Colorful patches have been trendy on and off for years, but until recently, I never saw much point. Yet, in the last few years I have started collecting patches, not really knowing why. But when my best friend gave me an enormous patch for my birthday, it dawned on me.
Yes, patches can extend the life of a garment by reinforcing a seam or covering up a tear. Patches can also extend the life of a garment by reinventing it. So, I started putting patches on old clothes and “voila,” it was like getting something new.
Fixing a Hole, Where the Cold Gets In
Kids’ clothes are among the most disposable; often they only last a season before they are outgrown or worse, thrown away … and then what?
“What a waste.”
We can teach our kids to not over-consume from an early age. I was looking for ways to do that, and in the process simplify my role as a personal shopper for my own kids. I adopted a strict policy when I bought clothes for them. And now I am reminded how important that I adopt these strategies for myself, too!
My Kid Clothes Buying Policy
- Never accumulate more clothes in the closet than a child can wear in two weeks.
I know so many mothers who have enough children’s clothes to outfit a small village. But really, our kids don’t need all that.
- Organize clothes by outfit so everything gets worn, and hopefully even worn out.
It makes mornings easier, too. Just ask Ottilia!
- Stick to one pair of shoes that can be worn with everything.
To this day, my son wears his shoes out before he outgrows them!
- Pass everything on that is still in good shape.
Unpacking a bag full of used clothes can be as exciting as buying something new. Truly.
- Buy only one outfit a year for holidays and special occasions.
My kids ended up included theirs in the two-week rotation anyway.
For me, that one special outfit was always Stella McCartney Kids. I learned early on that it is worth paying the price for ethical clothes that can withstand child’s play. One of my first purchases was a pair of black Stella McCartney Kids jeans for my son, Teodor.
I bought them a couple of sizes too big, so even with the stylish-looking holes, they lasted him three years. When they made a renaissance for my daughter, Ottilia, out came the patches as a way to revive them.
“I am seeing another three years of life in this pair’s future!”
Unlike Teodor, who was oblivious, Ottilia does not appreciate holes in her jeans, no matter how trendy. To quote her, “That is way too cold for Denmark!” So together, we looked through my drawer of patches, and she picked out eight of her favorites. Then I got to work covering up the holes.
The Jeans That Could Last Forever
Covering a hole or worn spot gives a patch a function, but using a patch to decorate can give new life to a garment.
I am tired of buying new jeans every season. I actually stopped doing it years ago, deciding that instead I would find new ways to wear what I had, or take a season off from jeans altogether! Novel thought, I know.
Given that decision, what I keep must carry some meaning to me. I love birds! Toucans, owls, swallows – you will find them all in my wardrobe. They represent freedom, exploration, family and solitude, all things I appreciate.
A good friend of mine surprised me with a pair of bird patches that I had long been eying! They are admittedly inspired by the Stella McCartney’s birds, including a dress I bought for my daughter.
As I will never be able to squeeze myself comfortably into a pair of Stella jeans, here was my chance to make an “inspired by” pair for me. And so I did, with my own (if slightly uneven) twist.
Stella McCartney | Kids & Mens SS2017 Collection
Embracing Collegiate Apparel … My Way!
Often, the trend is to pile on numerous patches. Like my daughters’ jeans, which was part of an overall design esthetic, or my own, which were intended to be slimming to my thighs. I wanted to use patches to reinvent something I hadn’t worn in years. And this is what happened …
Adding decorations to an already well-designed piece of clothing has to carry meaning. If it doesn’t have a purpose, your love of that item will not pass the test of time. And that is the point here – even if a patch can reinvent an old piece of clothing, it has to add personal value for the wearer.
As part of the process of contemplating different uses for a patch, I started thinking about things in my life that left an impact and carried happy memories. Around the same time, I decided to apply to go back to school. This had me feeling both nostalgic and collegiate, and immediately, another idea hit me.
Drake University was the place that shaped the first 20 years of my career. Even if I am now planning to study something totally different, I didn’t want to forget how impactful that education and time of my life was. So, I started searching the internet for some kind of Drake patch.
I couldn’t believe my luck when a search led me to, of all things, a Drake University Campus Security patch that fit the color scheme of my old navy blazer perfectly.
In fact, after adding the patch, I have worn this “new” jacket more in the past two months than in the past two years. And I feel ready, and hopeful, for my next collegiate experience, if I am lucky enough to get accepted into the program.
Do You Wear the Patch, or Does the Patch Wear You?
My best friend gave me this gigantic floral heart patch. I loved everything about it. The colors, the flowers, and especially the person who had given it to me. But finding the right use for it proved challenging. It was large, and given how much I loved it, it wasn’t just something meant to be ornamental; it was going to be the focal point.
I actually spent two years on a number of ideas – incorporate it on a new dress or skirt, on the back of a jacket or a top, maybe a pillow? It eventually came to me: I wanted to reinvent something, and not make something new. What about an accessory?
Teodor’s hand-me-downs came to the rescue again! His backpack was getting too small and mine was feeling too bulky, so we swapped! And to dress up his old Herschel, this patch would be perfect.
The heart patch became the focal point – it added a unique twist to a classic design, and it made the bag mine!
Happy patching!
While there are many ways to reinvent our wardrobe, patches are an obvious and easy way to do it. These are just a few ideas; I would love to hear from you.
Share your ideas with me below!
what do you think?