TIL a $7 thrift store blazer can look like a $200 one with one simple trick

I found this beat up old Pendleton at a Goodwill in Portland for $7 and figured why not. The problem was the shoulders looked all lumpy and the collar wouldn't lay flat. I tried steaming it twice and even took it to a dry cleaner but nothing worked. Then I remembered an old tailor told me about using a damp cloth and a hot iron on the inside of the collar and shoulder seams. I tried it last Sunday and I couldn't believe how the fabric just relaxed into place and the whole jacket suddenly fit me right. Has anyone else fixed a vintage jacket with just water and heat?

2 comments

2 Comments

anna_carter533d ago

Is it REALLY that serious though? I mean yeah, a damp cloth and an iron can help flatten a collar, but are we acting like this is some kind of MAGIC trick for a $200 look? I've tried that method on a few thrift finds and half the time the fabric just ends up looking weirdly pressed and shiny, especially if you're not CAREFUL with the heat setting. A good tailor can fix shoulder lumps way better than a home iron job, even if it costs you a few more bucks than the blazer itself.

veramartin2d ago

My gran used to iron my granddad's collars with a flat iron she'd heat on the stove, the old fashioned kind. She'd spit on it to test the heat, and honestly, half his shirts ended up with a scorch mark or a weird sheen that never came out. Seems like some things just don't change, just the tools get fancier.