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Channeling Chanel: A Simple Drapey Black Dress Refashion

Burn Victim
Halt(er)! Who Goes there?

I was so very very very excited about this piece.  

Channeling Chanel Dress Refashion Before
Uncle Fester?????

Black!  Black!  Oh beautiful black!  How I have missed thee! 

When scouring the thrift store for clothes to refashion, I hardly ever find any in black for some reason! 

For those of you who don’t know me, I loooooove black.  It’s so classic…so elegant!   Also, I had just rewatched this awesome film the night before:  

Channeling Chanel: A Simple Drapey Black Dress Refashion 3
Starring the lovely Audrey Tautou!!!

I looooove vintage Chanel clothing.  Sadly, having chosen a highly lucrative career in Non-Profit Arts Management<—sarcasm (don’t feel bad…it’s wonderful work! 🙂 ), I own none of it. 

However, I saw potential in this dress to make my very own Chanel wannabe dress with simple lines and a classic look.  

First off, I needed to remove some of that length.  A lot of it actually.  Then, I needed to take it in on the sides a good bit, but still in keeping with the drapiness of the dress.  

taking in side of dress
Chalkin’ and Pinnin’

I decided against taking the bottom of the dress in, as it looked nice as is, and I didn’t want to lose those marvelously practical pockets.  

Next, I hemmed the bottom of the dress under.  

hemming bottom of dress
A quick and simple hem

Now, I just needed a sash for my waist to complete the look.    

To make a nice lil sash, I took some of the fabric from the bottom of the dress that I cut off earlier  

bottom scrap from dress
Yay! I’m about to be reincarnated!I

I cut a smaller strip from this, folded it over once, the folded it under, and THEN pinned it all along the strip.  

sewing sash for dress
Pinned and ready to go under the needle!

Now, All I had to do was sew it down!  

stitching sash
Whirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!! Whirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!

Yay!  All Done (after pressing my seams and my sash)!!!!  

I think my new dress turned out quite lovely.  

Simple Drapey Dress Refashion After
TOBORS!!!!

Seriously…this might be my favorite yet.   I felt so chic and got tons of compliments all night long!  🙂  CoCo would have been pleased.  

Simple Drapey Dress Refashion After
Standing waaaaaaay too close to the TV!!!

 Bonjour!  😉

Drapey Black Dress Refashion
Burn Victim
Halt(er)! Who Goes there?