Wannabe Wednesday: Fractured Floral Edition
When I saw this dress by Juicy Couture, I was in love!
As you can probably guess, this story doesn’t end with me clicking on “add to cart” and waiting for it to arrive in the mail. Oh no, friend. I haven’t spent $139 on a dress in years, and I’m not about to start now!
Luckily, I had this dress I found for $1 with some ganked-up interfacing coming out everywhere! 🙂
It’s patterned and blue! And it’s about to have much more in common with that inspiration dress! 🙂
To get started, I hacked off the collar and shortened the sleeves.
Now. I knew I would need to take this dress in, but I also needed to get the shape of the top of the dress looking something like the end result before I did so (make sense?). Soooo…I made a couple of cuts!
I pinned it on my dress form and used safety pins to make a v-neck and pinned the shoulders together.
NOW I’m ready to start reshaping! I put the dress on my form inside-out and took the sides in, trying not to make the top too fitted. I wanted it to be a little free like the Juicy version. 🙂
Each side went under the needle…
I snipped off the excess fabric and put my dress back on the form. It was time to get the neckline/sleeves pinned and prepped for sewing!
I stitched all these raw edges down for the front and the back!
I’m so close to being done here, folks! I stitched the bottom parts of the sleeve slits together…
…then I made a couple of straps from the leftover scraps!
I pinned my new straps to the shoulders of my dress and stitched them down.
With my straps in place, I could finally tell just how much of that bottom hem to hack off!
And now I have my own Jilly Couture Fractured & Not Quite Floral Dress! 🙂 I used the hemmed bottom scrap to cinch the waist a bit (although it really wasn’t necessary). 🙂
My new dress enjoyed drinks with friends, followed by Much Ado About Nothing!
Don’t you want to watch the trailer of this fantastic adaptation? 🙂
Original Cost: $136
Copycat Cost: $1
Savings: $135
Cheers!
102 Comments
Kim Douglas
Love it…very cute. The style and color look perfect on you.
Tamara
Awesome! You go girl!
nunette
not one of your bestestest refashions, but still so great that i am envious like s..t that I cannot sew that well…
bethventura2Beth
Disagree! I think this is one of your best! Love it!
Penny
You look adorable! 🙂
Natalie
Gorgeous dress! I love it!
Cara
I think I actually like your version better. On the original one there is such a disconnect between the straps and the “sleeves” that I think it looks a little awkward. I like how you did the sleeves much better. It looks nice and summery. Also, oddly enough, I like the pattern on the thrifted piece better too. Great job!
http://www.knockoffcrafts.wordpress.com
Raine
I totally agree with Cara, your version looks much better for exactly same reasons, straps, sleeves and pattern
Jennyfer
Looks great!! Love the refashions!! You give me sooo many ideas. I look forward to your posts 🙂
Kathryn (@MissHTML)
Very flattering for your figure. WAY better than the original that was a little too shapeless:) Awesome as per usual!
ReFashionista
Thanks! I actually meant for it to be a little more drapey than it ended up being, but hey…there’s always next time! 🙂
sewloveable
Love it!!!!!!! The dress is Fantastic but I also love that you have a great sense of humor and don’t take yourself to seriously. Great Job again on the dress!!!!
Sara
I like it better than the Juicy dress 🙂 Well done!
Jenn c
This is adorable! Do you ever sale your refashioned clothes?
WordPress.com Support
Thank you. I really don’t. I just don’t want to. 🙂 I wrote a post about it a while back…https://refashionista.net/2013/01/21/qa-monday-2/
Kayla
Love, love, love it! I like the shape of yours better than the original.
Probably Rachel
I love this refashion more than the dress you’re mimicking!
Donna Owens
I love the way this one fits you. Great job!
linda
amazing – just amazing – you shud open a shop to refashion peeps closets!
KC
I think this is one of your best. The change between the two dresses is amazing!
donna
nice job and I actually like your version better
Danielle F.
Love it! Your dress looks even better than the $136 dress! 😀
cycosue
I love your refash better than Juicy’s!
As I scrolled through your after pictures, I was wondering, where’s the one with the drink in her hand? Ah, there it is… in the movie picture.
