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A Long Sleeve Shirt to Cocktail Dress Refashion: As Seen on Good Morning America!

Shirt to Dress Refashion: As Seen on Good Morning America!
Happy Birthday Frumpy Collared Dress Refashion

Thanks so much to everyone who watched my Good Morning America segment!  ðŸ™‚

If you missed it, you can catch it riiiiight here!


ABC News | ABC Sports News

OH MY GOD!  MY VOICE IS TERRIBLE!  I don’t know why any of my friends ever listen to me.  ;'(

Weirdo voice aside, I had SUCH an awesome time!  

The staff at GMA was just wonderful, and I had a blast sewing in Central Park.  Ginger Zee is just as nice as she seems on TV, and I loved seeing her in one my refashions!

Getting to catch a Zedd concert while I worked wasn’t too shabs either!  ðŸ™‚

The dress I wore for the show was this refashion, and I even managed to wear heels without falling!  Huzzah!

But how did I refashion those two pieces for the show? Hmmmmnnn?  

Just in case my two-minute time allotment wasn’t enough to explain this, I’ll break ’em down for ya.  ðŸ™‚

Let’s start with that black long-sleeved blouse.

good morning america long sleeve shirt to cocktail dress refashion
So sparkly!

I didn’t choose this one, folks.  

You know that bit of my segment where Mara Schiavocampo and I are digging through the bins at the Goodwill Clearance Center?  

That was shot right before Mara and the producer had to rush back to the airport to catch their flight back to NYC.  This meant my normal hours-long dig session was reduced to about five minutes.  

Mara liked the look of this one, and even though I had no clue what I was going to do to refashion it in time for the show, I went along with it.  Because I’m not going to argue with a lady who needs to catch her flight!

I’m really glad I did, as this is one of my favorite refashions to date!  It’s also really simple!

First, I chopped off those sleeves.

removing sleeves
Buh. Bye.

Then, I put it on my dress form, pulling the neck hole under the arms and pinning the sides to fit, like so:

taking in shirt to dress refashion on dress form
See?

Each side went through my machine…

taking in dress on machine
Whirrrrrrr!

…and then I trimmed off the extra fabric.

Almost done!

I put my new dress on my dress form inside-out and pinned one of the sleeves over the shoulder.  

This is what really makes this dress chic!

Wide part to the front.
Wide part to the front.
Small part to the back!
Small part to the back!

I stitched each of these pinned parts down, and a sexy cocktail dress was born!  

There was no need to add a new hem or hem the top, as I was using what was already there!

refashioned dress on dress form after
Tres chic!
Jillian and Erin on Good Morning America in central park
Thanks for all your help, Erin! 🙂

This frock was so cute, I couldn’t resist wearing it that evening for a night on the town with two of my best buds!

A Long Sleeve Shirt to Cocktail Dress Refashion: As Seen on Good Morning America
All this attention has clearly gone to my head!

My friend Heather made the trip down from Philly to hang out with me and Erin in the big city!  ðŸ™‚

refashionista, Erin, and Heather at lunch
Reunited!

As we lounged at a swanky rooftop bar, I couldn’t help but feel really lucky to have had such a special day, and to have shared it with such wonderful friends.  ðŸ™‚

A Long Sleeve Shirt to Cocktail Dress Refashion: As Seen on Good Morning America! 4
Lucky and blurry!

Thanks to everyone who tuned in.  I think we really are changing the way the world thinks about fashion.  And I couldn’t be happier.  ðŸ™‚

Cheers!

refashionista A Long Sleeve Shirt to Cocktail Dress Refashion: As Seen on Good Morning America before and after
Shirt to Dress Refashion: As Seen on Good Morning America!
Happy Birthday Frumpy Collared Dress Refashion

105 thoughts on “A Long Sleeve Shirt to Cocktail Dress Refashion: As Seen on Good Morning America!”

  1. You’re adorable…and we all sound funky on screen. I’m a teacher and have to make videos now for my students…HS Science….

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  2. I found your blog just a few months ago and since then I am addicted to read each one of your refashion. I think what you do is awesome! And it inspired me so much. Thank you and hope you keep doing what you do.

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  3. Congrats Jillian on the chance to showcase your talents on national TV!! Wow! (And if it makes you feel better, whenever I see myself on video or hear my voice on a recording, it skeeves me out too. It happens to all of us!)

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  4. This is probably my favorite refashion of all. The others are usually pretty cute and clever, but this one is also PERFECT on you

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    • Thank you so much! I’m sure the pressure of knowing it was going to be on national TV was probably a good motivator too! 😉

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  5. Wow! Congratulations on GMA!!! You are super talented and just the perfect amount of quirky energy 🙂 I love checking out all your newest creations!

