Thoroughly Modern Jilly: A DIY Fringed Dress Refashion
When I scored this Malibu Barbie-ish dress for $1, I knew I couldn’t leave it as-is.
Perhaps this would work as a swimsuit coverup or some such thing, but as many of you know…I hate pink. Bleh!
You can probably guess what happened next!
I set up my dye bath!
When my dress was dyed and dried, I used a clothespin to keep the top layers out of the way while I snipped the lower ones into strips.
This took a while…
As I snipped each strip, I tugged on them to make the fabric curl like you see above.
When I was done, I ended up with a frock that makes me think of a post-apocalyptic flapper!
I know…it’s a little odd, but I really dig it!
There was a slight breeze, so I kept my fringy frock under my chambray shirt.
My dress enjoyed brunch with friends…
…followed by a fun game of Bocce Ball!
After doing a fairly decent job at what might be my favorite new “sport”, I headed over to The Nickelodeon to catch a much-anticipated film with Dianne!
If you haven’t seen The Trip to Italy yet, you should! Rob and Steve are hilarious together and this sequel is even funnier (and deeper) than their first Trip! 🙂
I hope you all had a lovely weekend. 🙂
Cheers!
28 Comments
VRGJS
Wow!
Reduce Reuse Refashion
OMGosh! Thoroughly Modern Millie is one of my fave movies! Thanks for the reminder to Netflix that one.
Barbara
I doS save to say that I like the original 1better. The other 1 just looks like rags
on you and I agree with the earlier comment it looks like your car wash.
melissa.
Love that sort of dusty rose colour! So pretty and fun 🙂
Myrna
Super cute! I love it!
Olivia
Great transformation, I have a “meh” grey version very much like the “Pepto-Pink” one you started with–perhaps I should try this strategy. Your frock can even tranistion to fall and winter with tights, boots and a cropped moto jacket.
N
Not in a bad way, but that reminds me of the big swirly brush in the car wash. 🙂
Jo H.
I didn’t think it could be improved upon (I love pink) but you did it 🙂
Michelle
Clever idea to do all those snips and pulls!
Clyde Robinson
I love thrifting so much and one day I want to try and do some of the things you do with clothes…especially dying things. It’s all so wonderful!
Maggie
Love it!
Roseanne Floyd
Baxter! Where is Douglas? By the way, I like the dress too. Especially the new color.
Lace
So clever and cool! Nice work 🙂
Anna
Love the transformation, love the new color too! I used to work at a 1920’s-themed restaurant and I made several flapper outfits to wear while I waited tables. Wish I had thought of something like this! One silly question: was there some kind of modesty slip under all the layers? Just curious, I couldn’t tell from the dress form pictures, but when you modeled the dress it looked modest enough. Great job!!!
Stacy
This is actually me favorite refash you’ve ever done!
gwen
Awesome! I’m also small and ruffles are just way too precious for already-childlike-shaped women. 🙂 I *love* this solution and will definitely copy!
Natasha Kozubski
It definitely looks better now.
Gwen
Wonderful! I too hate pink, love the new color and the flapper redo is great, very unique!
sewcookgardenrepeat
Love it! Also: Steve Coogan!!! Huzzah 🙂
dee
What an adorable flapper you are in your latest re-creation!
Reny Missos
I love what you do. Flapper dress…kind of. I hate to say it kind of reminded me of Lady Gaga’s meat dress.
Linda
OMG, you did it again… what a wonderful transformation… is your background in fashion design.. I went to F.I.T. many, moons ago…
FMRox
I hate pink as well. It’s still pink. Wonder if mixing it with orange would have made coral. I like coral. I do like the design though.
Victoria
I love it! It’s so “flapper girl” I want to scream!
Ashleigh.Michelle
Post apocalyptic flapper dress: that is the prefect title. I really love the way it turned out.
raggedystylist
Great refashion, Jillian! So cute and versatile. You are on a roll 🙂
Tim
original dresses are beautiful… 🙁
Sam
Love this one