Sartorial options for pregnant women used to be fairly abysmal my friends.
Women must have really really really wanted kids back then. Why else would they suffer the indignities of wearing dresses like this one?
Let’s take a closer look at that collar…er…those collars.
There’s a lot going here. We’ve got a sailor collar. We’ve got a white collar. And for some reason we’ve also got a bow.
Wow.
I would have loved to have been in the meeting where this design was pitched.
It’s just too much. And when paired with the shapelessness of the dress and sleeves, it’s not a flattering look.
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However, it was only $1 (Yay thrift store clearance rack!), so I thought I’d give refashioning this maritime maternity dress a go!
First, I removed the bow.
Then I removed the white collar as well.
I know some of you are disappointed that I removed the white collar rather than the sailor collar. Some of you weirdos may even think I should have kept them both.
But don’t be too bummed. I’m saving that white collar for another refashion! Come back in a couple of days to see it re-homed!
I’m like Beth in The Queen’s Gambit…always thinking steps ahead y’all!
While I was on my seam ripping spree, I also got rid of the sleeves.
Temps are in the 80s here in Sunny SC, so they had to go.
This left me with a lot of raw edges to deal with.
I clipped open edge along the neckline where I removed the white collar.
Pinning would work for this too, but sewing clips (you can score your own here) make it much easier.
Then, I stitched it up!
I folded the armholes under twice and clipped them into place.
Usually, this is an easy task, but this fabric was oddly tricky to work with, so it took a little longer than usual.
When the armholes were at last secure, I stitched them down.
I put my dress on my dress form and pinned the sides where I wanted to take it in.
Since this is a maternity dress, I thought I might have to unpick that gathering at the front and reattach it (sans gathers). But upon closer inspection, I didn’t think the gathers made the front of the dress too blousy, so I left them/saved myself a few steps.
I sewed each side of my dress down.
Then, I trimmed off the excess fabric with my pinking shears.
Now for the length!
I put my dress on and pinned a couple of inches below where I wanted the hem to fall (to allow for said hem). Then, I cut off the fabric below the pin.
If you fold the bottom fabric over as you cut, it’ll stay nice and even.
I turned my dress inside-out and folded the bottom under twice 1″, pinning it in place.
Then, I stitched it down.
I could have stopped right there, but I decided to add a little something fun to the bottom of my dress.
I re-threaded my sewing machine with white thread and selected this stitch:
Then, I sewed my stitch.
I think it gives the bottom of my dress a nice bit of contrast/visual interest!
My new dress enjoyed a couple of afternoon cocktails with a few friends!
I styled my new dress with these Elton John-esque sunnies.
- Here’s another warm-weather maternity dress refashion you might like!
- Remember that time I refashioned this maternity overalls-like thing into a dress?
- And here’s a maternity dress refashion I made for brunch with friends!
I think the solo collar is a much better look for this dress.
The overall style of this dress is a little preppier than my usual…
…but I still think it’s really cute!
Cheers!
