Thursday, March 05, 2015

Thrift Style Thursday: An Unexpected Match

For this week's edition of Thrift Style Thursday, Martyna, of Spoolish, wanted us to rock a surprise thrift score - something way too big, something intended for a man or a child, something like that. What I had in mind may not seem like such a great find at first glance, but let me explain.

A couple clothes swaps ago, at the end of the night when everything had been thoroughly picked over, I began my customary last-call scramble. Grab anything with fabric you like because clearly, no one else wants it at this point. That's how this vintage, handmade dress came home with me. And after a tumble through the laundry, it hung in my refashion closet for several months, waiting its turn to be made into something new.

Vintage Dress Revival - Before

Then one day, I pulled out a bunch of stuff for "before" pictures and tried on this dress for the first time. It fit! It didn't flatter, sure, but it fit perfectly! It caught me completely off guard! All this dress really needed was a few tweaks.

First, I cut off a sizable chunk of that overwhelming collar.

Vintage Dress Revival - In Progress

Then I sewed the remaining collar sliver back onto the dress. The raw edges were then folded over and sewn down on the inside while the collar was folded up, so that those stitches would be hidden under the collar from the outside. I gave it a good press to make the collar lay flat again.

Vintage Dress Revival - In ProgressVintage Dress Revival - In Progress

I cut off the sleeves, leaving about 1/2 inch of fabric, which was folded around and sewn to the inside like a facing.

Vintage Dress Revival - In ProgressVintage Dress Revival - In Progress

Finally, I folded the bottom hem up about 2.5-3 inches, then folded it up again. Once sewn, I had a nice, wide hem about 5-6 inches higher than the original.

Vintage Dress Revival - In Progress

And there you have it! Just a few quick changes, and this handmade dress is ready to get a little love again.

Vintage Dress Revival - After

Vintage Dress Revival - After

I'm loving the 1950s housewife vibe going on here. I'm thinking, when it gets warmer, I'll exchange tights and boots for my black heels.

Vintage Dress Revival - After

Vintage Dress Revival - After

Maybe I'll also swap out the chunky necklace and light saber earrings (yeah, that's right, light saber earrings) for some classy pearls.

Vintage Dress Revival - After

Vintage Dress Revival - After

And hey, even after collar reduction, it's still high enough in the back to cover my tattoos! Wouldn't want to show my ink and have people thinking I was anything but a proper lady, now would I?

Vintage Dress Revival - After
Dress: clothes swap and refashioned // Cardigan: $3 thrifted // NY&Co belt: $2 thrifted // Tights: $10 Target 
Grey suede boots: $5 Yerdle // Necklace: inherited from Granma //  Light Saber earrings: Etsy

Vintage Dress Revival - Before & After


Want to see what kind of surprise thrift scores the other Thrift Style Thursday ladies have to offer? Just click their pics to visit their blogs, or the TST icon in the middle to go to our Facebook page.




18 comments:

  1. I LOVE how the refashion turned out on this dress!! You really updated it's look and the fit is great on you! I also really like the colors! Makes me wish I was good at sewing, that's for sure!

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    1. I know, I love the colors too! They're perfect this winter-spring-winter-spring weather we've been having here.
      Sewing's not that difficult, you know. I taught myself most everything I know about sewing, usually through trial and error.

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  2. I am absolutely swooning over this dress!! I can't believe it made it to the end of the clothing swap. I would've grabbed it up first thing! It was great to begin with, but your update makes it even better...love the collar! Great job, Carissa...you look fabulous!

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    1. I've talked to a few other refashionistas at these clothes swaps, but most of the attendees are just going to wear what they bring home as is. So when they see a mildly frumpy, handmade dress, most of them turn away. Of course, their lack of imagination works out in my favor!

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  3. The collar! So perfect...and the fact that it fits you to a T, seriously great! I love this fabric too, and though in the before it was overwhelming, the after is just right. That cardi is super cute with it too :) Loving it!

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    1. Initially, I was just going to remove the collar, but this dress is "vintage" enough that the fabric under the collar was noticeably darker than the fabric that had been exposed to sunlight. It was kismet though because I love how it came out!

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  4. This is absolutely adorable!! I love the before and after, it just goes to show that small tweaks can make a big difference! And what a perfect outfit for this theme, if I saw this dress I probably wouldn't have thought much of it, either, but it's so cute on you! I am loving the vintage vibe and it fits beautifully! Great post!! :)

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    1. Thanks, Kristi! I'm really trying to get out of my jeans rut and wear more dresses. So finding one, even accidentally, that's this cute and comfortable is perfect!

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  5. You rocked this dress! I can't believe how much better it looks after your makeover. Amazing job and the styling is great!

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    1. Thank you! That's what I love about refashioning. I think everything has potential, if you look at it from the right angle.

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  6. Oh I think the Light Saber earrings are the perfect choice!!! This dress is so darling on you...now that you made it your own. I loved the surgery descriptions. :o)

    JJ
    www.dressupnotdown.blogspot.com

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    1. I know! When I was picking out accessories for the outfit, I saw those hanging on my earring stand and squeed at how perfectly they match the print on the dress.

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  7. You are very talented at sewing, Carissa. I say it every week. I love this dress - I would definitely wear it. :) And your tattoo comment made me laugh.

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    1. Sadly, exposed tattoos are a no-no with the dress code at work. Luckily, I'm always cold, so a cardigan is never far away!

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  8. I liked it before and after actually :)

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    1. I've certainly seen worse, but I wasn't really a fan of the original. But hey, to each their own!

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  9. Adorable dress and very helpful refashion!
    Love it!

    Zhenya

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