The $50-and-under spring wardrobe upgrades

ON KATIE

These purple shades were $5 from a Soho street vendor.

Designer Laura Dawson strung fishing lures into an existing pair of chain earrings. Fishing lures, $2.99 for three, at Capitol Fishing Tackle Company (132 W 36th St between Broadway and Seventh Ave, 212-929-6132).

Dawson attached rickrack onto a white Hanes tee with safety pins and some sewing. “It’s a new-wave electroclash outfit, and I like how the lines intersect,” she explains. A giant kilt pin cinched the back. Rickrack, $5 for ten yards, at Daytona Trimming (251 W 39th St between Seventh and Eighth Aves, 212-354-1713); small safety pins, 20 for 1¢ each, and oversize kilt pin, $1.75, at Steinlauf and Stoller (239 W 39th St between Seventh and Eighth Aves, 212-869-0321).

Dawson sewed leftover rickrack onto white Keds knockoffs and made laces with colorful fabric. White sneakers, $2.99, at National Wholesale Liquidators (623 Broadway between Bleecker and W Houston Sts, 212-979-2400).

TOTAL $17.93

For more of Dawson’s work, check out lauradawson.com.