
One Dress, Three Ways: Fake Vest Edition III: A Dress Refashion
As promised, here is the thrilling conclusion of One Dress, Three Ways: Fake Vest Edition III!
If you’re wearing a hat, I suggest you hold on to it!
Er…actually it’s not that exciting, but I’m rather fond of the final refashion for this sad faux accessorized frock!

My first refashion was a no-sew!
My second refashion was a crop top!
But what did I have up my refashioned sleeve for the third iteration of this dress?
A crop top is fun and all, but I don’t really want to wear them very frequently. Whether it’s my age, or my desire to eat an eggplant parm sub at any given time without worrying about carrying an obvious food baby, they’re just not really my style anymore.
It was time to go back to a dress with this. But a different dress. A better dress.

Alright. Allow me to apologize for the craptastic “during” photos in this post. In my absentmindedness, I abandoned my laptop (complete with memory card) at work, and had to use my phone’s camera. :/ I have since purchased a new card. I am now writing this post on my fella’s PC, where I am quickly realizing how much I love my Mac. *Sigh* #thestruggleisreal
I took the discarded skirt and cut a hunk off the top.

I chose the chop point after putting the crop top on, and then decided how long the skirt part of my new dress needed to be. I cut from the top so I could just use the existing bottom hem, rather than create a new one.
Remember how I left a raw edge on the top and how I told you it wasn’t a big deal? Here’s why:


The machine you see above (A serger) cuts fabric and overlocks the edge so it doesn’t fray.
When you’re done, the edge looks like a non-blurry version of this:

I also serged the top of the skirt part.
Next, I cut the skirt down the side to match the top. You’ll also see where I’ve turned the back of the top into the front of the dress. Now it’ll have a zipper front! Separating the skirt from the top in refashion #2 meant the original zipper was severed. That means I need to be able to slide into this dress, which means it needs to be fairly free in the waist.
Are you thinking 1920s? Because I am!

I stitched up that side.

Time to bring skirt and top back together again!
I pressed the serged side of the skirt under, like so:

Then, I pinned the shirt and the shirt together, like ya do.

A quick whirrrrrrr followed!

I think my new dress is all sorts of 1920’s (casual) fabulousness!


I accessorized with my fun steampunk octopus necklace a good pal gave me about a year ago. 🙂

Sooooo…Which one is your favorite?
Cheers!

