
ModCloth-Inspired New Year’s Eve Dress Refashion
Happy New Year, friends! 🙂 Are you as excited about it as I am?
I’m ready. I’m pumped.
While last year was very successful in many ways, it was also an emotionally draining one that I’m happy to be closing and putting on the shelf.
I hope you’re as excited as I am!
I was struck by the awesomeness of the Bohemian Elegance dress from ModCloth.
Isn’t this dress just sigh-worthy? I love it! I love the brown hue and I love how the bottom is sheer.
I just knew I could make a ModCloth-Inspired New Year’s Eve Dress refashion out of this $1 thrift store find right here:
There are several differences between my thrifty find and my inspiration piece…not the least of which being the color.
The label in my new dress had been completely ripped out, but I should have known it was mostly polyester, which doesn’t take to dye very well.
But I was feeling adventurous!
So I threw my dress in my washing machine with a whole bottle of brown dye and two cups of salt as per the instructions on the bottle.
I should have known there was no way this dress was going to go full-brown.
BUT my efforts weren’t for naught!
I at least managed to muddy up that pale blue a bit, and those flowers were quite transformed from their stark white. See?
Unfortunately, my dye job revealed a nasty secret. :/
I almost gave up on this dress then and there. Those newly-revealed stains were just nasty…and I wasn’t sure how to get rid of them.
Unfortunately, it was already New Year’s Eve and my friends were going to arrive to pick me up for the evening’s festivities shortly.
I had to make this work!
I snipped off the ties from the shoulders of my new dress…
Then, I ripped off those sleeves.
This removed some of the grody pitness, but not all of it.

I had to do a bit more ripping to remove the lining from the outer stained layer.
While I was picking, I went ahead and made the distance between the shoulders of the dress narrower.
But Ack! Those stains!
Suddenly, I knew exactly what to do!
The outer layer is blousier than the lining. It would need to be taken in if it was going to look anything like the original anyway. So….two birds! One stone!
I took it in.
I cut off those stained bits and wished them well on their journey to my trash can.
Almost done!
I closed up my new arm holes, leaving them detached from each other.
For my final trick, I cut off some of the lining so my new dress would mirror the opaque-to-sheer look of my inspiration piece.
Now that pitted-out thrifted dress dress is New Year’s Eve-Ready!
I had a wonderful evening with my friends!
I’m so very grateful for the amazing company I keep. They make the highest highs transcendent and the lowest lows possible to bear.
Cheers to a brand new year full of possibilities!


69 Comments
Naomi
I really love this one. It might be fun to give it an asymmetrical hem (longer in the back) if you feel like changing it up again!
Abby
so pretty!!
Carole
Really lovely this is one of my favourites! You are an inspiration.
mishqueen
Fabulous refash into a gorgeous dress! But…this time I really loved the original. I have NO idea where I could wear something like that, but it was a piece of art!
Bree
I think your dress is better than the inspiration!
Lisa
You’re such a talented seamstress!, good job
Kelly
This is absolutely STUNNING! Looks GREAT on you! I like what you did with the top, very nice. Oh, and I was laughing throughout this (you are so witty!) 🙂
Sharon
I think your FANbloodyTASTIC so please keep doing what your doing! You’ve inspired me to do loads of sewing not that i’d ever be brave enough to post them for everyone to see… wish we had that dye brand over here too!! Thanks again your a gem.
Hugs from Ireland !
Helena A.
Hi! I think your dress turn out better than the one of McCloth! I LOVE it!!!!
Kisses from Portugal!
Jennifer Lewis
Beautiful refashion – very elegant. I’m looking forward to the site changes in 2014.
Melwyk
I love your new goals for 2014! Look forward to seeing some of your new skills in action — sewing is so addictive, you can’t help but keep learning once you start… 🙂 Also love the idea of sharing more about ethics & fashion — I just read the very thought-provoking book “Overdressed” by Elizabeth Cline, which just happened to mention refashioning & the Refashionista — nice surprise!
Rebecca Royce
I àm incredibly curious about the size of your closet. You do such fabulous work, but the sheer volume astounds me. Do you wear items for a one time occasion and then discard them? What happens to the creations when you run out of hangers. Wish I could replicate all your projects but I have no space.
ReFashionista
I save some, but then I donate a lot of things too. I think of it as a rescue-rehab-release program. 😉
Neely
Love the site, wanted to share a tip. For armpit stains (or any biological stain) equal parts BLUE (must be blue) dawn soap and peroxide work wonders. I put it in a small tupperware, mix and apply to garment with an old toothbrush. Let it sit for all of 5-10 minutes, then throw in wash. Work wonders I tell you!