Sarah E
I like your version better than the original!
Ali
Wow that’s an impressive copy! Very well done Jillian, love it on you!
Millie
Wow, good job, love it!
cljhansen
Cute dress and yes, the movie was amazing! Shakespeare, Whedon and Fillion, what more does one need?
ReFashionista
I LoVED Fillon as Dogberry! 🙂
Buffy
Shakespeare totally wrote that part for Nathan Fillion 400 years ago. Remember that episode of Doctor Who where The Doctor and Martha travel back in time to the Globe Theater and visit Shakespeare? My theory is that The Doctor gave Shakespeare a little tip about Nathan Fillion in the future.
ReFashionista
I LOVE that episode! And I think you’re right! 🙂
slisle51
Loved yours much more!!
Carrie
I agree with the other comments that your ReFashion is better than the inspiration and it’s a great color on you. Thanks for sharing!
Kit
i LOVE it. yours i like better than the original
Lu Ann
LOVE IT! And I love it with the straps a little wider so I could wear a bra. And I love your sleeves so much better – the original sleeves would drive me crazy on my arms and I would have to rip them off before the evening is done!
Tish
My very favorite of all your refashions to date!!!!!!!!!!
Karla Herrera
I absolutly love it… Ive recently lost some weight and nothing fits right. Your blog Has inspired me to want to try refashioning my own clothing but I’m a little scared to try it. Oh wel I must invest in a sewing machine now!!!
ReFashionista
It’s the best investment I ever (well actually that my ex bf ever) made! 🙂
Sharon
I love it. I think its BETTER than the $139 version!
TaraLee
I absolutely love the shoulder/neckline refashion on this one. It looks amazing on you. I want one just like it! Now, when are you going to do that black dress with the bright flowers on it? Everytime I see it on the rack, I can’t wait to see what you do with it!
ReFashionista
Thank you! Tee hee…each dress will have its turn! 🙂
Juliana
I always think the same thing! I love this dress, it is absolutely amazing!
rawketstarling
You’re just so creative! I’m envious that you can see a dress that hideous and see the potential. The most I can do is see a shorter hem, or 3/4 sleeve. This is one of my favorite Wannabe’s for sure–like everyone else is saying, I like your version MUCH more than the original.
Jenn
Your version is way better than the original… not just because of the price, but it looks more like something anyone could wear. You are just the best! I am inspired to do something too!
Allie
Extreme cuteness!!!
Trish
love this refashion. As you said, this was an online find (the Juicy dress) but do you ever go to a store and see inspiration? I’m just wondering if it was difficult to refashion this dress like the Juicy one without actually seeing it in person. It looks fantastic, but I just wanted to ask! Anyway, love your blog and your confidence in sewing. Been following for a while and finally managed to comment! Can’t wait to see more “designer inspirations”!
Trish
ReFashionista
Honestly, I hate shopping. I hardly ever go where clothing is sold because I get anxious around people shopping (weird, eh?). Online window shopping is a godsend for me! 🙂
Nana Diana
FANTASTIC makeover!!!! I like it better than the original!
Farren
I love this one!! I actually like your dress more than the original!! Kudos!! Also, I can’t WAIT to see Much Ado!! Joss Whedon is my fav!
ClaireE
What a transformation! I love your version, the print works so much better on yours than the original!
Jane
THAT is cute!
Dede Pyle
I absolutely love your dress. It is way cuter than the couture dress. You inspire me all the time and you crack me up with all the things you say like are from the country. Lo…:-) 🙂 🙂 Keep on being you girlie. 🙂
sagegrayson
So cute! I love the cut-out shoulders, and I think your version is a lot nicer than the inspiration.
Kat
This is one of my favorite refashions yet! Love the orginal and love your copy-cat! I need to figure out to use my sewing machine my brother got me. I’m scared. haha… better find some cheap/old clothes to practice on!
ReFashionista
Don’t be afraid! 🙂 Just start off by making small things like camera cases, pillows, and sunglass cases, then work your way up! Enjoy the learning process. 🙂
Chica Andaluza
Lovely – and I agree with the others, much nicer than the original (and you have better legs)!
summer
You did an amazing job on the dress. And this neckline looks great on you
Jen
Super cute!!! I like it even better than the juicy version!!
