I've noticed a few people asking around about this, not only here but other places around the interwebs.
As a beginner sims moder it took me awhile to work it out so, I figured i'd write it up nice and simple so other people can get started too.
If you are an experienced modder this is probably worth ignoring.


Adding Clothing to a Category (for beginner Modders)
This tutorial explains how to add an original-game article of clothing to another category. Eg: Add shoes to swimwear, or add work uniforms to everyday-wear, etc.

You will need:
- The Sims 3!
- TS3 Install Helper Monkey: link
- Delphy's CAS Texture Unitool (CTU): link

The goal for this Tutorial.
I've decided that my sim should wear a cute tennis skirt when dressed in athletic gear. Unfortunately, the skirt exists in the game but only as everyday wear. So this is how to solve that.

The Steps:
What we will be doing is copying the item of clothing, changing it's categories and saving it as a new item of clothing.

1. Open up CTU (and whisper a little thankyou to Delphy)

2. Click: File > New

3. Select the age group, gender, and type, of the object you want to copy.
(For this tutorial: Adult/Female/Bottom)

4. Now select the mesh to use. It should be named in a rather useful manner.
(For this tutorial: SkirtMini_pleat)

5. Click to open the Designs Tab

6. Now click 'Add New Design', This Adds 1 design for that item.
(For this tutorial and if you aren't adding your own textures, you do not need to bother with Stencils)

7. In the Category Details Tab, select the categories for the new item.
(For this tutorial: Athletic only)

8. IMPORTANT: In the Category Details Tab, Click 'Commit'
(Clicking 'Commit' actually records the changes you've made and must be done)

9. Now click File > Save As.. Save the file as a .package to a place where you keep your mods.

10. If you have Helper Monkey Installed, you can right click on your new .package file and select 'Install to Sims3'
(If you're not using Helper Monkey: Read More )

Now run your game and check out your clothing in the Create a Sim (CAS)

Just to say, you may want to add a few pics, to help the begginers

Couple of points:

- Between step 4 and 5 you are missing which tab to click on.

- As lewjen says you should probably add pictures.

Also, don't call it a "Tute". It's not a "Tute" it's a tutorial. Please rename it.

Thanks guys:
Uploaded a pic which could practically be the tutorial on it's own.

@Delphy: Between step 4 and 5 there isn't a tab. Its just the next group down the screen, the pic better indicates that, and I've also amended the text a little.

It looks like you aren't using the latest version of the Unitool, trebtreb. The latest version has four tabs, with "find a mesh" as the top one.

It's a great tut though and all the steps still work

@Srikandi
Thanks for pointing that out, I've updated the tutorial.

I tried this on something simple (I thought) but it did not save anything.

It seemed to work fine until I got to the SaveAs. At this point I got an error message (see file). If I continued and empty file was saved (see file).

I tried three times with similar results. When I clicked on the Commit button, it did look like nothing was happening.

Suggestions? Thanks.

I'm a beginner with this stuff and it opened me a whole new world, MANY thanks!

Read 'I get a System.Core error when saving' On this page


@Slipslop
Glad i could help!

Thanks. I will check that out. I didn't make the connection.

Nice tutorial. Not too difficult, either.

Does this work for hairs/eyebrows/facial hair by any chance?

I've been wondering about re-binning clothing for a long time, but I never had the time to figure it out.
Thank you very very much for this tutorial.

Great tutorial. How would I apply it to downloaded content, not the Sims 3 core files? Like I downloaded a top that's only in swimwear and I want the option to have it in everyday.

Thanks

Thanks for the tut, very helpful ;-)

It should work for hair and eyebrows without problems. Facial hair currently isn't really supported by CTU, but a simple recategorizing could actually work. Just try it.



Instead of selecting a mesh and adding designs, just open the package in CTU, change the categories as usual and use File->Safe.. instead of "Safe as...". If it's a sims3pack file, you need to unpack it first.

yo, need a little help! my add new designs tab is grayed out! halp!

Is there a mod for this as well that is more generous with placing stuff under sports wear, swim wear and sleep wear?

>>6. Now click 'Add New Design', This Adds 1 design for that item.


In the version I'm using, v 1.9, there are several choices available when I click 'Add New Design': 'Add new blank'; 'Copy all from base'; and 'Add new (Copy last)'. What is the difference and which one should we use for the purposes of this tutorial?

jeannie4414, your answer is in post 15, second part.

Hi, I cannot seem to find the pic that you have uploaded.

Many thanks =) I tryed and everything went fine (no errors), but in CAS it looks like this (see the screenshot) Perhaps I did something wrong? Any guess?

It works for the sims 3 core files but not CC's

I had the same problem

EDIT: I was able to fix it. Do not use 'Save as...' but use 'Save'.

Wouldn't it be easier to use the "disableclothingfilters on" cheat?
Not sure if it works for hair, though.


Is it possible to fix the custom clothes that are categorized as "naked" this way?
Since you have to copy the files, the old one would still show up in the old categories in addition to the newly fixed item, so you would have to delete the old one from the custom content folder. Can this be done safely without messing up the new copy?

novaminsulfon, you can use the cheat yes, but then you don't learn anything.
Yes, clothes categorised as naked can be fixed like this. You don't have to copy the file with CC, you just open it - and yes, you can delete the old file without causing problems.

How do i do it with custom content?is it possible?