I’m so excited to show you my chosen frock for St. Patrick’s Day!
Do you like it?
When I scored this dress for a mere dollar, I knew it was exactly what I needed to celebrate a fun day with friends!
Now, clearly this dress has a few issues, but methinks I can get them taken care of in time to get my drink on! 🙂
I didn’t like anything about the top of this dress. As temps were in the 70’s, I decided some choppage was in order!
Some of you are really going to hate what I did next…which was remove the peplum (I know some of you love ’em).
There are a couple of reasons for this. First, I hate peplums. Yes, I’ve done several refashions where I’ve left a peplum in tact, but that was really more for your benefit than mine (I’m selfless like that). Also, I knew I’d be taking this dress in from the sides, and that peplum would just get in the way. So…off it went!
I snipped really carefully, but you could still see where the peplum had been cut.
No biggie! I turned the dress inside-out and restitched the seam between the skirt and the top (sort of like a french seam).
I hemmed the raw edge on the top of the dress…
…then I got to work on taking in the sides!
I must apologize for failing to photograph what I did next. 🙁 I added two green halter straps to the front of the dress from a tshirt I was also working on refashioning.
You can only barely see them in the after pics, as my hair is covering them up. Just know they’re there and they look just fine (promise!). 🙂
Check out that dress now!
My new frock was perfect for a St. Pat’s party with pals! 🙂
Cheers!
L.O.V.E the before and after side by side change.
I’m a new admirer of your blog, but this is definitely one of my faves so far. You are so very talented & inspirational.
Your ‘french seam’ idea to hide the cut-off peplum is brilliant! There have been so many times I’ve passed on a refashion because the raw edge of removal would be too obvious. There’s a whole new world of refashion options open to me now!
I love this. I think this is my favorite of your refashions!
I hate peplums too, although they usually look nice in your refashes (i am not nearly so slim, so I will not be adding excess fabric to my hips). But a peplum on this refash? Idk, I can’t even imagine! It’s so sleek and streamlined the way you made it. Love it just the way it is!
This is an amazing refash! I found your blog a couple of weeks ago, and have spent WAY to many hours looking at your previous refashions. I want to thank you for helping me look at old clothes with new eyes.
I didn’t ever notice the need for the before and after picture side by side – but I love it! It is a great way to wrap the whole post up and show us how much work you did! Great re-fashion!
I have to say that I think all of your refashies are getting better and better. This is absolutely superb!!
One of my faves! I’m super jealous its in the 70’s over there, its in the 40’s up in WA today! I’m sick of refashioning sweaters, I want some strappy cute dresses and hacked up t shirts!! Although I have created the easiest pattern EVER for turning sweaters/sweatshirts into yoga pants and leggings (the shoulders become the hips, the armpits become the crotch, stitch the 2 pieces together, add a waistband, DONE!) I’d love to see you try some if my description made enough sense LOL
Very cute – that “before” dress was one hot mess! I would have shrieked and run in horror. You are a brave soul!
I really love what you did, the changes you made. I only have one question. Why did you make the straps out of other material? Why not use what was left over from the dress. I am amazed and in awe that you can take old frumpy huge clothing and make something very stylish out of it. I love your thinking outside the box!!
Thanks! I just loved the softness of the other material and knew it would feel nice on my shoulders. 🙂 I saved the scrap from the dress though, and hope to be able to use it soon! 🙂
Very cute! Love how you just cut in to things! Would be a disaster if I tried that…
Wonderful before and after shot. The refashion looks WAY better than the before!
LOVE IT! and the before and after shots are great!
It looks like the buttons aren’t evenly spaced, or is that just the camera angle? Very nice refashion indeed.
The buttons aren’t evenly spaced. Not sure why…just how the dress was made. Strange, huh?
I hate peplums! Why would I willingly wear a butt flap??
I am completely behind you on the peplum decision — who wants all that weight right in the middle? Eeep! Blurg! Etc! It’s a Pinterest-fueled fad I want to disappear! The finished product is super-duper cute, and I love how you typically wrap up your posts with you having a fabulous time.
I love your refashions – but I do think you can pull pretty much anything off as you are so slim! A fitted dress on me, after three kids, would not look quite so great… 😉
That looks a lot better after.
I’m totally down with the peplum. I’m one of your fans that would’ve left it on, but I agree with firstmute, the great thing about refashioning is transforming something into something that fits you (both literally and figuratively!) 😉
~Jen
http://www.diaryofamadmama.wordpress.com
Aw, I like the peplum. But that’s what’s great about sewing–you can make the clothes YOU like, instead of wearing what the stores want you to like!
Very cute! And I agree, down with peplums! They are too eighties.
LOVE LOVE LOVE
Very Cute! And I love all the “Befores” lined up on the rack behind you! Can’t wait to see them!
ok – question!! Where do I get a dress form that I can use to make clothes that will actually fit me? And your refashes never cease to amaze me! 🙂
I would recommend making one yourself (not as impossible as it sounds, don’t worry!), the instructions here are really good. You save a bucket-load of money compared to buying one and it is also completely fitted to you, as opposed to “generic mannequin shape”! :p
http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/3659/clone-yourself-a-fitting-assistant/page/all
I made one myself, although if I could do it again I would get a friend to help me (much much easier!) and I would also take care not to make the shoulders so wide, as I struggle to get some things on and off mine. It was fun to make though and it’s definitely useful!
If you are just starting out and haven’t decided if this is going to be your bag or not, I would totally agree with making your own. If you are already pretty into sewing and also sew for other people of different sizes, this adjustable Singer model is available online at JoAnns. I don’t recommend the cheaper one, as it’s cheap.
^This. 🙂 I ordered mine on Amazon.com for about $100. Making your own might be the way to go at first. It might even be all you really need! 🙂
I am just now doing my first refashion with my new dress form – what a difference it makes! No more awkward wiggling and pin pricks…I, too, got mine from Amazon – it was on sale for about $80.00 and I love it.