Looking luxe on a budget isn’t always easy, friends.
Sure, there are plenty of fabulous thrift store outfits to be scored, but sometimes a little extra DIY effort can take a ho-hum garment from dowdy to daring.
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You might also like this Ottolinger Deconstructed Sweater Knockoff refashion!
I loved this fur cuffed sweater by Prada when I saw it online, but I balked at its $900 price tag.
I’m sure some of you find it silly. I mean…it is. But after I saw it, I became obsessed with creating my own refashioned version.
According to the product description, you’re looking at a…
Prada cable knit mohair blend pullover with goat fur inserts on the cuffs.
Here’s how I made my own Prada Sweater dupe!
First, I found a sweater in a similar color at a thrift store for $1.
It took weeks for me to find anything close to that tealish green at my favorite thrift stores!
I considered dying a white cable knit sweater to my desired hue, but couldn’t find one of those either! Gah!
Technically, my sweater should be bigger, as well as cable knit and a mohair blend to be truly spot-on with my inspiration piece, but I just couldn’t wait a moment longer to complete this refashion!
You’ll notice I’m wearing some pretty big sunglasses in my before pics for this one. That’s because I’m still looking prrrrretty rough after my last (hopefully very last ever) chemo treatment and the bags under my eyes would scare small children (and could later be used to transport them to their respective therapists).
That’s right…this is my FIRST post-cancer refashion!!!! Huzzah!!!!!!!!
But where did I find the fur?
I hoped to find a pink fur pillow or kid’s jacket while thrifting, but no dice.
I finally went to a craft store where I still couldn’t find any bright pink faux fur (I decided to forgo the goat route).
I ended up buying a half yard of the stuff from Amazon for $22.
This is WAY more than you need for this project, but I couldn’t find a smaller quantity online.
If you can find pink faux fur at your local craft store, it’ll be much cheaper, as you won’t end up having to buy the massive amount I now own.
It’s okay. I have a six-year-old niece, and I’m sure I’ll come up with something fun to make for her out of it.
I measured the parts of the sweater sleeve I wanted to cover with the fur.
First, I measured the length.
Then, I measured the width, making sure to add on a little extra so I could overlap the fur.
If you’re following along at home, you’ll want to double this number (since you’ll need enough fur for both sides.
Using the measurements above, I cut out my two fur rectangles.
This was a very messy process that left me with a bunch of loose pink fur all over my work table and floor!
Seriously…keep a vacuum handy if you attempt this.
The fur itself didn’t shed. This is just from the act of cutting the rectangles out, thereby giving the surrounding fur a haircut.
Attaching the Fur Cuffs to the Sweater
I contemplated a few methods for attaching the fur to my sweater.
I didn’t want to sew it on, as I didn’t want any visible stitching.
I thought about sewing velcro to the sleeves, and then gluing velcro to the cuffs. This would make the fur detachable for laundering purposes, but I worried that would end up looking bulky and weird.
Finally, I settled on gluing the fur directly onto the sweater. I’d still be able to wash it, just on a hand wash setting and I’d have to let it air dry. No big deal, as this is how I wash most of my sweaters anyways.
Before getting my glue on, I inserted a piece of cardboard into each sleeve.
This will keep the glue from seeping through to the other side and gluing my sleeves together.
Here’s what my sleeves looked like after the cardboard was inserted:
What DIDN’T Work: Fabric Glue
I thought this was going to be a fairly straightforward no-sew refashion, but I was mistaken.
I grabbed my fabric glue.
Then I glued a line along the top of the fur where I wanted to attach it to the sleeve.
I laid my sleeve over the glued part.
I folded the rest of the fur over the sleeve. Then, I added more glue along the vertical end of the fur.
I folded that flap over the top of the fur (trying to hide the seam as much as possible).
I put a couple of heavy books on top of the glued fur to help it adhere better.
The instructions on the glue bottle said it would dry in 30 minutes.
I gave it an hour.
I removed my books and pulled gently at the fur.
The fabric glue was a complete and utter FAIL, friends!
Maybe the sweater was too porous? Maybe the fur’s backing was the wrong texture? I’m not sure.
Feel free to offer suggestions in the comments below!
What DID Work: Hot Glue Gun
It was time to break out the big guns…er gun!
