Okay so I’ve been obsessed with that Pam and Tommy show lately. Their outfits? Crazy iconic but also crazy expensive looking. I thought, screw it, I’m gonna try getting that style without spending a fortune. Here’s how it went down step by step.
Starting With Pam’s Leopard Print Bikini
First thing I did was hit up thrift stores for leopard print stuff. Found this stretched-out grandma sweater with perfect leopard pattern for like three bucks. Took it home and straight up chopped it into pieces. Used one sleeve to sew into triangle bikini tops – looked janky as hell at first but after stitching the edges? Boom. Paired it with cheap black booty shorts from my drawer. Total cost: under five bucks and two hours of messy sewing.
Tackling Tommy’s Neon Shorts
Dude’s bright yellow shorts screamed 90s. Went to Walmart’s clearance section and grabbed these ugly mustard-colored pajama pants for four dollars. Chopped them off above the knee raw – didn’t even hem because frayed edges kinda matched the vibe. Wore them with my old construction boots and a chain necklace from Halloween. Felt ridiculous until I saw the mirror. Key trick: tucking in a plain white tank top and blasting Motley Crue.
The Dreaded Leather Pants Problem
Pam’s leather pants were impossible… until I spotted fake leather leggings at a discount store. They looked plasticky and sad, so I grabbed sandpaper and rough-scratched the hell outta them. Then soaked in coffee for an hour to stain – dried weird but gave that worn-out look. Finished with baby powder so they wouldn’t stick to my legs. Cost? Twelve bucks and stained fingertips for a day.
Wig Sitch-uation Disaster
Tried ordering cheap blonde wigs online. Big mistake. First one arrived looking like roadkill cotton candy. Second shed everywhere. Gave up and used my own hair: dumped half a bottle of cheap gel, backcombed violently, hairsprayed till crispy. Did a crooked side part and called it “punk rock Pam”. Close enough.
Final Look Test Run
Threw everything on together:
- My DIY leopard bikini under an unbuttoned flannel shirt
- Those coffee-stained pleather pants with heeled boots from last winter
- Mustard shorts fit with chain wallet stolen from my brother
Took selfies in my bathroom looking like a garage sale exploded. But when I squinted? Damn, it kinda worked. Friends roasted me hard until I showed them comparison pics. Best part? Whole project cost less than my weekly takeout budget.
Moral of the story? Thrift stores, coffee stains, and zero sewing skills can accidentally make magic. Still can’t drum like Tommy though.
