Retail therapy can be fun and yes, it feels good to treat yourself to something new every once in a while. This is why so many of us have gotten into the habit of shopping online.

A study reveals that 76 percent of Americans say that they get more excited over online purchases that they waited for than in-store ones.

But too much of a good thing can be harmful. People usually end up buying things that they don’t need, and most of them end up in landfills.

This is why those who’ve found ways to stay stylish while buying less often recommend shopping your closet. It’s all about looking through everything that you own, and using creative ways to make old clothes look like new again.

Men’s shirts are particularly useful if you want to create modest outfits– here are several ways to refashion them to add more pieces to your wardrobe and save money at the same time. 

Oversized Tee to a T-shirt Dress

Turning old clothes into new styles of clothing does require knowing some basic sewing techniques, but with some time and practice, you can achieve professional results.

You may even think about starting a business and get some blank apparel and clothing in bulk to turn into cute and fun modest clothing.

Starting with a basic oversized tee can make refashioning less intimidating, so begin your foray into repurposing by turning an oversized tee into a t-shirt dress.

Find an oversized men’s shirt (sized XL or larger) so the hem falls just below your knees. Pick one in a neutral color to increase its styling potential.

Next, try it on and mark it just above your waistline. Lay it flat then cut the shirt along the mark. After cutting you should have two halves, the upper part with the sleeves and the bottom half.

Sew both of them together to create a slight ruching effect, then sew the sleeves so they’re fitted closer to your arms. Wear this dress as it is, or with tights, a scarf, and boots for winter.  

Polo Shirt to a Tee with Raglan Sleeves

A shirt with a raglan sleeve or half sleeve is a t-shirt style with sleeves that end just above the elbow. They make very cute and versatile additions to a modest wardrobe, and you can pair them with jeans or skirts.

Shop your husband’s or a male relative’s closet for an old polo shirt that they don’t like anymore– get something that’s on the large side so you’ve got lots of fabric to work with. 

First, cut off the collar and try the shirt on backwards. Mark a new neck hole with pins, then cut it out. Next, get the collar and cut a long strip from it, then sew it to the newly created neckline to tighten it up.

Try the shirt on again and see how much you want to take in the shirt along the sleeves and the sides. Lay it flat and mark with chalk, then sew from the hem of the sleeves to the hem of the shirt.

Trim the extra material and use a zigzag stitch to neaten the edges.

Button Up Shirt to a Skirt

An oversized button up shirt can be turned into a pretty knee-length skirt. First, button the shirt, lay it flat, and cut along the armhole seam line.

Measure your desired skirt length, then draw a horizontal line right where you want the waist band to be. Take note of the length difference at the bottom since the front and the back of most button ups don’t have the same length.

Flip the shirt over and measure again to your desired skirt length, then draw a horizontal line just like you did on the front. Unbutton the shirt completely and cut through all the lines.

Next, rip the side seams and the pocket. You now have three parts, and all you have to do is sew them together. Finally, cut the sleeves to make a waist band, and attach this to the finished skirt. 

Repurposing is a great way to give life to old clothes. Try these refashion hacks to create modest outfits without spending a single dollar.