Day 84. 281 days and $277 left to go.

Feb 20, 2010 | 55 Comments

Now I think today’s piece is one that goes to the fave list. It started out as the below…

Day 84 - Before

Day 84 - Before

It totally has the feel of an Olympic skier uniform, aside from the big, billowy skirt part – high neck, long and tight sleeves, kinda shiny…I know, I know – my mind has been stuck on the Winter Games, but it is totally reminiscent, n’est ce pas? We did need to fix that as there’s no way I’m toting along ski poles tonight. I wanted to open it up a bit on top and make it a tad shorter as well, so I began with seam ripping the three main seams on the top of the dress…

Seam Rippin'

Seam Rippin'

and when I opened the top up enough for just a little exposure,

Unseam!

Unseam!

I trimmed the fabric off and stitched down some new hems along the edges of my newly made neckline. I also turned the long sleeves into 3/4 sleeves with just a little trimming and cutting off action as well.

3/4th-ing the sleeves!

3/4th-ing the sleeves!

I also cut off about a foot of fabric from the bottom of the skirt and rehemmed it to a length that was a little higher than my knee. I snipped a small piece from that excess material and used it as a belt to gather and give a little more shape to the dress.

Day 84 - After

Day 84 - After

Hello new dress!! I have to be completely honest…when I was trying to figure out what to do with this puppy I wasn’t sure if opening up the top was going to work – the seams were in the perfect spots to make unhemming and rehemming easy but I thought it may look super 90s. It was worth a shot and when I started to see where it was going, I totally fell in love.

Kinda More Close Up

More Close-ish Up!

The high neck stayed intact and the new opening on the top of the dress ended up being a nice, little, breezy treat as we tore up the dance floor for JS’s birthday.

Me et JS

Me et JS

And to give you a better view, here is a closer up shot of my chestal area…

ECU!! (Extreme Close Up!!)

ECU!! (Extreme Close Up!!)

This one for sure goes on my “I Heart” list…many thanks to the lovely JS for assisting in making that happen because if it were not for her birthday celebratory eve full of tapas, wine and strawberry muddled cocktails tonight, this may not have come to fruition. She is also added to the “I Heart” list as well :)

  • sherala

    You’re a miracle worker, that’s for sure! (I think the guy w/the beer thinks so too) ¬¶}

  • sherala

    You’re a miracle worker, that’s for sure! (I think the guy w/the beer thinks so too) ¬¶}

  • Abby

    I love this one! Soo cute. You have really inspired me to steer clear of big stores and get creative with thrift finds and the things I already have. But I gotta know, what do you plan to do with all 365 articles of clothing at the end of this?

    • http://newdressaday.wordpress.com newdressaday

      Yay – so happy Abby! Have fun re-scoping out your closet! As of right now I’m planning to auction off or have a big garage sale at the end and donate $$ from the pieces to a charity. I will keep you posted as it gets closer :)

  • Abby

    I love this one! Soo cute. You have really inspired me to steer clear of big stores and get creative with thrift finds and the things I already have. But I gotta know, what do you plan to do with all 365 articles of clothing at the end of this?

    • http://newdressaday.wordpress.com newdressaday

      Yay – so happy Abby! Have fun re-scoping out your closet! As of right now I’m planning to auction off or have a big garage sale at the end and donate $$ from the pieces to a charity. I will keep you posted as it gets closer :)

  • http://alittlebear.blogspot.com cara

    my “chestal area” ha.

    • http://newdressaday.wordpress.com newdressaday

      I just cracked up re-reading that myself :)

  • http://alittlebear.blogspot.com cara

    my “chestal area” ha.

    • http://newdressaday.wordpress.com newdressaday

      I just cracked up re-reading that myself :)

  • Hyunju

    what???!!! I want this sexy dress! Great work. You’re such a talented designer. amazing…

  • Hyunju

    what???!!! I want this sexy dress! Great work. You’re such a talented designer. amazing…

  • http://everythingsgold.blogspot.com emily

    Whoa, maybe one of my favorites so far. very creative and sexy!

  • http://everythingsgold.blogspot.com emily

    Whoa, maybe one of my favorites so far. very creative and sexy!

  • http://felicitylingle.blogspot.com Felicity

    I’ve been following your blog for a month or so and love it!! Where did you learn to sew and do alterations?

