174 Days to Go: Reader Donations: Rebecca

Apr 28, 2012 | 19 Comments

There are really only two words to describe this piece.  GOLD. LAMÉ.

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Metallic Shirt - Before - 174

Day 174 - Before

I’m in the same company as Elvis…

Gold Lame Elvis!

Hunka Hunka Burnin' Love

…and Michael Jackson right now!

michael-jackson-gold-lame-bodysuite-history-tour-1997

Gold Lamé MJ!

I mean…it’s about time I rock this metal!

Rebecca sent this piece my way (it was the sister shirt to the purple blouse from Week 24 – Refresher HERE) and I was trying to figure out the best way to work it out.

I was wandering around Goodwill and there they were!  I couldn’t think of what to do with them, but I knew someone who would! Good luck!  I can’t wait to see what you do with them!  I hope you enjoy these…ummm…special pieces!

I’m going for it tonight…

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Metallic Shirt - Too Big Before Shot - 174

Gold Lamé

…wish me luck!

Before any fabric actually got trimmed, I removed those pesky shoulder pads!

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Metallic Shirt - Process - Shoulder Pads 174

Didn't want to cut through them, so...

I loved the ruched neck and wanted to keep that in place, so I decided to cut both sleeves off on a diagonal.

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Metallic Shirt - Process - Trimming Sleeves 174

Cut those sleeves off on a diagonal!

I was left with these puppies which will make a comeback soon.  A Jazzercise/Olivia Newton John “Let’s Get Physical”/Richard Simmons workout headband perhaps?  We might be onto something!

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Metallic Shirt - Process - Cut Sleeves 174

Sleeve Snake!

I pinned under the raw edges around the arms…

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Metallic Shirt - Process - Pinned Sleeves 174

Grab the pin cushion!

…and stitched a new seam around each opening.

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Metallic Shirt - Process - Sewing Machine 174

Quick stitch!

I didn’t just let it end there…I went to this black crepe bow in my sewing stash (found it again while sorting/organizing!) and added that to the piece for a little extra flair with some safety pins.

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Hi bow!

When I was finished, I went to my matching gold brocade chair to really bring the glitz.

New Dress a Day - DIY - Metallic Shirt - After - The Dictator Chair 174

Day 174 - After

OK, well it wasn’t my chair per se, but it was an acquaintance’s.

New Dress a Day - DIY - Metallic Shirt - After - The Dictator 174

Me & Sacha!

I popped a squat on the chair used in the display for The Dictator while at the movie theater – the chair was totally comfortable and if I hadn’t been sitting in a theater for over two hours right before, I might have just chilled here longer with some popcorn and Junior Mints watching the crowd.  (Nothing beats people watching in Hollywood!)

New Dress a Day - DIY - Metallic Shirt - After - 174

The bow grew!!

Fun glammy top for a low key night – the best combo.  Thanks to Rebecca for the shirt love!!  Happy weekend friends :)

In all · Reader Donations
  • MJ

    I love it! Such a difference :) Need to check out the purple version now too of course…

  • Cathryn

    Very Hollywood!

  • PaulaD

    The bow has to go. And it would be a nice remake.

  • Keenzi

    Sleeveless was a vast improvement! Agree with PaulaD–the gathered neckline was so flattering that it’s a shame to cover it with a bow…I’d lose the bow and wear some dangly earrings. But that’s me, and it’s not my blog after all. : )

  • Jillian

    Going sleeveless makes all the difference here. I personally think the bow was unnecessary though. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Nakia-Tolbert-Manning/1409120208 Nakia Tolbert Manning

    OMG!!! I have this exact same shirt. I purchased it from a vintage store online. It’s been in my closet for a few years because I wasn’t really sure of what to do with it. Thanks for the idea.

  • sash

    I had TWO shirts like this one.  They were my best dress up attire.  Then they became Halloween queen outfits matched with crowns and wands.  Finally passed them on reluctantly.  Took them out the bag several times,  But I have pictures!  Love your remake!

  • Julia

    That’s fantastic. I really couldn’t think what you would do with it when I first saw it, but that top is GORGEOUS. And I adore the bow tie. Bow ties are cool.

  • Susie

    I just wanted to tell you again how very much I enjoy your website, ideas, creativity, humor, ‘Marisa-isms’ (vocab.) and ALL!   Your outfits are always so inventive & cute–of course, you’d probably look cute in a gunny sack (Not to mention those great Gunny Sack dresses from the 70′s!)  Thanks so much for always bringing a smile–you are such an upper :- )  Your new website looks great & love the Countdown, too–all the best to you!

  • Lauraly

    Excellent re-do! Very glam!

  • http://charityshopchic.wordpress.com/ Charity Shop Chic

    Great remake, I must admit I was skeptical when I saw the original in all its glory! :)

  • http://dfordelicious.com/ Didi

    Loving the new design! Love that you rocked that gold lame top too! LOL!

  • http://cdocreating.blogspot.com/ Christie

    how cute is that, truly inspired

  • Bluewhitewear

    Love the finished piece! I could not imagine how you would transform this!  

  • Lovestosew

    Much much better without those silly sleeves.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001766470471 Арина Кот

    классная затея!

  • Allison Woods

    Please fix those giant armholes. Love that you kept the neckline.

  • Carol Neman

    In the straight-on photo the armholes look too big…the side photo shows that they ARE a bit lower than a blouse’s usually is but with the black fabric in back I’m wondering if it is supposed to be peek-a-boo, which is rather stylish.

  • Lala

    I dig the metallic fabric! I can totally see it as the bodice of a dress for a night out dancing. :)