I was quite happy to stumble upon this dress with a lovely cameo print in a recent thrift store visit. 🙂
I was even willing to look past those gigantic shoulder pads!
Okay. I clearly have some work to here to make this dress refashion happen.
First, I made a few chops.
Don’t worry! I know some of you guys hate it when I remove cuffs & collars, but I’m keeping these. They’re just being relocated!
With my cuffs chopped and those pads removed, I was ready to take in this dress a bit.
I took it from the back like so:
I took the cuffs and pressed the raw edges down.
Then, I stitched each side down.
I took one cuff and pinned it under the largest lapel on my new dress.
Is it a bit odd or dare I say avant-garde? Yes. Yes it is.
In case you can’t tell, I’ve been on a bit of an asymmetry kick lately, hence my ‘do! This dress was going to be a fun experiment in balance or lack thereof.
Just play in the space with me for a little bit, okay?
I stitched the cuff down.
Then I chopped a bit more from one of the sleeves.
I hemmed the raw edge…
…then I attached the remaining cuff!
The other sleeve got a different kind of cuff!
Now I just needed to get rid of some of that length!
I hemmed my new dress, and stitched that bottom part into a sash.
That’s right…this was almost a totally no-waste refashion!
I’m really happy with this one, you guys!
And here it is from the back!
My cameo dress and I made a cameo (har har) appearance at my pal Phillip’s house for some tasty chili with friends! 🙂
Cheers!
This was 2 years ago and nobody is going to read this, but… When I saw the fabric I really hoped this one would go into a romantic direction, with no collars and a feminine cut.
Too cute! I love it!!
Im not likeing the floating cuff..looks really weird. Other than tht way to go!
Its not what I would have done with it, mostly because my style never really is bold or fearless (also, I’m one that is ALWAYS removing cuffs & collars-haha). I DO love that you take chances and this really does look great on you!
Tremendously creative. I think this is one of the best so far. Very inventive. The white cuff offsets/contrasts with the fabric in a visually jarring (and good) way.
I’m on the “no” to the floating cuff thing, but the rest is awesome. I’m not a fan of the asymmetrical thing anyhow.
I love no-waste (or almost no-waste) refashions 🙂
As for the refashion itself, the end result is not quite my cup of tea, but that is because I’m not very bold in my fashion choices. You are really an artist with your refashions, using your garment as a canvas, and that is very much reflected in this dress in particular. Good on ya.
Now that I have finished looking at every refashion in this blog I can start following at a slower pace and comment. I really like this idea. It does look a bit disconnected but a white edge on the lapel, connecting the two white sections, would do the trick. I am preparing to alter everything in my closet (from size 12 to size 8) and will be looking for an item to try this idea.
what do you do with the part of the skirt that you cut off? you must have a whole pile of them by now!
I stitched it into a sash! 🙂
I just love that you started with a tacky crazy dated dress and made into a fun and happy piece of wearable art!
Cute except For The white lapel addition
I really love this dress and the fun you’ve had making it. It reflects your personality – more of this please!
I love the fabric, the cameo design is so funky! I always love how you can see the potential in every garment. I have to agree with some of the others, the floating cuff/collar is a bit distracting. What is important is how YOU feel about the creation. Please keep refashing, you are such an inspiration.
Sydney and Muriel said what I was going to say. Hmm… odd that so many strangers think alike! I love your creativity with this, and the print is really cool!
I love your ideas. They are great, but I am like some of the others, I don’t like the cuff just hanging there. It seems out of place. But what do I know, I just look forward to all of your ideas and wished that I could see the vision, too.
Oh my goodness! I can’t believe I just read two years of your life. However, it was time well spent. I really enjoyed all the refashions and was inspired to sketch out a few of my own to try. Thank you for sharing…well…everything. I know it was hard to put your dating life on display, but I’m sure it helped someone to know they weren’t alone with problems in the love department. I recently began sewing, like you, I didn’t like it when I was younger. I thought sewing was for girls until recently. Lol! Any way, it looks like you have a fun, amazing life. Enjoy. Ciao.
Love everything except the ‘floating’ cuff – it looks like it has fallen off somewhere and just landed there………………………..
Love the dress and the nod to RB. This dress is going to change the face of in your face!
Your style is so unique that I truly believe you can pull off anything you refashion. Some may or may not like it, but style is supposed to be unique to the person. I love everything you do for all us fellow thrifter and refashioners out there. (:
Love your refashions! But just have to say, from the picture, that is NOT chili!!!
Yes it is! It’s white chili! Totally legit! 😉
Lover of all things ‘punny’ that I am, I loved this plenty “…My cameo dress and I made a cameo appearance”
Good job! as always.
Looks like a modern art-style dress! Love it!
I agree with Sydney too… the floater should been continuous with the neck collar. But my major disappointment is with the top of the sleeves, they are too big and too far from the top of your shoulders. That should be fixed easily. No worries, you are still my major refash hero!
Agree…love this without the Floating Cuff…
You amaze me!! I love it. Personally I like how you put the second cuff at an odd angle. It looks more modern than if you had Of placed it so it looked like an extension of the existing collar.
I just discovered your blog and was reading it all weekend!!
You have a Wonderful imagination to be able to come up with all your great ideas! You’ve really inspired me to rethink how I view my outdated clothing!
I’m with Sydney. This dress is almost perfect it just needs the first cuff to be flipped so that the narrow end is at the bottom and then sewn right on top of the existing …what on earth do you call it?…existing extended collar? Your idea and execution are otherwise perfect. And you look great in it! I’ve been a long-time follower and you’ve made me brave enough to try restructuring some of my own (unfortunate) things.
As a lover of asymmetry, I had to let you know – WAY TO GO!!!! Love this dress – just wish I could wear my dresses that short – I’m 70 years old and fat!!! However, you are a great inspiration to me and as a friend just gave me a bunch of dresses which need re-modeled, I will be re-fashioning soon!
I don’t like the lapel either. Looks unfinished. Also one shoulder seam is a lot lower then the other. Love your make overs, but this one missed the mark.
Too cute! I wonder how your mind works. I wish mine worked like yours.
Love the results 90% . . . Love the asymmetrical look . . . BUT I think I would’ve put the diagonal white second lapel right under (or at least closer, at a similar angle to) the top white one . . . To me, it looks a little disconnected floating there at an odd angle. But never fear, I am distinctly a Fan!
Not a fan of this one, but I love your continued creativity!