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  6. Ha ha…stop with the voice./ we all sound different in recordings than in our heads.. Your refashions are awesome and I think you are on the brink of something big. I mean, we all love what you do, but many more people are about to get to know what you’re about!!!

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  7. Wow, I love the little black dress! You presented yourself well – i’m not sure i’d have that much poise with all those people and cameras. Great job!

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  8. Congratulations all the way from Sweden. Yes, you´re en inspiration even here.
    And by the way…youre voice is not bad at all. I admire you for that curage to participate on television. I should have died there on stage.

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  9. Cheers to you! I started following your blog a little over a year ago and It’s great to see what you do get this kind of exposure!

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  10. Congratulations, Jillian! It’s so great when fellow Gamecocks make it big! (I remember you from college…I think we had an elective computer course or something together!) I was referred to your blog by a lot of fashion savvy friends, saying, “She’s so awesome!” Loving your transformations, and can’t wait to follow more of your successes. Go Cocks!

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  11. Jilly, even tho I haven’t been following you for long, I can’t wait for the next installment on your blog and gobble it up with delight whenever you post. You were brilliant on GMA and I couldn’t have been more happy and excited for you. Keep up the good work! I’m sure there’s more great things in store for you. Wishing you nothing but the best!

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  12. WOW! The AP story got picked up in A LOT of places. Its good press and I am very happy for you. Make sure you keep your old friends close to you in the days ahead and listen to what they have to say. It will keep you grounded if things get crazy. It worked for Matthew McConaugh (sp), that sexy devil……..

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  13. Wow – that is STUNNING! And under the gun you did an amazeballs job – very well done Jillian! Congrats on this huge accomplishment being on national TV!

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  14. I’m such a huge fan of yours and I’m sooooo proud to see you get the publicity that your fabulous skills deserve! And by the way, I have been inspired (by you) and have started to refashion pieces I find at yard sales! :^D I’ve nearly stopped buying clothes NEW altogether! Yay! I even use remade yard sale clothes for baby shower gifts!

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  15. Congratulations! You did a great job. What an exciting adventure and an awesome thing to do to show off all of your ideas and refashions! So proud of you lady! You truly inspire me every day. Hugs!

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  16. First off congrats! Amazing re-fashions both of them, I too love the black sparkly one you re-made. I have been following your blog for about a year, and this is the first time I have heard your voice, and I was shocked! For a little thing like you I thought you would have a tiny voice lol, but girl you are all full of surprises! Good on you! Amazing job really! Keep up the great work!

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  17. How cool is that?!?!?! You did great, and I love love love the black dress, that turned out incredible!!! I have a dress I bought at the thrift store that shrunk when I washed it so it doesn’t fit me as is, but I’m seriously thinking about trying something different with it. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  18. A lurker here, just dropping in to say well done! What a great piece and so inspiring. I’m a quilter but this piece makes me want to run down to my local op shop (as we call thrift stores here) and buy up. I really need to get a mannequin and start building a refashioned wardrobe.

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  19. You are such a motivator for me! My hubby bought me a sewing machine for Christmas-I couldn’t even thread the needle–but after finding your blog, I am visiting thrift stores and refashioning every ugly article of clothing I can get my hands on! Thank you for the inspiration!

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  20. I’ve been following your blog for a long long time and it’s always been conveniently placed on my favorites bar. It is so nice to see you live and not just in pictures. What you do is awesome and you still inspire me to this day to keep refashioning. Congratulations!

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  21. How cool are you?!!!! Love what you do (so do my kids!) and great to see refashioning given a high profile! Well done 🙂

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  22. Thanks for your recap of how the dress was made. You were great on TV. A real natural and having worked for ABC (Palm Springs, CA Market) you did a great job. You were real good at not running them over their allotted segment time. That’s a “biggie” in TV land. I love your ideas and have shared your website with some of my “senior” friends, because we are always trying to find a way to save money. Thanks again.

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  23. You are amazing, Jillian! I love your blog, love your refashes, and mostly, I LOVE how you are environmentally conscientious and encourage others to be as well! You’re an extraordinary woman. Keep it up!

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  24. You are fabulously creative!!!
    For someone who hasn’t sewn in years, what machine do you recommend that isn’t too pricey?

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    • Thank you Karen! 🙂 I recommend Brother machines. Check out Amazon, and read reviews. They have some good inexpensive models.

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  25. Congrats! Wanted to watch the segment but that work thing got in the way. So glad you posted it! Awesome job and thanks for inspiring me in my refashioning endeavors.

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  26. Awesome spot, and im loving the purple refashion the most! Your voice sounded nothing like what I was expecting, for some reason I kept picturing an accent of some type.

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  27. I watched GMA and was disappointed that they didn’t identify you better. It seemed rushed but with all the bad news that morning I am so glad they didn’t just cut you. Your voice sounded nervous but then, you haven’t been doing audio. Perhaps a few lessons if you plan on public speaking would put you a ease. I have been refashioning for about 15 years. I love to see what you do. some I would never have thought of. love your site and you too, my girl.