78 Comments
Brandy
One is my fav! Way too cute! ❤
Christina
I love them all. Each has it’s own distinct personality and the accessories just complete. So cute!
puggo
Holy Tolito! Love them all. I guess I am veering towards the 3rd dress. And the necklace looks so good with it too! I just got 3 boxes of fabric from a friend so I’m going to spruce up my wardrobe and make more, more, more!
emilyanndietrich
I would be most likely to wear #1, but #2 is so much fun, and #3 gets best design!
crazykitsy.com
Good job! I like all three outfits. The fabric also work well for all three styles.
Joy
Completely love the two dresses–you are so very talented! I’m looking forward to reading more of the archives. 🙂
ladycynthiana
I love all three but I think the overall look and simplicity of the first one is my favorite.
NancyW.
#1 is sooo cute!
Kathy Russell
Number 3 is my favorite. I always look forward to reading your posts
Isabel
I was expecting a matching separates kind of deal but I like where you went with this one. Keep up the good work!
Andrea
I like #s 1 & 3 the best.
Jean
All three are great, but I love the zip front and long, slim look of #3!
jennifer
I love what you come up with and love three in one ideas you get, but #1 is my favorite!
robjodiefilogomo
I think this last one (#3) is my fave. The zipper makes the difference in my opinion!! You really are quite creative—-nice job! jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Lori Nevin
#3 overall for the incredible transformation and design effort. #1 for the easy peasy no sew. #2 for the fun and casual. See, don’t make us vote!
Debbie
I like #3.
A. M. Robert-Curry
I love #3. A fun and funky zipper pull would really give it some zing!
Kath
Definitely the final #3, Looks great!
Suzanne
I’m just curious if you wear your refashion items over and over again or do you throw them out after one wear?
ReFashionista
Most items I get several wears out of, and I donate everything when I think I’m done with it. 🙂
Kay
#3 is my favorite.
Poppy alla Norma
I love #3, nice work! It looks so great on you.
Zoie Pritchard
Definitely #1
savingsarahgrace
#1
Kyla
I like number one.
rimazimchick
3 for me. But they all look cute on you.
Ellen
the final refash is my favourite! absolutely love that
northerndeb
Oh I think #3 is by far one of the most wonderful refashions I’ve seen yet! You’re a talent!!
Diane N
I def like #3 the best. I like the length and I like the fit; it seems like you could go so many different ways with accessorizing it, too!!!
JOAN
#3 so interesting! Would love to see in better light – perhaps against the white background?
mrsdocko
I love #1 the best but I love your ingenuity for all three ideas.
Brandy
I love #3 the best.
Reen
No. 3! Very sophisticated!!
Debbie
Definitely #1
DizzyDesi
Love #3 the best but they were all great.
Great job!!!!!
Rachael
My son, who bought me my first real seeing machine, was wondering if you ever refashioned for a male style .
So now , my noob sewing status,would like your take.
ReFashionista
I sure haven’t. But I should!
Alene
Love #1.
Elise
I loved your reference to “a food baby” the best!!!
I laughed so hard I blew a mouthful of paella three feet…note to self…don’t read your posts at the dinner table…
That’s the funniest phrase I’ve heard in a long time 🙂
Barbara M.
Number one!!!!!!
Diane
Number 1 is the cutest!
karirhall
Number 1!!!!!
Ximena
Number three!!!!!
Barb
I think I like #2 the best – sassy short and cute on you Hugs Barb
letia61yahoocom
#3 is my fav
xgmariex
I like #1 🙂
gcenterridge
Loving #2….your amazing!!
Jenny
Yep, #1!
Murielle
Cute! Did you know there’s a naked lady levitating behind you?
Eileen Laurette
#’s one and two! 😀
Marilyn
Love 3
Mary Lou
I have to say #1 is my favorite; simple, no sew, hi-Low. Not a crop person at all and #3 disappoints. It is too slim.
Alice
I really like #3 #1 was nice too but I love the style of #3.
TaraLee
Can’t see #3 very well due to that wall color and all the interesting things on it. You just kinda got lost in the picture. You need to snap a pic on a white or at least an unadorned wall so we can see it better, because the pattern on that dress is so pretty, but also pretty busy on its own.
Erika
#1. Love the way you used the dress 3 ways. Very clever!
amarthya
You know, lighting is everything. That’s why 1 is a fave. If I could see 3 in better light, or if we could see both from behind it may change votes. 2 is definitely clocking in at the 3 spot. It’s not as interesting as the other 2. They are all 100% improvements from the starter garment so each one is a winner.
Jessica
#3 is the winner for me.
apocaknits
#1 is awesome and definitely my fave.
Karen
One!
Grayson
All are great, but #1 is my favorite.
Amanda A
Number 3!! Looks gorgeous and really highlights the beautiful fabric
Karen
#1 is my favorite, too
Kim Waltman Wollmer
Loved #1 !
Sarah
(Btw, I am totally with you on crop tops…)
Dee
They all look great on you, but I think #1 is my fav, but enough of that… somewhere in an early paragraph you said “fella”… oh please, do elaborate!
Sarah
I know it was the easiest, but I actually liked #1 best. And, also, thank you! I will use that trick next time I find a dress that is too long!
Laine
I love all iterations of this dress but the last one is my fav!
Judith
#1, hands down.
Kathleen
I like 3 best
Melissa
I love one and two the best!!
Colleen
Three is definitely my favorite! Crazy that you can make such an amazing dress from that ‘before’ atrocity!
Michelle
Clever, clever girl! Love all 3 looks!
Danielle
Wow! Always amazed at what you come up with…
Jess Grasso
3 for sure! love the blog and have 1. read from the begining and 2. started to refashion from your inspiration!
kristacarter14
#1but they are all good!
kittlen
They’re all great, but number 1 is my fave!
Rose
I like #1 on YOU!! Looks so cute! Unbelievable how you got 3 different outfits from one dress!
Deborah
You are fabulous. ONE won!