A few days ago, I took stock of my entire wardrobe, culling items for donation and color-coding the rest. During my closet clean-out, I realized I had managed to acquire at least a dozen button-ups in varying shades of plaid, polka dot and chambray. The vast collection irked my frugal side: aside from my solid white and black versions, the other colors and patterns never saw the light of day.
I hate to waste closet space — and worse, I hate to waste money. So, I turned to the Internet for some inspiration. Turns out, there’s an incredibly easy way to turn a basic button-up into a funky, Vivienne Westwood-esque bustier-style top — without the suffocating boning and scary price tags.
The idea for this transmutation comes courtesy of Virginia, a fashion blogger in Jacksonville, Fla. (Here’s her version, which was transformed into a strapless dress.) This style couldn’t be easier: you button the shirt as high as it will go, knot the loose sleeves across your ribcage and fly out the door.
The only drawback to the style? Its strapless silhouette, making it a no-go for the office. But for these last summer weekends, this is the perfect way to get some mileage from my button-up collection.