We’ve all got items in our closets that never get worn – that shirt we purchased because it was such a great deal but still has a tag on it a year later, or a favorite pair of pants you wore every other day for a few months, but that then got shoved in the back of your closet, never to be seen again. Eventually, you probably dig them out and either sell them or donate them. What about wedding dresses though? You probably spent a lot of money on a gown (and looked fabulous), but what about after the wedding? It probably just stays in your closet, nicely packed away, and is never again worn. Well, I’ve got a few ideas for how you can change that.

Thrift stores abound in a modern world where fashion trends change constantly. There are even places that offer free clothing. Well, what about a community wedding gown exchange? There could either be a central location where items would be donated or an online forum where individuals could post either what they own or would like to acquire. A brick-and-mortar storefront could be run by volunteers and in place of purchases, patrons would have the option of donating to a charitable organization of choice, which creates a win-win situation for all involved.

Another idea that comes to mind is reinventing your wedding dress into something more practical that actually could be worn regularly. In addition to a forum that provides the exchange of wedding gowns, local designers who would be able to create cocktail dresses, pant suits, robes, etc. out of your former matrimonial attire could be involved. What better way is there to commemorate your special day than to continue the life cycle of a garment in a creative new way?

If you’re feeling a little crazy, you could take part in a trend of “trashing the dress.” I know for many this may seem horrifying, but there seems to be a growing number of photographers who wish to do photo shoots of individuals modeling a wedding dress that is covered in dirt or in some way distressed. Once you’ve got it dirty, you could have fun with it and use natural dyes (berries come to mind) and start the process of transforming the garment into something new and wearable for future occasions.

I’ll go ahead and stop now before things get too wild, but the next time you open your closet, maybe you can do a few more twirls in the dress you never thought you’d wear again.