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Wannabe Wednesday: Soft Joie Edition

Chloe's Reader ReFash!
No-Sew Dilophosaurus Top

Whoah!!!!!   The blog is DIFFERENT now!!!!  What do you think?  I thought it was time for a little change.  I hope you like it!   Oh, and I have good news!  My email subscribers that I thought were lost forever are now back!  Whew!  I’ll be making a few more tweaks here and there on this new design, so just bear with me for a bit if things start looking weird!  🙂

Now…on to Wannabe Wednesday!

I absolutely LOVE this dress by Soft Joie!  It’s flowy, soft, and perfect for summer!

That'll be $158.
That’ll be $158.

I could either buy it for $158 at Bloomingdale’s, OR I could just refashion one for $1!

Which option do you think I chose?

YUP!
YUP!

This is a suuuuper-soft chambray dress I thrifted for one mere dollar.  It has smocking like the original, but the shape is all wrong and the neckline and armholes aren’t quite right either.

I began this refashion by trimming away some of the fabric from the neck and armholes.  When doing this, make sure you leave enough fabric for the raw edges to be turned under twice.  You need more than you might think!

Snippity Snip Snip!
Snippity Snip Snip!

Then, I pinned the raw edges under.

Pinned & Prepped!
Pinned & Prepped!

I used a zigzag stitch to sew all of this down.  The reason for this is so the arm holes and neck won’t warp from being stretched out.  The zigzag stitch provides a little give.

The stitch that Zigs!
The stitch that Zigs!

Alright!  So the neckline was looking like the original, but the dress was still too big for me.  I put it on my dress form and started taking it in!

 

Bye, hand holders!  :/
Bye, hand holders! :/

This meant no more pockets. 🙁  But I’m actually okay with that, as these pockets pretty much ruined the lines of the dress and made me look super-hippy.  🙂

I moved on with my work, accepting the loss.

Whirrrrrr!
Whirrrrrr!

I ironed my new dress, and headed off to a fun dinner/movie night with friends!  I have to say…I think my dress is almost identical to its far more expensive counterpart!  🙂

Pretty close!
Pretty close!

I styled it with these sweet platforms!

Love 'em!
Love ’em!

A lot you have commented on how you like the funny faces I make in my “before” shots.  I draw so much inspiration from the people around me!

Like Brad here.
Like Brad here.
But Whitney's no slouch either!
But Whitney’s no slouch either!

 

This face is coming soon to a "before" shot near you!
This face is coming soon to a “before” shot near you!
Even the cats have it down!
Even the cats have it down!

 

But that's enough silliness, don't you think?
But that’s enough silliness, don’t you think?
A Talking Cat (you say, or perhaps scream)!?!
A Talking Cat (you say, or perhaps scream)!?!

Cheers!

Original Cost:  $158

Copycat Cost:  $1

Savings:  $157!

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Chloe's Reader ReFash!
No-Sew Dilophosaurus Top