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How Random Clothes Become A Party Outfit

Mar 212 min read

A few days ago, I styled my friend Imran to go to one of my favourite parties in Berlin: House of Lunacy. He came by to get ready together, and I styled him with accessories I had lying around without much plan, and I must say even I was surprised how well it turned out!


Two photos of a man modeling a full upcycled festival outfit made from fishnet tights, chains, a green skirt, and a blue durag. His accessories include rivets, O-rings, and layered necklaces.

Then I was telling him about where each of those accessories came from, and it’s really fascinating so I thought I’d share it here with the original photos.


WHAT WERE THEM BEFORE?


  1. THE HEADPIECE

It's made from a strap of double sided fabric somebody donated. It already had seams and this particulat cut and length. My intern at the time Leo turned it into a headpiece, when we were making samples for the Headpieces Workshop I ran at Potsdamer Platz.


Alt Text: Side-by-side images of a blue mesh fabric being handworked on a table, and the finished result worn as a DIY headscarf with chains by a person posing against a graffiti wall.

  1. THE CHOKER & BODY BELT

They are garters clasped together from one of my Kinky Runway looks for Berlin Fashion Week 2024.

Originally, I made this yellow outfit for University in 2018 back in Uruguay. I dyed and re-designed it for last year's show - and to wear it myself.



  1. THE SLEEVES

Regular fishnets worn on the arms, with just a little cut on the toe section to fit the fingers.

Close-up of white fishnet tights on legs next to a photo of a man wearing them as transformed sleeves with arm details, chains, and green shorts — part of a DIY upcycled party look.


  1. THE ARM BAND

Originally it was the strap of a Mercedes benz merch bag I got for €2 at the Maybachufer flohmarkt. I got it cause I was looking for cool materials to upcycle into party costumes, as samples for the Revibe Workshop I hosted in Collab with Projekt Glitter. I made a choker and belt from the strap, and a harness and bikini from the silver pleather.

Upcycled accessories: a silver metallic bag with neon green strap, the strap was transformed into a choker and belt, and the fabric of the bag silver leather transformed into a silver harness and bikini top worn with layered chains.

  1. THE BELT

I got it at Maybachufer Flohmarkt for €3, just for myself cause i needed belts, and added more metal eyelets and rivets + clasps to carry a small bag for parties, so i can dance freely without a handbag.

Clear plastic belt with metal eyelets next to a photo of a woman wearing it transformed with added metal rings and styling over black pants and blue blazer.
📷 Romina

  1. THE SKIRT

It used to be an XXXL cargo pant I found on the street, in perfect state, converted into an asymetric skirt with a matching top.

Side-by-side before and after of a lime green vinyl pair of cargo pants turned into a matching asymmetric skirt and sleeveless top. The after photo shows the model reading a book in the finished outfit.

PARTY OUTFIT WORKSHOPS 🔜


With spring and festival season around the corner, I’m working on collaborations with different parties so I can share this way of thinking and designing with all diy party outfit and costume lovers.

We’ll use materials you already own, both normal clothes or old costumes, or things you find, and turn them into something no one else has that truly represents YOU.


Now is the time to start collecting, the main mindset shift is looking at everything as potential material: shiny fabrics, random straps, trims, accessories, jewellery, broken chains, fishnets, scraps — you never know what could be turned into your new favourite costume.


Upcycling isn’t only about reducing waste. It’s about creating something unique that comes from limitations, reinventing what we have around, while having fun in the making.


Upcycling accessories and jewellery workshop, woman shot from the back working on making jewellery with pliers on white background
📷 Max

Hope you enjoyed this story :)


With love,

Josefina

 
 

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