143 Days to Go: $2 Remake

May 29, 2012 | 49 Comments

I bought this dress thinking that I’d for sure use the fabric because it seemed a bit small.  I didn’t try it on when I was at the thrift store, but just looked at the $2 price tag and said let’s do it!  Blue velvet?  A total no-brainer!

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Blue Velvet Dress - Before Shot - Too Short - 144

Day 144 - Before

It ended up fitting, but it was super short and there were lots of holes around the seams up top!

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Before Shot - Holes - 144

Ooph, holes!

Luckily for me, there was a good three inches that were saved for the hem, so the length will be getting a little adjusting along with those holes!  I have a cocktail attire wedding to attend and this piece is going to be just the mod outfit to celebrate in!

I began by pinning all the open areas that fell on the seams in the front and the back.

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Before Shot - Pinning Holes - 144

Pinned up the holes!

With the holes pinned, I began to remove the stitches holding the hem in place.  We had a good few inches to work with which was going to do wonders!

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Before Shot - Removing Stitches - 144

Hem removal!

I began to repin the new hem I was going to create – yay for more fabric!!

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Before Shot - New Hem - 144

Getting the new hem pinned!

I got the entire bottom of the dress pinned…

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Before Shot - Pinned New Hem - 144

Ready to Sew!!

…and began to stitch everything together!

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Before Shot - Sewing Machine - 144

Time to sew this puppy!

For accessories, I went with these fun danglers that I got on eBay…

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Vintage Rhinestone Earring - Vintage Bling - 144

Ba-ling!

…and made this pin into a necklace just by lacing a long chain through the pinback!

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Rhinestone Pin and Chain - 144

I love the turquoise paired with the royal blue!

Oh, and I totally used my Bumpit again!!  Outfit complete and I’m ready to go!!

I made it to the wedding, grabbed seats with my pals, and enjoyed one of the most beautiful/funny/charming ceremonies I’ve seen.

Let the post-ceremony photo taking begin!  My complete ensemble…

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Finished After Shot - 144

Day 144 - After

I was calling it my Megan Draper/Zou bisou bisou look :)   (Video is below for those non-Mad Men-ers)

It was the loveliest of gatherings to catch up.  I got a quick pic with the groom right after the ceremony…

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - LI in the House - 144

Long Island in the house!!

…got to hang with my gals…

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Wedding - TT - 144

Me & TT

…and the fellas.

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Wedding Guests in Blue - 144

Dude sandwich!

We tried to keep our eyes on shaky vases…

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Orchid Centerpiece Watching - 144

Guarding the goods

…so this wouldn’t happen:

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Broken Vase Orchids - 144

Party Foul!

But most of all, we got to celebrate the love of M & S.

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Wedding Mr & Mrs - 144

The beautiful Mr. & Mrs.

We cheersed, then we danced!

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Wedding Group Shot - 144

Skee-Lo is literally playing in the background right now!

Couldn’t have been a better celebration for two amazing people!!

In all · Dollar Dress Remakes
  • Allison Woods

    You really should have steamed the old bottom edge out. Big line 3″ up from the bottom.

    • frogger

      I agree – I was thinking just that when I was reading about you letting down the hem — Marisa you sooo need to invest in a good steamer!  Love your posts and keep up the creativity!

    • newdressaday

       I did lots of ironing with my Rowenta then sat during the ceremony for an hour :)   Que sera sera!!

  • Linda

    HA! I thought it was purposely stitched to have a three inch border!! And I like the look!! I can’t believe that something so chic and hip came out of something that looked way too small and fugly!! Aye-may-zing as usual!!

  • Paula

    It is a cute remake but besides needing to steam out the hem line,  I was really hoping you would remove the sleeves. Looks like it was a beautiful wedding.  Hugs – Paula

  • Chrissyliz99

    Idea about the hem, you could cover it with some great trim!  When Britain’s Gok Wan does his “high street challenges” – trying to recreate a catwalk look on a budget, he’ll always cover up visible seams on the H&M-ish clothing with trim, rosettes, etc, because that gives it such a high-end look.

  • Tessa Gonzales

    I have had visions of an emerald green velvet dress like this for myself for a while now. About the wrinkles…. velvet is a pain once a crease has been set. Some options to hide the waist wrinkles and hem crease could be to either crush the velvet. This gives is such a great texture, and there are many tutes online. Also, I have seen (possibly Martha Stewart) iron over simple stamps to make impressions in the velvet. You could do a border over the old hem crease. It looked easy when I saw it done, and would be so cute on such a simple dress. :)

    • newdressaday

      So great!! I’m totally going to look into it.  Oh that Martha :)

    • KimboTron5000

      Clever :)

  • Guest

    You are absolutely amazing.  You look so beautiful!  What a wonderful time to be with the people you love.  There is a device called a needle board that is used by dressmakers to steam velvet.  The needles help keep the velvet pile from being crushed during prolonged steaming and push up the pile that might be a little crushed from sitting at the wedding.  You could try it for when you can wear the dress again which you should because you did a great job.  Please keep up your blogs.  They make my day! 

  • Collette

    The dress is sweet.  Steam does seem to be the only thing that gets wrinkles out of velvet – but your friends didn’t seem to mind.  Your “dude sandwich” was cute - you and grey shirt guy have great smiles. 

