Next time you’re out shopping at the Goodwill Store & Donation Center, keep your eye out for shiny tops that are easy to add into any wardrobe.  They can be paired with jeans, skirts and layering pieces with dresses. And, they always attract attention in a good way! 

Keep in mind that beaded and sequined items usually are not machine washable, due to the delicate nature of the stitching, as well as, the beads and sequins.  Always remember that there is a fine line between “classy” and “costume”.  Bright colors and wild patterns on a top can make it look tacky, so be careful.  However, you just can’t go wrong with black, gold or silver because they’re classic tones, even when they’re sequined and beaded!

While doing some research, I found some inspirational pictures that I thought would be simple enough to mimic in our own “Do It Yourself “ way!  Most of the images that I found were of structured button down blouses, because they easily lend themselves to embellishment with their straight lines and sturdier fabric.  One blouse featured embellishments on the front pocket flap, and on another blouse they embellished the collar and the front.  You can see that you don’t need a ton of sparkle to create impact.

I found a good-looking ivory and gold threaded blouse at the Goodwill near me for $3.99! It had diamond-like buttons, and what I liked about it was that it already had golden “lines” woven into the fabric. They would be easy to follow when I decided to put on the embellishment. 

Now that I had the blouse, I needed the bling!  I went to a big-box store nearby, and searched the fabric department.  There, I found some awesome gold sequined braid that I thought would look great with my ivory and gold blouse, and it was only $2.77 a package.  I bought two, not knowing how much I would need.  I also purchased some fabric adhesive there for $1.97.  Now, I was ready to start my shimmering project.

I tried different layouts of the sequins on the blouse.  The collar would be ok, so would the cuffs, but in the end I decided to emulate one of the high-end blouses I saw by gluing my sequins down the front placket on either side of the buttonholes. First, I added a thick line of glue on either side of the placket from collar to hem.  Next, I cut the sequin trim to fit.  I really lucked out and only needed one package to do my project!  Then I pressed the trim firmly and evenly into the glue.  I placed a plastic bag on top and then added some heavy books to help hold my sequins evenly in place and flat as they dried.

I let it dry for eight hours and my “blinged up” blouse was complete.  I decided to make a cocktail party look by pairing it up with a simple slip dress I found. I thought the dress looked a little too skimpy by itself, but with the blouse layered over it, the look became ultra sophisticated.  Because the material of the blouse I used was on the sheer side, I also thought you could wear it over a camisole and jeans, or whatever makes you feel like the life of the party.

So now do you see how easy it can be to glitter and shine with just a few dollars and some well placed sequins?  Have fun creating your own custom look by shopping Goodwill, the place where everyone’s holiday dreams can come true for less!