Thursday, June 26, 2014

Basic Black

You've actually gotten a sneak peak of today's refashion, though you may not realize it. Let's see if you can figure it out, eh? Here's the before:

Black Pencil Skirt - BeforeBlack Pencil Skirt - Before

Not looking familiar? How about now?

Black Pencil Skirt - Before

That's right! It's the black pencil skirt I was wearing in my last post!

This dress has been hanging in my closet since last September. I originally bought it as one of my back-up pieces for the Emerald challenge during Refashion Runway 2, but I had no idea what I would do with it and luckily, I didn't end up needing it. You may remember I mentioned recently that I needed a black pencil skirt. Well, I've been brainstorming since then and rummaging through my refashionables looking for the right starting piece. It took me an embarrassing amount of time to realize this dress was perfect for the task. Be honest though, was "black pencil skirt" the first thing you thought when you saw the before pics? I thought not.

So I got started by picked out the seam around the bottom part of the zipper, where the outer fabric was attached to the skirt.

Black Pencil Skirt - In Progress

With that out of the way, I was able to cut off the skirt, cutting right through the zipper as well (make sure your zipper is unzipped with the head at the bottom though, or else you've just rendered your zipper un-unzippable).

Black Pencil Skirt - In Progress

I also snipped off the coat hanger loops from the shoulders.

Black Pencil Skirt - In Progress

Since the zipper had been sandwiched between the print and black fabrics, it was now exposed on the outside of my skirt.

Black Pencil Skirt - In Progress

That's an easy fix! Just pick out the stitches, fold the seam allowances the other direction, and reinstall the zipper on the inside.

Black Pencil Skirt - In Progress

I like to fold the tops of the zippers away from each other and stitch them down like that. This makes it less likely that I'll slide the zipper head all the way off (again, un-unzippable). To be perfectly honest, I actually did slide the zipper head off prior to the folding (not the first time I've done that), but, after much cursing and fiddling, was able to get it back on again (possibly the first time I've done that).

Black Pencil Skirt - In Progress

With a functional zipper, I was able to try on my new skirt and take in the darts to fit. I wanted a high-waisted skirt, so I hiked it up and took in about 4-6 inches around the top edge.

Black Pencil Skirt - In Progress

Finally, I created a very simple folded-over waistband, inserting my hanging loops on each side.

Black Pencil Skirt - In Progress

And now I've got that wardrobe basic I was so sorely lacking before.

Circus Blouse Refashion- AfterCircus Blouse Refashion- AfterCircus Blouse Refashion- After

Hey, these pics look familiar...

Circus Blouse Refashion- AfterCircus Blouse Refashion- AfterCircus Blouse Refashion- After

Rest assured, I will find something to do with that emerald tribal print fabric.

Black Pencil Skirt - Before & After

10 comments:

  1. That dress was...interesting to start with. At first I was baffled, but then it kind of grew on me. Do you have plans for the outer part of it? It looks like it fits you pretty well, minus the shoulder pads.

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    1. Plans? No. Schemes? Well, actually, no, no schemes either. But I'm thinking on it. This isn't quite like the tribal prints that are popular right, but maybe I can make it work somehow.

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  2. Awesome!! You are so inspirational!!

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  3. Exceptional execution of the skirt waist !
    I am itching to see a refashion of the attractive tribal print.... yes, of course, minus those substantial shoulder pads.

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    1. I've got my thinking cap on... The tribal print will make another appearance soon!

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  4. Oh, great idea, and good tip about cutting/tacking the zipper. I bet you will get a lot of wear from this skirt. Looking forward to what your creative mind will do with the print :)

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    1. I'm looking forward to seeing that too. I haven't the foggiest idea yet! But whatever it is, it could hardly get worse.

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  5. "OMG, I would totally have worn that top when I was um 30ish" was my first thought when I saw it, along with an inner cringe. I was a big fan of shoulder pads in the 80s, the broader the better. Sigh.

    I love the pencil skirt on you, very chic. The one and only use I can think for the tribal print is as a boho style wrap skirt, using the print as a border or on the side teamed with a solid to tone it down.

    regards,
    Theresa

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    Replies
    1. Hhmmm... a wrap skirt... I could maybe work with that idea. I've been doing a lot of surfing on Pinterest trying to find the right use for it. I still haven't come up with anything definite, but we'll see!

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