Into the Awkward: A ’60s Dress to Top Refashion
Today I woke up feeling really really off and awkward. It was a weird day.
Then it became a sad day when I was reminded that this would be my friend Jonny’s birthday if he were still here.
And writing an article entitled “Hey Ladies. This is Why You’re Still Single.” (I’m working on it, Alan. I’m working on it. You’ll get it today, I swear.) was a little tough to stomach when I’m so very clearly not an expert here. :/
It was time to take on the type of awkwardness I’m actually good at dealing with. The kind of awkward I can totally handle. The awkward I can fix. The awkward I kind of love.
Let’s dive into an Awkward Dress to Top Refashion!
You’re looking at a handmade polyester dress that looks red to me, but is apparently actually orange? You tell me.
Anywho…It’s awkward. It doesn’t fit, and then there was this awkward bib thing that I didn’t quite understand:
The bib snapped out, so that was an easy fix, but I still needed to take on the fit (or rather lack thereof) of the dress.
First I pinned…
…then I stitched!
I decided I wasn’t in the mood for a dress at the last minute, so I chopped off the bottom part.
I added a new hem to my new and rapidly-fraying raw edge…
After a quick press, my new top was ready to hang out with some lovely friends!
Cheers!
39 Comments
Vizion Heiry
If you turn the skirt into a pencil and wear it with the crop top showing a bit of tummy it would be oh so sexy. Especially with a light blue strappy heel (if the color is reddish orange).
cakevictim
My mom and I made a very similar dress, that had an off-center button-up back, in a very -trendy -for -1984 aqua poly-cotton. Yeah I’m old-and you make me want to get out my machine!!
Alice
Totally a lurker. You’ve inspired me to resurrect my sewing/costume skills from days gone by. Made a dress from a skirt, etc. thank you!
Also, love this top with those boots!
ellaeldredge23
I would totally buy any book you wrote! Just sayin 🙂
Jill Schwieger
OK…..One MORE additional comment! I’m sitting here by myself, laughing at some of your “before” pictures (you’re just too cute), and thinking……Sometime you ought to show up at one of your friend gatherings in a “before” and just announce that it’s been a hectic day. Maybe even wear a sign that says BEFORE. Well, I thought it was funny….
SuzyDQ
I noticed that very same thing!! Love the top, the boots, YOU, Jilly!
redhead
Love it! Looks kinda cyber-ish to me, very nice!
Jill Schwieger
One additional comment….I just now went and watched your Mob Dance for Jonny, watched it to the end, and yes I did see your friend. He must have been a beautiful person and friend. I hope you had a piece of cake for him today. If not, it’s not too late!!! Blessings….
ames
I was thinking maybe you could use the bottom half and make a cute crop top dress sort of thing – very “in” and would be so cute on you!
jaime b.
Ooh make a corset or high waisted skirt. I would!
LJ
First time poster, long time lover of your site! Thanks for making refashioning so fun… and thanks for the South Park “kitteh” reference. Made me laugh out loud. 🙂
ReFashionista
Ah! A lurker! 😉 Thank you so much. 🙂
Gillian
Love the refashion. I also love getting your posts, definitely get your book “out” and glad to see you and Dan are friends.
Brittany
Is that Dan in the pics?? Hopefully things are better in that department! 🙂
ReFashionista
It is Dan. We’re on good terms, but no…we’re not a couple anymore.
Katie
Must be hard. I tip my hat to you for being adult about the situation and attempting to keep the friend-base as unawkward as possible.
Jill Schwieger
Now THAT’S awkward…and uncomfortable….and stressful. Glad you looked hot in your new ORANGE top for the occasion!Bless you for taking on that personal challenge…..
ReFashionista
Gah! Why can’t I tell these colors apart? WHY?!?!
It’s not nearly as bad as it could be. Dan and I were friends for years before we ever started dating. I think that makes it easier.
Shelby
UGH. Best of luck navigating that terrain. Probably one of the hardest parts of a break up is finding a way to be around each other in a mutual friend group so that they don’t start inviting only one of you to things bc of incivility. It’s been over 6 years (and I’m 5 years into a relationship that is now a 3 year marriage) and I still hate having to deal w/ my last ex in those situations. Hopefully you guys are better off than my ex and I were.
sewcookgardenrepeat
Hahahaha “Less awkward” I think it would strangely look cute as a skirt and top set, like one of those high waisted pencil skirts with a crop top that has suddenly become trendy? But I like it as is too. 🙂
ReFashionista
That’s a good idea, and I DID save the bottom scrap.
Kristin
Looks great and I love the boots!
Lyn
Have you tried in on backwards. It would look cute too.
Gina
I always look forward to your creations. Great Job!
Karen Sava Critter
Have you thought of writing your story? including your creativity, how you got into doing these projects, it would be very interesting and inspiring i am sure.
ReFashionista
Thank you! 🙂 I actually HAVE thought about writing a book, and a good friend of mine once told me, “If you feel like you have a book in you, you owe it to yourself to get it out.”. I’ve thought about doing a how-to book , but I’d like to do a memoir as well.
Kristin
You definitely should!
Leona
Wings, wine and a winning new top! You rocked it!
Erica Louise
Looks great Jillian, and matches the zip on your gorgeous boots!
mindilee
me thinks you have an orange/red color blindness. hehee. other than that. LOVE THIS!
Roz
Love your work!! Have you ever combined two or more articles of clothing to make one?
ReFashionista
Thank you! And yep…although I don’t do it very frequently. 🙂 I’ll add a link or two here later. 🙂
Tammy P
Very cool top and LOVE those boots. Lol! I read back through many of your older blog posts and am inspired not only by your creations but how much you share/give of yourself to the blog. I think many of us can relate to the ups and downs of life and it helps to see that you can get through them. Thanks for sharing!
ReFashionista
Thank you very much. I probably overshare….Herm…:)
Mims
I love that you seem to have so much fun making and wearing your creations! Makes me smile 🙂
Elaina
another great job! Looks good! you have inspired me to check out the Goodwill for my girls. One needed 2 “professional” outfits for school projects (8th grade). I knew the clothes would not be worn more than that, so off to the Goodwill for a couple of blazers and skirts. Found some that went together, re-sized the skirts and cut off the length and daughter looked like a million bucks! Thanks for your inspiration.
Robyn S.
I wasn’t too sure about this one, but it turned out cute! PS, love those boots!
Judy
Another winner made from a loser! and enough fabric left for a skirt!
Connie
You made a cute top. It would also have made a good tunic top.