  • ~anna~

    Cute! I had a floor length skirt in ’70 that my mom made from that same color blue velvet. Why, oh why did I ever get rid of all that gorgeous fabric! Love the accessories you put with this. I never would have thought of turquoise, but it’s perfect! Now I have to look at my pin/brooches again. So, often I like the look but don’t want pin holes. Your solution is great!
    (About the old hemline, this is where the *50/50* rule comes in…if it isn’t visible from 50 feet away at 50mph, don’t worry about it..HA!)

    • newdressaday

      Your mom’s dress sounds amazing!! Check out those brooches – it’s such an easy tweak!  And your 50/50 rule…brill :)

  • Keenzi

    Yes, the hemline was visible, but it was still a gorgeous remake and ensemble. Glad the wedding was fun!

  • Anna Puddles

    love it, that colour is so fab on you and the bing is great too. I quite like the crushed velvet look some velvets are made that way, it adds another layer of texture. 

  • http://twitter.com/jodywallace Jody Wallace

    $2 remake! You went upscale for this wedding ;) .

    • newdressaday

      Nothing but, right?! :)

  • Guest

    That is so your color!  Love the re-do.  You look like a heroine from an Austin Powers movie.

    • newdressaday

      Someone totally called that out!  I did that look in college for an Austin Powers party…I’ll have to find and scan those pics!!

      • Kissem37

        Lovin the mod! And that color is absolutely gorgeous. I did an Austin Powers Halloween costume once, too. I was a fembot with a silver minidress and white go-go boots… 

  • Sue Kol

    Love the retro look on you ! Wonderful!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=714924743 Kelly Cary Davis

    another totally retro look and I love it, so cute on you

  • KimboTron5000

    I am loving the 60′s week you have going on here, Marissa!  This dress looks super cute on you and the necklace and “pouf” are the perfect touch!  Are you wearing your “destructive” boots with the dress? ;)

  • Debjdarby

    Marissa, you look gorgeous! and um, yeah…WHAT vases?!  ;0)

  • VallyD

    Love the mod look! So cute!

  • Lauraly

    The dress turned out amazing, spectacular color!

  • Rowdycat2222

    LOVE. IT.

  • Vanessa

    I love your creations but am wondering at this time of year how are you ever wearing long sleeved velvet in California?!   We’re boiling here in NY!   Stay awesome with the creations. :)

    • newdressaday

      Ha, it started at 6 and was a bit breezy.  Good AC though made it bearable!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/hidesama Ren Akuma

    Super cute but long sleeved velvet in cali? In like, almost summer? IDK, I think I’d have turned into a steamed dumpling! The venue must have had good AC.
     Actually, velvet is just completely not flattering on me. I own one velvet mini in forest green, have never worn it. :/
    Blue velvet and sparkly jewelry go together reallyy well though! Nice choice!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1233618673 Frances Ford-Jehorek

    i hate velvet, i dont even let my daughter wear it, just cant stand it idky, 

    but cute! lol it just not a fabric for me :P

  • Ashettles

    I really like this and love the color.  The necklace is awesome too.  My daughter made me one like that from a gorgeous deep blue pin. 

  • Ashettles

    I really like this and love the color.  The necklace is awesome too.  My daughter made me one like that from a gorgeous deep blue pin. 

  • Trekatch

    I think I would have liked this one better had you altered the neckline.  Just looked to stiff and matronly.

    • Trekatch

      Yep, after looking at it again, take off sleeves, and top of neckline, make it v necked, or sweet heart and maybe short sleeves or even straps. 

  • Salome_delilah

    I love it, very 60s, suits your. I wouldn’t do anything else to it. (I love shirt short shirt dresses – comfy and flattering).

    • newdressaday

       Comfy and flattering – two of my favorite words!

  • RainnKenyon

    Loved this. It was fun.  The brooch through the chain is an idea I’ll use soon.

  • Violet Baudelaire

    What a mod look. The styling in this outfit is just brilliant. 

    • newdressaday

       Thanks Vi :) I think I need to do a mod week…too obsessed!

  • JAlex

    The accessories really added alot to this, I love it.  It will also be great for winter time with some stockings and boots! Gotta love a multi-seasonal outfit!

  • Lovestosew

    Thanks for the Madmen clip.  I loved that sceen. 
    Your dress looks so good.  I love a cute, mod look, too:)

  • http://www.facebook.com/linda.nelson.5876 Linda Nelson

    Was that the old hem? It looked like blue velvet hot pants peeking out.
    shagadelic, baby.

  • Tami

    And no one has yet commented “She wore blue velvet…”  no Bobby Vinton fans?  Oh, well!  Adorable dress, would have guess nothing but a shirt, but looked wonderful when you were done!  :)

  • Mdcordova

    You look so cute but….Do you ever wear shorts (matching or not) under those really short dresses? I would add blue hose and cut the sleaves off

  • Cre8soap

    What a deal on the dress-
    Best wishes to the bride and groom  !!!!
     

  • Jacqui_

    Loving this remake all the way from Down Under! BTW Since I saw the Zou Bisou Bisou ep on Mad Men I constantly sing it, it drives my kids insane!!! 

  • Julia

    That. Dress. Is. GORGEOUS. Fantastic remake! Absolutely awesome!

  • Michelle :)

    I was imagining this as a sleeveless, with a contrasting belt in maybe red or black. Either way, you did a fabulous job as usual. The “New Dress a Day challenge may be over, but I’m happy to see you continue blogging!