    • http://newdressaday.wordpress.com newdressaday

      So glad you like! I learned back in home ec like 7th grade the basics and then I played around with my mom’s at home. My first real piece I made was the purse I brought to my prom :)

  • http://felicitylingle.blogspot.com Felicity

    I’ve been following your blog for a month or so and love it!! Where did you learn to sew and do alterations?

    • http://newdressaday.wordpress.com newdressaday

      So glad you like! I learned back in home ec like 7th grade the basics and then I played around with my mom’s at home. My first real piece I made was the purse I brought to my prom :)

  • http://livewide.blogspot.com Sandhya Ganesha

    fantastic!

  • http://livewide.blogspot.com Sandhya Ganesha

    fantastic!

  • http://www.jogirl.com jo

    Can you start a “best of” section on the site??

    • http://newdressaday.wordpress.com newdressaday

      Such a good idea Jo – working on that :)

  • http://www.jogirl.com jo

    Can you start a “best of” section on the site??

    • http://newdressaday.wordpress.com newdressaday

      Such a good idea Jo – working on that :)

  • http://www.christy-knitmetogether.blogspot.com Christy A.

    Love it! Kind of Heather Grahm in Austin Powers meets Elvira. Great job!

    • http://newdressaday.wordpress.com newdressaday

      Ha! Love the combo :) HG is my usual go-to Halloween costume gal…thank goodness she was in the Hangover this year! Made Halloween much easier this past October!

  • http://www.christy-knitmetogether.blogspot.com Christy A.

    Love it! Kind of Heather Grahm in Austin Powers meets Elvira. Great job!

    • http://newdressaday.wordpress.com newdressaday

      Ha! Love the combo :) HG is my usual go-to Halloween costume gal…thank goodness she was in the Hangover this year! Made Halloween much easier this past October!

  • Patti

    Love it!!!!!

  • Patti

    Love it!!!!!

  • http://redleatheryellowleather.wordpress.com Fee

    Hee hee, the bodice parts pulled down make me think of a banana. Nice work

    • http://newdressaday.wordpress.com newdressaday

      Aah!! Totally – it looks just like a banana peel. Nice one Fee!!

  • http://redleatheryellowleather.wordpress.com Fee

    Hee hee, the bodice parts pulled down make me think of a banana. Nice work

    • http://newdressaday.wordpress.com newdressaday

      Aah!! Totally – it looks just like a banana peel. Nice one Fee!!

  • http://greyskiesmovie.com Stacy Jorgensen

    Magically DELICIOUS!!!! This one is AMAZING! I love the neckline! And your “chestal” area. :)

  • http://greyskiesmovie.com Stacy Jorgensen

    Magically DELICIOUS!!!! This one is AMAZING! I love the neckline! And your “chestal” area. :)

  • Angelique

    Wow this looks really great! Your a really talented seamstress!!

    • http://newdressaday.wordpress.com newdressaday

      Thanks Angelique!! So happy you’re enjoying!

  • Angelique

    Wow this looks really great! Your a really talented seamstress!!

    • http://newdressaday.wordpress.com newdressaday

      Thanks Angelique!! So happy you’re enjoying!

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  • c crespo

    Hi, I love what you do with your finds. If I may offer a suggestion for your blog, post the before and after pictures next to each other so we can appreciate the differences a lot better. Again, beautiful work.

  • c crespo

    Hi, I love what you do with your finds. If I may offer a suggestion for your blog, post the before and after pictures next to each other so we can appreciate the differences a lot better. Again, beautiful work.

  • Ariel

    Wow this one really shows off your sense of fasion. I never would have thought of using that turtleneck an advantgae :D

  • Ariel

    Wow this one really shows off your sense of fasion. I never would have thought of using that turtleneck an advantgae :D

  • Nany

    Marissa don’t listen to c crespo. I like looking at the before pic first then reading and anticipating the after pic.

  • Nany

    Marissa don’t listen to c crespo. I like looking at the before pic first then reading and anticipating the after pic.

  • http://miscellaneoussheepery.wordpress.com miscellaneoussheepery

    Love this! So cute =)

  • http://miscellaneoussheepery.wordpress.com miscellaneoussheepery

    Love this! So cute =)

  • RT

    Wow…AWESOME!!!!

  • RT

    Wow…AWESOME!!!!