I basically just repeated the same steps listed above but used hot glue instead of fabric glue.
It worked like a charm!
The hot glue held the fur firmly in place. It’s not going anywhere now!
Check out my Prada for nada Designer Dupe!
I think I came pretty close to my inspiration piece!
The colors aren’t perfect, and I wasn’t able to use the same materials as the original, but for $1 (plus the price of the fur), I think it works!
I styled my new-to-me sweater with a pair of faux leather pants, knee boots, and my favorite short wig!
My friend Erin said I looked like a muppet, but did I care? No. I did not.
What do you think? Did I get close to the real thing?
Not bad for a $1 thrifted sweater!
I think you are awesome and am so inspired by all of your posts! Love your designs and enthusiasm! You made me pull out my sewing machine as well as smile!
Your styling is miles ahead than Prada’s! You look SO much better than their model!
Seriously! This post is all about laughing out loud! Liquid Lies!!! Absolutely love your humor!
You look so adorable and badass at the same time! I absolutely love this!!
Yup the glue is E6000, it’s an industrial strength glue that will hold nearly anything. But I know it has some things it says not to like styrofoam. And I agree, only use outside or with a fan blowing it out a window. Phew! I bet your work is lovely ^_^
When I need fluffy fabric, I look for large stuffed animals at the thrift store. Most of the time they are a quarter. Julie 🙂
You 100% pull off a look I thought could only look silly in it’s knockoff form. The Prada sweater’s beauty comes from it’s luxurious materials. You may not have matched those, but you captured its unconventional spirit & made it shine through your styling. I love the wig, I like the refashion (on you), but most importantly–I love, love, love the smile of the beautiful and happy woman wearing them!
Yours is better because it doesn’t involve fur from captive animals ! However, it is no bueno for me. I don’t like long, synthetic, neon-colored fake fur on anything ! So impractical, but my first grade class would love it ! Ha, ha !
I would like it if the sweater was larger/longer, a lovely muted tone color, with short, soft fake fur of the similar color. I am considering doing one now that I see this. That would be classy, but maybe not so much of the fun of shocking onlookers hot pink troll sleeves !? Now that might be fun, too !
Happy that you are done with the treatments. Just read today that sorghum (of all things) is good to reduce tumors and you might check that out. https://nutritionfacts.org/video/is-sorghum-a-healthy-grain/?utm_source=NutritionFacts.org&utm_campaign=5f6dce66b3-RSS_VIDEO_DAILY&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_40f9e497d1-5f6dce66b3-23763797&mc_cid=5f6dce66b3&mc_eid=09a92ba395
I think your sweater looks much better!! And that wig is FAB on you! Hope you are doing well, been praying for you. You are a great inspiration!!!!
The best refashion in a long time! Going to try this for my foxy little granddaughter! You’re such an inspiration.
Yours is soooooo much better and looks super amazing on you!
It’s definitely something you can pull off girl!! Me, not so much but you did a great job!!
What a fun refashion! So happy you’re done with chemo.
Love it! But, lets talk about that wig! It is amazing…..does not look like a wig at all
Sweater is so fun!! Love it! Yay for last ever chemo. And the wig is super cute on you!!
Wonderful news about your recovery! Thank you for sharing about your husband’s kindness-it is a great counter for the nasty national news coming out this week as well. Goodness reigns!
I can always count on you for some crazy entertainment! Faux Fur sleeves…. WHAT???
THEY: Took a really nice sweater and Crapitalized it. YOU: took a ho hum sweater and had fun and entertained us with it! You are an Artist!! Thank you! The wig is super cute but you are also super cute bald so…you are pretty blessed! Thanks for sharing your journey with us. Being an inspiration is no light duty.
That wig is adorable on you!
Very cute on you. The next time you need fur, try the FurBoutique on ETSY. I make gnomes and order from her all the time. You could make some valentine gnomes with your left over pink fur!
Silly, silly, silly! But silly is fun if you don’t have to pay an outrageously exorbitant price for it. Ditto on most of the comments I’m seeing here about your superior styling and cute wig. May 2021 be a great year for you.
Refashion(*)…oops.
Welcome back! I think the hot pink on yours is way cool. And I’m so glad to see that you’re feeling up to refashioning!
