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B.Artise raises high fashion from the ashes of old clothing.

Earth Month celebrates the movement toward eco-consciousness and a green revolution. Trends in fashion are following suit. Even if you love the idea of vintage duds you may, like designer B. Artise, be frustrated with what is available.

In her book, “Born Again Vintage: 25 Ways to Deconstruct, Reinvent and Re-cycle Your Wardrobe,” (Crown Publishing, 2008), Artise reminds us that we all have that special something, either hanging in the back of our closet or folded in our drawer with the hope that it will come back into style one day. What “Born Again Vintage” does is help you breathe new life into the clothes you just can’t seem to toss out. Artise encourages the question, “Before you think of throwing something out, ask yourself, Can this be ‘Born Again’?’”

Artise shares, “At its simplest level, Born Again fashion is about turning antique and disused clothing into stylish togs by deconstructing them.” What this means, in lay terms, is that she chooses which elements of each piece of clothing are best and then pieces them together with the best elements of other garments. “I’ll completely rip out the seams of one basic vintage item,” she explains. “And put it back together with a second, perhaps more contemporary piece, to create an entirely different look."

The fact that Artise is not bound by the standard rules of fashion—where stripes shouldn’t go with polka dots or summer fabrics are never paired with heavier winter fabrics—gives her endless possibilities. “I am definitely driven by colors, patterns and textures, so I am immediately drawn to a garment for those reasons, but the important thing to remember about Born Again Vintage is to be unique,” she says. “I change the colors, the fabrics and the accessories so each piece looks absolutely fresh and different.”

How does that “look” look? Well, imagine an old-fashioned ruffled shirt or a frumpy fifties housedress with great buttons mixed with a simple tank top refashioned into a funky new top or a poodle skirt and last year’s knee length cardigan blended beautifully into a poncho or even a structured tube top. A gaudy metallic vintage dress now becomes that groovy boy-beater or an over-sized argyle print sweater is now an unbelievably stylish cropped jacket. It is the perfect mix of old and new.

Perhaps the best part is that this fashion style is easily DIY and you don’t have to spend a lot of money. Artise explains, “Pull out any old sweaters, skirts or dresses you aren’t wearing anymore, but that still have potential. Next, hit the thrift shops. Look for fabrics, details or colors you love and don’t even worry if they are ripped or stained. Then, get out your scissors and start cutting. Soon you’re entire wardrobe will be reborn!”

The Born Again Vintage approach brings together the era of the elegantly adorned, pampered woman with that of today’s woman—independent, strong, sexy and smart. It is the meeting of two eras, the past and the future, where classic meets funky, sophisticated meets urban and timeless meets now.

Ever hear someone say, “It’s crazy how that is coming back in style again?” Born Again Vintage maintains that statement and makes that which was old, new again. Whether you consider yourself a free-spirit, eco-hipster or a high-end shopper, a chic vintage collection never goes out of style. By accentuating your look with a vintage piece or two, you make your fashion statement even louder. If you haven’t already, join the movement and have more fun with the clothes you wear.

Purchase “Born Again Vintage: 25 Ways to Deconstruct, Reinvent and Re-cycle Your Wardrobe” and see the Born Again 2012 Spring/Summer Collection online at www.b-artise.com

If vintage fashion is your vice, these chic boutiques are sure to have what you’re looking for:

Retropolis
321 W. 19th St.
Houston, TX 77008
Lots and lots of stuff here, and if you’re willing to dig, you can definitely find some high-quality merchandise.

Dean’s Credit Clothing
316 Main St.
Houston, TX 77002
This well-known vintage shop is actually a downtown bar with some vintage stuff for sale, but any place that doubles as a live music venue gets extra points for its “cool” factor.

Wear It Again Sam
373 W. 19th St.
Houston, TX 77008
This shop is located in the humming Heights so you can expect other shoppers, but it’s worth it. WIAS is easily one of the most well stocked vintage shops in the city. Expect pre-1990 merchandise and an extremely helpful staff.

Blue Bird Circle
615 W. Alabama St.
Houston, TX 77006
This Montrose buzz spot is a definite must-visit when making the thrift store rounds, though some feel that their vintage furniture is better than the clothing offered. Either way, a fun place to pick-up your period pieces.

Taxi Taxi
1657 Westheimer Rd.
Houston, TX 77006
If shopping for vintage clothing puts you in the mood for a tattoo or new body piercing then Taxi Taxi is your one stop shop. Their “secret” section, where only the coolest hipsters are allowed to shop, is aptly named “The Vault.”

Buffalo Exchange
1618 Westheimer Rd.
Houston, TX 77006
The Westheimer locale has been a staple on the vintage scene for a good, long while and these helpful folks will even sort through your throwaways in exchange for cash or store credit.

The Way We Wore
2602 Waugh Dr.
Houston, TX 77006
More expensive than most on our list with a not-so-huge selection of clothes, this solid costume shop/vintage store definitely gets extra points for its creative name.

Value Village
6050 Bissonet St.
Houston, TX 77081
Value Village is Houston’s prototypical thrift store with a ton of clothes in a wide range of styles, hipness and most items are under $15.

That 70’s Shop
1722 California St.
Houston, TX 77006
This brightly-painted, family-owned shop in Montrose offers a quality selection where a little digging will usually score you something fairly nice.

www.5StackVintage.com
A Houston-based online vintage shopping experience.
This e-boutique offers online shoppers couture vintage clothing and accessories, mixing classic vintage with new trends for the ideal look. If you want it and it’s vintage, they have it.