DIYgal
You are really getting good at this.
Like everyone else, I like yours way better than the original.
kay
You really make me look at things differently. Right now I turn ugly dresses into quilts but I am definitely thinking about trying something new.
Nay
Love it!
Diana
I agree, your version looks better! I see at least six kinds of genius here! Love your blog – you go girl.
redbamsews
Simply divine! You really outdid yourself with this one. 5 stars.
Paula Fulford
LOVE!!!
Mistress Arawynn
Absolutely love this. I will never look at clothes the same way again 🙂
craftywubo
oh my gosh. Absolutely one of your best!
omyn77
I like yours better 🙂 the straps on the first one look flimsy and like they would fall off constantly, but yours are perfect, and i love the shape they create with what you have done with the top,you have used the negative shape as well as the positive shape brilliantly!
Jo H.
Excellent job. I agree with DIYGirl above – you are getting really good at this!
Amanda
Really great refashion!! I think I like your version better, even. And yes, Much Ado About Nothing was awesome. 🙂
Ann Rourke
Hi there, I LOVE your blog! I have a really..eeehhem stupid question. When you put your pre-creation on the dress form and pin it to your size…get ready for it…how do you manage to get it off the form? I purchased one just like yours and struggle with that?
Thanks!
ReFashionista
NOT a stupid question! I just unpin one side once I have it how I want it, then when it’s off the form, I use the other side as a guide (measure and re-pin!). Hope that helps!
Ena
Wow! First when I saw the original 1$-dress I thought: How will she do it? But you did it fine and your dress looks great and fits perfectly – you’re simply the best! Love your blog!
charityshopchic
Gorgeous! Looks a lot like the original at a fraction of the cost. Well done!
Jenny
I too like yours better than the original. Funnily enough for me the Juicy Couture dress looks like some one has hacked at it with scissors whereas yours looks like it was designed that way.
Hanna
I love your wannebee wednesdays. They are so inspirational! And this time I like your creation much more than the original one.
Lia
Hi,
I read your blog from Italy and I love refashion too!!
That was great, love the shoulders.
please, a request: I ADORE floral patterns on black, please, please, please refashion that dress I see in your rack on background, I’d love to see it!!
yhank you
Lia
cathy
it’s beautiful! and now you can use that 135$ elsewhere!
smithtabby
This is too cute! I love your version ! I am amazed at your creativity!
Donna
Beautiful! I like your version even better than the original. You are amazing!
Maria
I agree with a lot of the people above: yours is waaaay better than the original!
Dee
Wow, I love it! And as usual, you look great in everything! I REALLY like the way you did the straps and sleeves on yours.
Shantel
I love that dress! Perfect for summer! Love your blog too!!!
Sylvia
Great dress to see a great movie!
mur
I like your version so much more than the original. I love seeing what inspires you.
Daniela
I think the one you made is even prettier!! well done 🙂
Anna Furry
this one is definitely one of my favorites
Jordan
This might be my favorite one yet! And SO JEALOUS that you’ve seen that movie! I have to drive an hour to find a theater showing it!
ReFashionista
It’s worth it! You’ll love it! 🙂
Jessica Speedy
Is there anything you CANT do?? I love it X 1 Million!!
ReFashionista
Yes. Dance. 🙂
Joni
I think this is my favourite yet! Gorgeous!
Sandra
I think your version looks better too!
Gina
You get more creative with every refashion!!!!!!!!
Anne thomson
You are clever and an inspiration . I love this one too
s
I have admired your blog for months! Where did you get your dress form?
ReFashionista
I ordered it from Amazon. It’s a singer! 🙂
lisamy
Your dress looks so much better than the original!! Cute!
Flo
Cute! I want to see that movie too, looks good and how can it go wrong with Nathan Fillion in it?!
Marcie
Hands down I like your version better. Awesome refash!
Rai
That color works so well with your complexion 🙂
Lindsay
Just as everyone else has said, I, too, think your version is better! I absolutely want to try this refashion as well! Thanks for the inspiration 🙂
kimber
you really did great with that dress!
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