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Cheap & Chic DIY: 2 Ways to Reinvent a Thrift Store Blazer

Last Updated on February 28, 2019 by Lindsey - Michigan State
This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you purchase through our links. Please read our full disclosure here.
How to reinvent the thrift store blazer

How many times have you found the perfect blazer at a thrift store, only to find that it just doesn’t fit right? While the oversized boyfriend jacket is in right now, the fits of jackets have changed since the 60’s to 80’s – making it tough to rock thrift store blazers without doing some modifications.

Don’t worry, though – it’s easier than you think to make that too-wide vintage blazer fit like it was made for you! Here are a few simple solutions to give your blazer a tailored look without breaking out the sewing machine (or breaking the bank).

Option 1: Pin the Back

What you’ll need:

  • Your blazer
  • A pretty pin or brooch you want to show off
DIY blazer tutorial - pin the back of your blazer

This is a super easy way to take in your blazer. And it’s only one step! Just grab your favorite pin (sparkly statement pieces work best), gather the center back of the jacket onto the pin (see the finished product below), then clip. That’s all there is to it!

Option 2: Use Ribbon

What you’ll need:

  • Your blazer
  • Two 24″ pieces (or longer, if you want a larger bow) of wide ribbon
  • A needle and thread
  • Optional: Fray Check or clear nail polish
DIY blazer tutorial - use ribbon

If you want a pretty, feminine look, this is a great option that will create a bow at the back of your jacket. To do this, take two pieces of ribbon (use Fray Check or clear nail polish to stop the edges from fraying) and sew them down a few inches from the center back of the jacket as shown above. Use thread that matches the color of your jacket for best results. Then tie into a pretty bow.

Finished Products:

Finished DIY blazers

As you can see, both of these options take the extra fabric and bunch it up for a cute, perfectly fitted look. Leave the jacket open to expose more of your top, and revel in the compliments you’ll receive on your fabulous new piece.

What do you think?

Is this a cheap and chic solution you’ll be trying out? How do you make vintage blazers work for you? Do you have any other tutorials you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments!

Tags : Blazers, DIY, How To, Tutorials

20 Comments
Originally published on January 30, 2010
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. null says

    May 29, 2019 at 5:26 pm

    I thought this was a blazer pattern šŸ™

    Reply
  2. Sara says

    April 15, 2019 at 10:33 am

    Thanks so much! This is such a awesome idea, because i can never seem to find a good fitting blazer at a reasonable price. Will definitely try this.

    Reply
  3. Candice says

    April 15, 2019 at 10:40 am

    OMG what a great and useful post. Thanks!!

    Reply
  4. Ama says

    April 15, 2019 at 11:06 am

    thx!! this was a very good inspiration to me! instead of using a brooch or a pin, i sewed a button with light pink thread onto a pin then i pinned it on. it looks so much better i am thrilled that i did šŸ™‚

    Reply
  5. Liza - University of Minnesota says

    May 27, 2019 at 10:11 am

    Loved this, Lindsey! Both of the new embellishments on the blazer are adorable–they look way high-end, like you bought them that way!

    Reply
  6. M. says

    May 27, 2019 at 10:11 am

    too cute!

    this was a great idea and so easy to do.
    thank you for posting šŸ™‚

    Reply
  7. Sarah says

    May 27, 2019 at 10:11 am

    yay! super useful and cute idea! how did we live without you? šŸ™‚ thanks

    Reply
  8. Emily says

    May 27, 2019 at 10:11 am

    wow what an amazing idea!
    i’ve always avoided buying thrifted blazers because they could never fit, but this is the best way to remedy that!
    time to go pay a visit to goodwill!

    Reply
  9. Joelle says

    May 27, 2019 at 10:11 am

    This is great! I just bought a vintage tuxedo jacket last night that was perfect but just a bit too big. I was going to bring it to my tailor but I think I’ll try this first šŸ™‚ Thanks for the idea!

    Reply
  10. Nate says

    May 27, 2019 at 10:11 am

    Great idea, Lindsey!

    Reply
  11. JG says

    May 27, 2019 at 10:11 am

    Such a great idea. So simple yet so inventive. I tried on an amazing Armani blazer at my favorite vintage store but it was too big so I didn’t get it. Hopefully it’s still there!

    Reply
  12. Lex says

    May 27, 2019 at 10:11 am

    Love it!
    I never thought to do this, I may hit up my thrift store now

    I love blazers

    Reply
  13. Better Off Med says

    May 27, 2019 at 10:11 am

    I love this idea!

    Reply
  14. anthea says

    May 27, 2019 at 10:11 am

    What a fantastic idea! Definitely going to try this one!

    Reply
  15. Fen says

    May 27, 2019 at 10:11 am

    Awesome idea! I really appreciated this post (especially since I have a newly thrifted blazer that’s sitting in my closet right now). Hope to see more like this of college fashion in the future!

    Reply
  16. Different says

    May 27, 2019 at 10:11 am

    Thank you.
    Thrift Store blazers can be really ugly.
    Thanks for the tip

    Reply
  17. kaley says

    May 27, 2019 at 10:11 am

    these ideas are adorable! they can really work for any shirt that doesnt fit quite right. i have a few button ups that need sinching at the waist and these ideas will fix them perfectly!

    Reply
  18. Diane says

    May 27, 2019 at 10:11 am

    Love it! Although the thrift stores here are horrible (small town), I might have to go take a look and try this out!

    Reply
  19. Evan Gonzalez says

    May 27, 2019 at 10:11 am

    Lindsey this is such a creative idea! I’ve been changing the buttons on my blazers for a while now but this opens up a number of new possibilities =) Good job!

    Reply
  20. Molly says

    May 28, 2019 at 1:28 pm

    I think that this is a great idea for jackets that are the right size but aren’t fitted enough; however this won’t help if the shoulders are too wide. I recently bought a great blazer several sizes too large, but I in order to make it fit I had to go through the lining to take shoulder pads out. Even though it fits fine after my alterations, I think I may add a bow on the back anyways because it looks cute!

    Reply

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