ReFashionista
Awesome! Thanks for the tip!
smithtabby
One of my favorites.This looks so elegant!
Magda E.
Loved the post… not only the refashion itself, but your resolutions! I’ll sure stick around! Have a great year!
Sunny
Girl, you completely OWNED this refash!! Easily my fav so far!!! Love IT!!! Happy New Year!!!! xxx
VeronicaS
LOVE LOVE it!
Dar
Great job. The belt is not ideal. Perhaps you need to refashion some belts and other accessories. I do have another idea for you. Refashion for someone else besides yourself. It may be a little harder to find frocks to redo for someone larger than you. I know it is a problem for some of us! And what about men’s fashions?
Irene
Great refashion! Love the way it turned out!
Jo H.
This looks beautiful on you! Nice job.
mindilee
too bad you couldn’t keep your sleeves, that keyhole look is like… all the rage right now.
Andrea
Happy New Year! I wish that my local thrift shops had more in my size. Every time I walk through them, I think of you, and the amazing things that you do. Have a great and happy year.
jennbecca
Happy New Year Jillian! You inspire me sew much!!!! I’m excited for Wannabe Wednesdays!!!! Your awesome!!!
Chica Andaluza
Absolutely gorgeous – thanks for sharing the highs and lows of 2013 and I look forward to sharing 2014 with you!
Heather H
The inspiration dress is amazing, and although your final dress looks very little like it, it is certainly beautiful on its own! I think you could make a ton of dresses inspired by the first one (and I kind of want to, too)! I’m glad you persevered on the dress even after struggling with those pits and I’m excited to see the extra efforts you have planned for this year!
Viv
Love it, love the resolutions, and love your outlook!
Andrea
Have been following for some time now, but don’t often comment. One of my resolutions…to leave comments for the bloggers I love!!! You are one of my first inspirations in my refashion journey and I love how this one came out…great save and thank you for keeping this up and serving to inspire and entertain us readers 🙂
Ron
Pick. Pick. Pick. 🙂
barb
Looks lovely on you . Happy 2014 , hope it’s a great year for you .
Desarae
Happy New Year! I’m so glad you are bringing back Wannabe Wednesdays…I missed those the most. 🙂 Great job with this little dress, I like the end results!
Desarae
Oh, and by the way, I just wanted to let you know that I featured you in a post over at my blog today…http://gladness-of-heart.blogspot.com/2014/01/top-5-of-2013-inspirations.html
Penny Noel
The before dress was so ugly I didn’t think you were going to pull this one off!! But you did! Gorgeous after dress.
christinapertz1
Happy new year! Those are some intense resolutions! So far I have seen lots of great resolutions from my fave bloggers. I think I will take a few of each for mine!
Laurel
Excellent refashion! I am excited about your resolutions. Especially the Wannabe Wednesdays. I hope to appear on one this year. Fingers crossed!
Pamela
I follow your blog for a long while and I always love how you inspire me. I sorta of stopped altering thrift clothes because I was focusing on my other artistic goals but you always make me want to go back. It’s FUN to sew and to make something beautiful out of an old piece!
Happy New Year, btw 😀
-An inspired fan
Bonnie
Try iDye Poly – it works wonders on getting beautiful bright colors dyed into polyester
Denise
Super cute! Wish I had your ability to envision the transformations!
Rachel
I love your 2014 plans! Looking forward to it. One thing that I want to do more of in ’14 is sewing.
I was a bit sad that you were going to dye the lovely blue so I’m kind of happy it didn’t take the dye completely (sorry!) I like that is dyed the white flowers though and it looks so much better in the after photo!
Tara
You have such vision! Thanks for doing this blog – it’s my favorite!
geminisinger
Great refashion! I actually like how the brown accented the flowers and toned down the blue…a happy accident! Good going…
Becky from Canada
This is by far my favourite refashion so far that you have done.
awesomesauceasshattery
A simply divine result daaarling…& a fabulous start to 2014!
Flo
That turned out really great and it looks awesome on you. I really like the effect you ended up with from the dye (minus the pit stains!).
Kay
Happy New Year! That is an amazing make over. I would have never imagined it.
Best wishes for a super 2014!
Kathy
Wow! This was one of your prettiest transformations. It’s inspiring to hear of your plans to update and enhance your blog this year, too. Happy 2014!
