Sunday evening found me in a creative frenzy. I had quite a few items in my closet that I have thrifted in the past month or so that I needed to tweak or completely refashion. As I started pulling down the pile, piece by piece, this dress fell out. As soon as I saw it, I remembered getting it because I really like the pattern. But this dress was definitely done in the 1940s librarian style.....very conservative, very long in the length and high in the neck and frankly, a bit "little old ladyish". I tried it on and it was snug in the backside and I was about to take it off and just redonate it when I dug past the mock wrap and found that it was stitched down to my knee. I got Sweet Baby to cut the seam almost to the waist (because it was covered anyway with the mock wrap) and it loosened the hips right up!!! THEN, I knew I could work with this! I cut off about 6 inches off the length (I find that I'm always saying "six inches off the length" so either everything I hem is precisely 6 inches too long or clearly everything looks six inches to me. I'm thinking it's the latter!). Then I cut the front down the middle and folded pieces under to make a v-neck (thanks Marissa of New Dress a Day!) and finally, the sleeves were a little too blah, so I cut right up the middle of the sleeves with pinking shears, ran a ribbon through the hem and "VOILA!", I have a peekaboo sleeve with a pretty ribbon detail.
One of the best things about this whole project? NO SEWING AT ALL! Everything was done with hem tape....you place it in between the layers you want to hem and then iron it. It sticks! I did the same with the raw edges at the neck. I took the excess fabric that I had snipped from the bottom and made a sash. But can't you just see this with a really big funky belt? Now, I absolutely LOVE this dress and it's one of my favorites! I feel like a complete design genius! Oh, and the necklace is my creation also. One of the benefits of organizing my jewelry is that I found old chains I had. I had snipped this crochet accent off of another dress, cut it down and then threaded my chain through the top. I LOVE it! I was so excited about wearing this Monday, I could barely sleep Sunday night. Like a kid on Christmas Eve! I will try to do better about taking before pictures. I have the attention span of a drunk gnat and so when I'm ready to get to a project, I just get going and don't think to take pics. So, what do you think?
Dress and shoes......thrifted and refashioned!
Necklace...... Handmade
Jacket......Macy's
Look of Self Satisfaction......an old accessory I need to use more often
Because I love Rick Astley and his style AND because this is how I feel about my once "Cast off" dress!
I love, love the dress. Super job!!!
ReplyDeleteI adore your handmade necklace.
You are an artist!!
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Serene, I love everything about this outfit!! The dress, necklace, shoes, tights, your smile...the whole package! Except, I wore a long skirt today and now I feel "old ladyish!" You look great!
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe that you recreated that dress...amazing! I seriously could walk into The Limited/Ann Taylor/J Crew and expect to see a beautiful dress like that. You did a fabulous job!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.afashionfixation.blogspot.com
Very nice! You did a great job! I lack the vision and the ability for something like this!!
ReplyDeleteYou look great in it too!!
Just stumbled on your blog! WOAHHH. My sister has those tights in that colour! I've been planning my attack to steal them for quite a while. Perhaps your extreme rocking of the tights is enough to push me to follow through with my plan? (Am I even making sense right now? Er..)
ReplyDeleteAnyways, you look FANTASTIC. I love the print on your dress!
QUIRKYEXPLOSION.blogspot.com
The maroon tights just make it for me--gives it the pop~
ReplyDeleteI can't even imagine what it looked like originally~love new dress a day too!
oh and the peek a boo sleeve is a perfect detail~
ReplyDeleteCute mixing of pin stripes and the bold black and white pattern of the dress. And hem tape? I need to get some of that!
ReplyDeleteAlso: Serene, you must do a post on your wedding dress that you mentioned on my blog. It sounds so glamorous, unusual and beautiful! Post it, Post it, Post it! (Crowd chanting!)
Whoa, I'm gonna have to experiment with this magic tape!
ReplyDeleteThat's a great outfit and I like it even more because you refashion.There is something completely personalin refashioning.
ReplyDeleteNo one in the whole world has this dress.The tights complement the look nicely
Hey everyone! I've been remiss responding back to comments this week, but only because I've been nonstop with the kiddos. Thanks so much for all the nice things said!
ReplyDeleteSacramento, you made my day calling me an artist!
Over50, I wore a long skirt this week too, and I can't imagine you looking old ladyish!
Ashley, Thanks so much! It's now one of my favorites.....as if I had bought it in one of those expensive stores!
Joy, that's so sweet. Honestly, I never have thought of myself as a "refashioner" or as I like to say "reFABULOUSer" until now. When you're working with thrifted items, what have you got to lose?
Lexy, at my house we don't call it stealing.....it's call homesteading. My kids homestead each other's stuff all the time. You borrow your sister's tights and just conveniently not return them. It's a documented right of siblings. Let me know if you need a copy! :)
FOF, you're always such an encouragement. You're an ageless cheerleader and I LOVE that about you!
Vanessa and Terri, Walmart is where I got the tape. I'm going back for about 3 more rolls! Also, I'm picking up my sewing machine today!!!
Angie, that's one of the things I lvoe about thrifting and refashioning.....it's uniquely personal. I'm glad that you see that too!
LOVE YOU GIRLIES!!!!