Finding alternative uses and repurposing things to suit me in unexpected ways gives me a real high. Just because something was designed with certain intentions doesn’t mean that it has to stay that way. Below are three examples of adaptation that have worked out extremely well for me.
Stretched shoes
I found this pair of gorgeous loafers in a Melbourne Op shop and although they fit, they were very tight when I walked (funny how that happens sometimes!). Rather than putting up with the pain in hopes of them stretching eventually, I took the shoes to my go to place – Mister Minit in the Canberra Centre, and had them stretched. For about $15 you can have shoes stretched length ways, width ways or in certain targeted areas. It’s an easy way to make the most of a less than perfect purchase and your feet will thank you for it!
Necklace adaptation
People comment on this necklace whenever I wear it and it’s a hybrid of real and costume jewellery so it makes for interesting conversation. The decorative part is from a necklace I bought years ago at Equip. It came on a cheap looking turquoise string that quickly broke on me but I really liked the decorative part so I held on to it hoping to make use of it one day. Fortunately my mother gave me a gold necklace that she no longer wanted and voila! it suited the design perfectly. Slipping the decorative part on to the gold chain lifted the original necklace above costume jewellery status and has made this hybrid creation one of my favourite pieces ever since.
Gel Cushion protection
These beige heels from Wittner have served me so very well. However, the toe strap area gave me intense blisters to begin with. Band aids looked too obvious and ruined the look COMPLETELY, so instead I took two Scholl Party Feet Gel Cushions, traced them to perfectly fit the strap and cut them up. By sticking these on the underside of the toe straps my experiences in these shoes have changed for the better – no more blisters!
All too often it’s easy to fall into a rut and just see things at face value. And it can be scary to think about taking things into your own hands. I admit that there have been times when I’ve hesitated before adapting something. I worry I’ll ruin it or make the issue more unbearable. But a big breath and a shrug of the shoulders gets me through. Because really, if something is not doing much for me in its current state why not try something that might make it amazing? Most of the time it works out and if not, then it was an interesting learning experience and some future attempt will most probably benefit from it in some way. Nothing is ever for nothing I find.