Jill Schwieger
Your goals for this year are wonderful! So many “resolutions” are in reality beating ourselves up for what we SHOULD have done sooner and didn’t. Yours are adding to the good things, and are going to make your life even fuller and more exciting! Hooray for YOU!!!
Oh yeah…..and I love the refashion. The muted blue is very flattering on you, and as always, the finished dress was so cute on you….good job!
Blessings on your New Year! Jill
laurenmaria84
Great resolutions, I love wannabe Wednesday this one is great.
Lauren
livinginaboxx
Connie
The dye you should use for polyester is called idye and you can get it at Joannes or Michaels too probably. Love how you remade the dress. It echoes the Mod Cloth dress very closely I think.
Rhea Gupte (@Rhea_Gupte)
I love how you are so good with recreating dresses. It’s so much fun to view!
Xx
Rhea
http://www.fuss.co.in
kimber
I really enjoy all your sewing
Your email is about the only one I check regularly. You should try some applied
stormy
Hope you don’t mind but I linked you in a post. Thanks for being you. Love the way the dress came out as well, Suits you.
http://waterpassedunder.blogspot.com/2014/01/re-fashion-resolution.html
ReFashionista
Thank you so much! I’m very flattered! 🙂
Judy
I always read your blogs! You did wonders with that awful dress!!
Happy New Resolutions for 2014!
Jayneofjungle
The finished dress looks so amazing!! Your blog is educational and inspirational for me, and your humor is so cute. I always look forward to your posts!
Amber
Happy New Year. I love your blog already so I’m excited about all the fun new things you have planned! You inspire me always–keep up the great work. ❤️Amber
http://www.sparkleandgrime.wordpress.com
http://www.sparkleandgrime.wordpress.com
afrugalspinster
un-natural is synthetic
afrugalspinster
Happy New Year Jillian,
I’m excited about your 2014 Resolutions. You are such an inspiration. I started my new year by getting a $1 outfit from St. Vincent de Paul. Right now the only thing going for it is the pretty color, but for $1 I can’t go too wrong.
omyn77
I love it! Awesome resolutions, I will be here cheering you on 🙂
I think iDye (www.jacquardproducts.com/idye.html) make a dye that is for unnatural (? don’t know the word for this) fabrics. (as well as one for natural ones too 🙂 I don’t know it it works though I haven’t tried it.
The other option for changing the colour of fabric with paint, using a textile medium (delta creative makes one) that turns acrylic paint into fabric paint! could be interesting maybe? I also haven’t tried this yet, I bought some to work on with my printing paint, and a huge stash of white material, but have’t tried it yet (i’ll send pics when I do).
hmm.. last is a link to blitsy. https://blitsy.com/rewardsref/index/refer/id/30854/ its a friend referral so its specific to me, but if you can just search Blitsy.com if you like. They have awesome deals on craft products, some of which are fabric related. The have good deals on dyes atm. and ever so often do fabric dye sales. (I live in Australia, so for me those prices are fab, but I’m not sure how they compare to US ones).
<3
keep on sewing!
Anna
Mickey
I think the baby blue and brown is a fab combo and your re-deaux is Audrey-esque. Although I don’t refashion clothes, I’ma huge thrifter and love to repurpose using other mediums. Keep up the great work – you inspire me!
Tamara
way to go! Love it!
Melody
It looks you have some exciting ideas for 2014…not only am I excited to see what you do but I will get to see what wannabe Wednesday and the Thursday thingie too.
Can’t wait!!!!
Luann
I believe there is a specific dye available at Joann store for polyester. Just a note though, I used pro ion mx dyes on a white on white print 100% cotton! and the design stayed white while the background accepted the color. I also found out that permanent press fabrics don’t dye well either. Anyway, the dress redo is adorable, just like you. I’m old enough to be your Granny and I enjoy watching your creative side flourish. Keep up the inspiring work.
Tracy
I’ve been following for a few months and this might be my favorite one yet! The transformation is beautiful and you did well to rid yourself of those pit stains! Happy New Year to you,
Kristin
It looks great! Love the fit you created on top! Happy New Year!
Tina
This was such a successful makeover! Loved it. I’ve enjoyed your entire blog. Happy New Year.
Mistress Arawynn
Love how the dress turned out. You are amazing and I love following your blog. I wish you all the best for 2014. Looking forward to reading every post. 🙂
Nana Diana
Now THAT is quite a makeover. It actually turned out a lot better than I could have imagined! Diana