw potential in it. It had polka dots, a cinched waist, and a retro feel. I brought it to the tailor, and thought it would be fun to show you the before and afters of my secondhand polka dot dress!
What I Had Tailored
THE SHOULDER PADS. Need I say more? The shoulder pads were first on my list to go. Funny enough, my tailor forgot to remove the shoulder pads. When I came to pick up the dress and pointed them out to him, he asked, “Oh, you don’t want the shoulder pads?” Not even a little!
In addition to having the shoulder pads removed, I also had the waist taken in, and the length shortened. To be honest, I don’t remember him pinning the shoulder to shorten the torso, but looking at these pictures, the torso seems to fit better in the after photo. Am I crazy?
What to Look For in Secondhand Clothes
Sorting through secondhand clothes is like sorting through the sales rack at Forever 21. If you’re not familiar with Forever 21, their sales racks are absolute chaos. There’s no rhyme or reason, not organized by style, color, or size.
My first tip for choosing what to keep from a pile of secondhand clothes is to choose pieces that fit with your current style and taste. As a petite, it’s easy to pounce on the first thing that fits. But ask yourself: realistically, will you wear this and love it?
My second tip is not choosing pieces that will requires drastic tailoring. Basic alterations such as shortening a hem or removing shoulder pads is reasonable. However, major alterations to completely change the style of a piece is difficult and risky. Secondhand clothing is usually discounted, or in my case free, and pouring money into risky alterations isn’t worth it.
I hope you enjoyed seeing the before and afters of my secondhand polka dot dress! Have you purchased secondhand clothes? What has your experience been?
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Thanks for reading!