Yours looks WAY better than Prada the way you’ve styled it. If the hot glue doesn’t survive washing, try attaching the fur with regular staples. My friends & I stapled our jeans to taper them circa 1989 and they washed well & didn’t come out. You look fab in that blonde wig, it really works with your colouring. Also I do wish the Muppets would make a comeback!
Not a huge fan of the design as such but I always enjoy your encounters in refashioning!
Love the boots & pants, tho. They’re hot!
It sounds like I am sucking up but….I like yours better…the color choices are prettier!
For some reason I can’t leave my own comment, I can only reply to Jamie’s comment. Thanks Jamie!
I like yours better too but I kinda agree w your friend about the muppets on your arms. Lol but everyone needs muppets on their arms.
The short blondish wig looks great on you. Hope you are feeling better and you kick cancer’s ass but good.
I like yours better!
I like yours better. Also you styled it better.
I totally get why you would suddenly get obsessed by doing this refashion, it’s so colorful and cheerful! I love the pink muff-like cuffs. Remember those victorian muffs (hope it’s the right english word…)? They do keep your hands warm in winter! I should know, since I recently did a (less colorful) ‘muff’ refashion myself. No more freezing hands!
I second your comment about cutting through the back of the fur using an xacto/craft knife. I made a bunch of wolf costumes using faux fur for a theater production and cutting it this way took a little longer but it definitely saved my sewing room from being completely covered in fur.
This is fantastic! You look amazing! I made one of my kids a brown bear costume for Halloween once and fur does indeed get everywhere. The trick is to do small snips at the base of the fur, under the fur itself and at the material. The large cuts make the mess but the smaller snips at the base allow the fur to pull apart once its cut. Great job!
I prefer your version to the Prada sweater and much, much prefer your price tag 🙂 At 67 this is not my kind of thing, but you sure rock it girl and I love the short wig. P.S, muppets are cool.
Somehow the original looks frumpy, and who wears a collared shirt under a sweater with hot pink fur cuffs? Not to mention the crazy price tag. You rock the look for sure, and would be right at home at an 80’s party. That is once parties are an option again. Fun refashion. And yes, only someone with your cuteness factor could pull it off.
Loved following the process here. Just move on from that glue fail and try the next thing, it’s a crafter’s mantra. Your styling of this sweater is a drastic improvement on the original. Those sleeves must be so fun to wear, especially if you’re teaching, or gesturing as you address a group of little kids or tourists. Keeping your hacks in mind for costumery for the future. Thanks so much for brightening my whole day.
Its a win! You look great in the favorite wig & styling too!
You are right! When working with fur you always cut the skin side so it would probably be the same with faux fur too.. I work with rabbit and deer hides when making Native American regalia and that is how I was taught by an elder. There is a glue, I think it’s called E500 ? that works very well- but it stinks, must be used outside, and comes with chemical warnings. I used it once making a turkey feather fan but I won’t use it since I read the warnings. Crazy Crow Trading Company sells a fur that looks like what is used on this sweater. By the way I like your blue sweater better.
Your version looks better.
FWIW, I read in a plushie pattern I’m getting ready to sew that you can avoid a lot of that loose extra fur by drawing your pattern on the back and cutting through the backing fabric only (not the fur) with an Xacto knife. I haven’t tried it yet, but it sounds good in theory. This is my first comment on your blog and I’d like to say I’ve been following you for years and, as a fellow cancer survivor, I’m so happy your treatment is complete and wishing you the best! ♥
Oooooh! Thanks for tip! That’ll definitely be helpful for the massive amount of fur I have leftover. 😉
Can’t say I’m a fan of the sweater, but the hair, I love it! I think this is the best one yet! It’s just perfect!
I love your refraction on that Prada sweater.I would never pay $940 for a sweater.That would buy 6 months worth of groceries!
Your short wig is on point and you look beautiful.
Bueno that you duplicated, and improved on. that Prada item that Prada groupies would shell out for.
I…and WE! All love you….even thought that style is so ridiculous.
Keep it up Girl, we rely on you to help us make style for …way way less.
Your short wig looks GREAT on you! And your version of the sweater is way better than the Prada version 😉
I love it. And that wig is so cute. Maybe as your hair is growing out you will want to color it and style it like that. I love it that you wear what you want and pull it off- despite other’s comments. Miss Piggy would approve!
