Upcycling: How To Turn A Pair Of Jeans Into A Statement Piece

With fall peeking just around the corner, a new season brings new trends to follow and clothes to style— but that doesn’t mean having to break the bank for a couple of stylish pieces that will turn your “hot girl summer” wardrobe into a dreamy sea of denim, chunky sweaters, and cranberry-colored everything. 

Luckily, the thrift stores around Athens have an endless amount of jeans and sweaters just waiting to become a part of your closet. Instead of contributing to the harmful fast fashion industry and buying trendy, one-season pieces, try purchasing a few basic pieces and upcycling them into one-of-a-kind articles of clothing. 

Upcycling, as the name suggests, requires the DIY-er to take an item— in this case, a pair of jeans— and creatively revamp the piece in order to make it better. Upcycling means that you are not only creating a one-of-a-kind piece but also helping the environment and reducing your carbon footprint by shopping secondhand. 

Keep reading to see how I turned an old pair of plain blue jeans from the thrift store into a piece I get compliments on every time I go out. 

Step 1: Find a pair of blue jeans at the thrift store.

Be patient, I know jean shopping isn’t always easy. One key tip to remember if the thrift store doesn’t have dressing rooms: Wrap the waistband of the jeans around your neck (like you’re putting on a necklace but clasping it in the front). If the ends meet together comfortably, the jeans will fit you perfectly. Also, if it feels like every pair of old blues you’re looking at are bootcut, why not cut off the bootcut part and turn it into a cute pair of cropped jeans? So trendy, yet so simple!

For more thrifting tips, check out this article for beginner thrifters!

Step 2: Choose a design and gather the materials.

For my jeans, I painted a couple of faces I found on a Pinterest post. I used white acrylic paint, a thin paintbrush, and a black Sharpie to create my design. 

Pro-tip: Use an eyebrow pencil or a thin piece of chalk to stencil out the design before making the design permanent. 

Step 3: Let your design dry.

I did thin layers of paint, so my design was ready to wear within the hour! Make sure to turn your jeans inside out before washing them to preserve the hand-painted design.

Rock your newly upcycled denim with confidence! 

A limited budget doesn’t mean your style has to be limited. Unique pieces can be a staple in your wardrobe with a little creativity and hands-on work. 

Try this upcycling project out on your own, share your new pieces with us on Instagram (@rouge.mag), and be on the lookout for another upcycling project to follow along with on the blog next month!