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  28. You’re voice totally IS weird … but in a weirdly intriguing way. I want you to read me a book, like on audible! Haha. Voice aside, you did awesome! Those refashions were amazing as usual.

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  29. Yay!!!!! Congratulations Gillian you did a fabulous job and your accent/voice sounds just like an American should. It was lovely to see and hear you and I have always wondered how you managed to create such beautiful creations to fit you so perfectly – why I did not know that you purchased a few sizes too big I don’t know. Have a fabulous week Karen xx

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  30. Ab Fab, Jillian! Now that others know, you’ll inspire more individuals and families to refashion instead of purchase new items. Many congrats on a wonderful GMA segment!

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  31. I am so happy for you Jillian! What started out as a quiet one-woman fashion revolution has turned into something MUCH bigger. Your ideas have inspired me so very much. I’ve been following your blog for a long time and I’m always thrilled to see what you’re up to next. Many many congratulations!

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  32. Of curse I didn’t miss you on GMA, I put the alarm on to wake up. I have a newborn and haven’t been sleeping well at all. You were great and looked awesome.

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  33. Congratulations! You were great- so awesome that refashioning is hitting the mains stream media and more people are aware of it. That sparkling black number is so cute! I love the makeover of the ugly brown and cream shirt– it looks so great dyed!

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  34. AWESOME! You did a great job! None of us like our voices when we hear them played back! Now I can say “I followed her blog BEFORE she was on GMA!”

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  35. I found your blog after I saw you on GMA! Not only are you inspiring with your fashions but inspiring with real life events that you have shared. I have enjoyed your blog and will continue to follow.

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  36. You did great! There’s nothing wrong with your voice! The outfits you showed were lovely, hope to see more of you, perhaps on Ellen next? 🙂 🙂

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  37. Loved it! Had to laugh that my first thought was, OMG…she forgot her gloves! I guess that wouldn’t have looked very chic to be digging while wearing gloves though.

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  38. Congratulations from Australia! I’ve been a huge fan of your blog for what feels like forever. Thank you for posting the vid for us international fans to watch too 😀

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  39. Really, really cool. I’ve been reading your blog for a while now so it was fun to finally be able to put a voice to the face. People on the internet always sound way different than I imagine.

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  40. Yes I watched and I waS so impressed with the segment. I was a touch concerned that you might have been bumped. Was so happy to see you weren’t.
    You have inspired this 62 year old to jump out of my comfort zone. I am taking a few A line skirts and refashioning them into straight ones. They r made from knit fabric – that scares me a little. I’ll be working on them soon. Thanks for your blogging.

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  41. You were awesome! I’ve been following you for a few years myself and was thoroughly impressed that GMA invited you to show your work! Oh, and your voice? It was very different than what I expected 🙂 I guess I was expecting a higher pitch. You’re so petite and your voice is very strong! I’m very happy for you!

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  42. It’s just incredible how far you’ve taken this refashioning thing! You are an excellent ambassador for the world of refashions. (BTW I cannot get audio on the computer I am currently using, but I saw a previous interview with you perhaps a year or two ago, and your voice is fine – what are you thinking?!) Awesome job!

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  43. Great segment!

    Your voice in my head has nothing to do with your voice in real life, I imagined it very high pitched, like mine, I guess.

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  44. We taped GMA but I hadn’t watched it, so, glad you made it available here. Your voice is wonderful! My only complaint is that they didn’t show enough of you! You really are an inspiration!

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  45. You are so creative and a fashion visionary. Also very hard worker. I sew I know it takes work and patience. Keep them coming!

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  46. Hi! I’m a brazilian girl and I found your blog a few weeks ago and just loooove it!! S2 S2 S2
    I tell about your refashion to all my girl friends and they all love your work!!
    My mom own a thrift shop (is it correct? I just google the translation for used clothes store =P) and someday I’ll tranform some odd clothes that she sells in anything wonderfull like yours!! =D

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  47. Just subscribed to your blog and already love it. My friend and I were just talking about refashioning old clothes that we used to love. Thank you for sharing such good directions!

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  48. There are many shows on tv with people rehabbing old houses. This makes perfect sense that someone should take old useless clothing and create something useable from it. You should be so proud! Thank you for creative ideas!

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  49. It was so wonderful seeing you on Good Morning America!! You did a great job! I love following your blog and I was so proud of you.

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  50. CONGRATULATIONS Jillian! That was so fantastic! I’ve been following your blog for the longest time, and I’m a big fan, so it was super-fun to see you “in real life”.
    The refashes you did on the show turned out great, and I must say, your hair looked fabulous.
    Congrats, again….that was really great :-))

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