I love it!! It turned out much better than the Prada!! Keep getting better!
When I saw the Prada one I HATED it. The styling doesn’t work at all and makes it look super weird. The one you made is AWESOME. The way you styled it makes it so fun and funky, and I think the slim fit juxtaposed with the furry sleeves works a lot better than the Prada. So happy to hear that you are recovering well!
Muppets-funny-who doesn’t love muppets!
Very fashion forward & cute.
So glad you’re back!
Love your sweater way better! Also love your hair!
So Darling!!!
Is it really a $1 refash if you spent $22 on the faux fur though?
Although you did a decent job, this is not one of my faves. Even the Prada sweater is hideous.
Sorry Jillian!
You did a fabulous job on a lookalike Prada fashion sweater. I have been following your journey through chemo and am so glad that is over for you. My husband did 7 1/2 years of chemo due to another cancer.
I like yours much better. Great job!
Like a few other commenters, I would not personally wear this…however…I’ve followed you for so long & always loved your passion and creativity! There’s always something to be learned from your experiences, so thanks for expanding my horizons with your brilliance! Nice job 🙂
you rock! you look devine
Truths be told, not my style. But you would look cute in a burlap bag. Helps to be young! But it is good to see you getting back to a little more normalcy. You get an “A” for effort! Hugs from southern Colorado!
Honestly, yours is soo much cuter ! Your total look is perfection.. continued wellness and refashing <3
Not my style but so much fun!!! Love the final photos, you wear it well!
You knocked this one outta the park !! Darling look on you. Love the wig, too! So natural and fits your cute personality. lynn
The sweater is cute and looks really cute on you! I absolutely love your wig it looks really great!
Like your version way better than the Prada. Congrats on the last treatment.
I think it’s really funny that after a whole year of homemade stuffymaking as requested by my kiddos….I never thought to flip it over! whaaaaa? So simple.
Also, Jillian you are amaing. That wig is rockin!
I’m only just now learning this as well! Thanks!!!
Love the wig. Looks so natural on you. Sweater….cute but not too many people could wear it.
Very cute! And congrats on your last chemo treatment-yeah!
Just FYI, when cutting fur, you should flip it over & only cut through the backing, you never cut the fur itself. This will greatly decrease the mess lol.
Ms Jillian…I believe you have greatly improved on the original! The way you styled your outfit actually works in a cute/silly way…the original…I’m sorry, but it just looks ridiculous…and whomever would be doofus enough to spend that kind of money on that sweater…well…bless their heart…some things you just can’t fix.
You’re such a sweet and talented and quite strong lady! My prayers continue for you and your precious husband! G- d bless, be safe and all the best for the new year!
Tonna Chavez-Ott
You know, I did NOT like the sweater until you tried it on. it looks cute on YOU! I would not be able to pull off that look.
its so fun and silly! Loving the short wig and big glee-asses on you 🙂
No. Just no
Ok, this is not my favorite refashion. It’s like you killed a muppet and stuck it on the sleeves. Lol. But you did get close to the original.
You look cute as a button in that outfit – especially with that wonderful wig! I admire your spunk & creativity! And I’m so glad you are on the mend.
Great, especially with those jeans and boots!
Brilliant refashion! And I love that you somehow always have matching oversized sunglasses. Tres chic!
It looks Fab on you ! ! ! ! I was not so sure when i first saw it but it is darling on you! ! ! ! <3
Your friend’s crack about you looking like a muppet was pretty good! But you’ve got the style to pull it off and look funky…excellent!
I think you look cute as a button! This is not something I would wear, but you get all kinds of kudos for trying it, succeeding and totally rockin’ the look.
Love the wig! I L O V E the wig! <3
Your creativity always amazes me! Such a great idea. For a trendy item, to only spend a little is so smart! No Muppet looks here, just fun!
Your refashion is the bomb but who on earth would ever pay $900 dollars for a sweater? That’s rent or a car payment people!
You did a great job, if that’s your thing! On you it works with those pants, but I don’t know if anyone else could pull it off! I LOVE that wig. Please post a link to find it.
Thank you so much! As for the wig, just google “Risk by Ellen Wille”. lots of places sell it, and it’s my favorite. I went with a blonde rooted style here, but also have a couple of darker ones too.
Yours is WAY cuter!