My favorite thing about the holidays is getting together with friends. When my friends Fredric and Sandy invited me over for their Christmas Dessert Party, I of course said yes. Dessert + Party? Oh yeah!
Sadly, the only party attire I could scrounge up was this:

What the what?!? I look like I just stepped out of a Dynasty rerun!
I IMMEDIATELY removed those shoulder pads…

…but quickly realized that shoulder situation was even more complicated than I had originally thought!

More poufage had to go! It took a while to unpick the seams of the sleeves, but it was well worth it.


Whew! Now we’re getting somewhere.
I pinned those raw edges from where I removed the sleeves under…

…then I stitched it all down!

Almost done! This dress didn’t fit quite cozily enough for my tastes, and I had some huge armholes to take care of. Luckily this was a two birds/one stone scenario!
I turned my new dress inside-out, plopped it on my dress form, and pinned it to make it just as curve-hugging as I wanted it to be.

All that was left to do was sew down those sides!

…and now that pouftastic atrocity is an LBD fit even for Audrey Hepburn (or at least an Aubrey Hepburn somewhere)! ;)

I accessorized my new frock with a pretty thrifted belt and a pair of my fave red platforms.
It was great getting to see some of my loveliest friends!


I thought I had the most fabulous shoes at the party, until I spied Ron’s hand-painted creations!




I hope your Holiday Season has also been filled with happiness, loved ones, and good cheer! :)
Cheers!
Love your dress, and the post! Happy Christmas to you!
Gorgeous!!!!
Very nice dress. Merry Christmas , happy 2014 .
Give me those shoes at once.
It amazes me in how you can see the potential in an awful dress that most people would pass on by. Great dress refashion! Merry Christmas!
outstanding!
Very nice. I enjoy seeing what you’ve made and where you’re going. Nice friends.
Waw! Just amazing! I’m jealous about this outfit. And the belt…!
Would also look nice, I think, with black nylons, a pair of pumps and some good glitter accessories :-)
Well done Jillian!! Happy Holidays right back at ya.
Aww you took off the sexy sleeves :P
love this, one of my favorites!
It’s nice to see you in a longer dress. Very very chic, I love love love it.
Beautiful result, and I’ve obviously learned that one can refashion most anything!
BEST!
You look so cute in it! You are very creative!
Beautiful! I love the skirt length, too. It’s very flattering on you.
Merry Christmas!
Another success! And those shoes!!
Merry Christmas Jill! Thank you for sharing your talent with us all year long.
this is one of the best ones you’ve done! even the shoes are amazing :)
Wow, that was amazing! Or amazeballs as you might say! Thank you for the gift you give us all year long of letting us see your inspiring refashions!
Merry Christmas!
Very Classy remake! Love it!
That is a solid winner! Well done.
Merry Christmas!
I love this dress!!!!! Its so perfect and love the shoes! I’m obsessed with your blog, you are so talented. Can’t wait to see what you do next!
Your posts always makes me happy ! you are fantastic and II love your refashion !
The dress is wonderful and all, but those SHOES! The whole outfit is just great
Ooh, snazzy! Love this =D
I love the way your LBD turned out! and I love your blog! Way to go
Lovely! I don’t often comment but I check your blog a lot, you’re such an inspiration!
Auuuuugghh! I love the knee-length!