Sep. 28--These days, buying a new outfit is out of the question for most people. But that doesn't mean you can't have new clothes. With a little bit of do-it-yourself creativity, you can breath new life into your wardrobe without paying the price.

Reconstructing (or repurposing or recreating) clothing is a huge trend now. There are basically two kinds of reconstruction -- partial and complete. A partial clothing reconstruction would be making a large T-shirt into a fitted one. A complete reconstruction would be turning a pair of jeans into a jean skirt. With both of kinds of reconstruction, you have the same clothing, but a new style and no cost.

Any piece of clothing can become something new -- you just have to think outside of the box to get it that way.

A great place to start are those clothes that haven't been worn in a while. Pull them out of the closet and take a good look at them, being sure to note the print of the fabric, the style of the clothing, and how much fabric you have to work with. Now check out the latest fashion trends. Think about your old clothes in terms of what they could become. A pair of dress pants that are too small can be recreated into a vest. Sweaters make great cardigans (just cut and add some buttons) and knit beanies.

Don't have any clothes to reconstruct? Check out some thrift stores. A $3 shirt from Salvation Army can become a camisole that would cost $20 in a retail store.

T-shirts are a classic piece of clothing that can be recreated into hundreds of different styles. T-shirt reconstruction is great for those who can't sew, because jersey (the material T-shirts are made from) doesn't unravel. That means you don't have to hem the edges unless you want a more finished look. Need some inspiration? Check out the book "99 Ways to Cut, Sew, Trim & Tie Your T-Shirt Into Something Special," by the founders of Compai, a "crafty, green design studio" based in Brooklyn, N.Y.

If your reconstruction needs go further than T-shirts, check out www.craftster.org, a crafting forum with an entire board dedicated to reconstructed clothing. From reconstructed shirts and sweaters to shoes and dresses made from coffee filters (I'm not kidding), there is no shortage of ideas from fellow craftsters.

About Deirdre M. Long Deirdre M. Long is entertainment editor for the Star.

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