144 Days to Go: $1 Remake

May 29, 2012 | 66 Comments

I just loved the minty green shade of this one buckaroo dress.  It was pretty to begin with but just wasn’t working as it was so I came up with a few ideas to try to make this fun and summery.

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

Day 144 - Before

I’m always happy when I add sequins to anything, so that’s the route I’m taking today!

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Prepping Sequins- 144

Gettin' my seqs ready!

I grabbed my sequins, some matching thread, and decided to use the diamond-ish shape panel in the center of the dress as the template.  I used greenish shaded sequins for the outside and two sizes of iridescent shaded sequins for the center.  Once I began, I couldn’t stop!  OK, no…I could stop because it was taking a little bit of time!

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Hand Sequin Stitching - 144

Sequins done!

I was proud of my stitchery!

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Stitches from behind - 144

The back!!

I also decided to change the neckline just a little bit.  There was about an inch of material between the newly sequined panel and where the V neck ended, so I opened up this area with a seam ripper…

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Seam Ripper - 144

Neck seam ripping!

;l

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Stitching Down Neckline - 144

Minor neck tweaks!

…and stitched down the newly opened area.  Before it was ready to wear, I made my final adjustment…I cut it short!  Now it’s ready for the day.  I paired it with a my vintage boots to give it a more casual daytime feel.

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

Day 144 - After

I loved how the sequins glistened in the sun!

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

Sequined ECU!

And to make it evening ready, I added my favorite sweater from my first year of blogging!!  This has become one of my fave cover ups and I love the little bit of edge it gives this super feminine dress.

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Evening Sequined After Shot - 144

Sweater Pairing!

 

In all · Dollar Dress Remakes
  • http://www.whatarech4isms.blogspot.in/ Ch4

    Love! Love! Love what you’ve done with this outfit!

  • Sandra

    Wow, that is sooo pretty, I love it!

  • Kissem37

    Great idea with the sequins! That area was just begging for embelishment ;)

  • David Preston

    Love the color and the sequins were a great touch. Love it!

  • Leslie K

    Adorable.  Bling is a good thing!

    • newdressaday

       Always :)

  • Leslie K

    Adorable.  Bling is a good thing!

  • Yellowbutterfly1979

    The sequins are such a nice touch.

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

    love it, it looks so 60s, I could totally picture Goldie Hawn in her Laugh In days wearing this

    • newdressaday

      Her style has always been something I’ve been obsessed with!!

  • ArtisticInAZ

    The neckline went from “not” to “HOT”!!  Lowering it was just the right touch.  Love it!  I’m not a sequins kind of gal, but this works, too.

  • Guest

    The boots yet again destroyed another adorable creation.

    • Stephanolio24

      It’s not like to boots are climbing up her legs tearing the fabric from her body. The dress looks worlds better and I think that is where the comments should end.

    • KimboTron5000

      I disagree – I like the boots with this dress for a casual, everyday look :)

      • newdressaday

        I know you didn’t like my boots last time either ‘guest’… Unfortch, they’re not going anywhere :)

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

    Nice!! <3
    That dress is soooooo cute! Actually, I should go digging at Goodwill now, I just bought the cutest boots that would go with a dress like that.

    Although that wouldn't do me much good now, NYC is too hot for anything beyond bikini tops, shorts, and flip-flops!! @_@;

    • newdressaday

      Yes!!  I grew up in NY and do I know those humid summers!!

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

         Yeah… well at least I only paid $12 and they looked brand-new! That, at least, consoles me for now! They’re Daisy Fuentes, burgundy, about knee-high, with a stiletto heel… Sorry, I’m still so excited about them I tell random people online about them!!!!!!!!!!! xD

  • Kristy

    I like the boots with the adorable creation.

  • Anna Sokolovskaya

    Love this one!  One of my favorite remakes!

  • Btejkl

    I totally love this redo. I love it with the boots. I have to admit, I was a little surprised you left the sleeves but I love the way it looks. A true retro piece.

  • Kathya

    I was sure you were going to take off the sleeves and make a longish top.  You always surprise me. 

    • Vanessa

       I was sure of the same thing!!!!   Loved the dress turn out but think shorter sleeves would’ve worked well to.   Well done!

      • KimboTron5000

        I agree – it’s like the sleeves do not suit the dress.  Marissa did a FABULOUS job revamping this piece and the stitching is near perfect, but I could see it looking better sleeveless or with a capped sleeve.  Especially for the summer ;)

        • kate

          I like the long sleeves — it maintains the retro vibe of the piece. I think cutting them off might have made it look like a shortened bridesmaid’s dress or something. 

          Anyway, a great redo!

          • KimboTron5000

            Ahhh…good point!  It’s funny you say that because I wore a dress similar to this as a bridesmaid…sleeveless version in peach :)

          • Lish

            I think we all agree M’s version is awesome! Its also cool to see the other ideas everyone else had. Yay creativity! :)

    • trisherama

       These are very nicely inset sleeves, and worth preserving. I think Marisa made a great call, much as a part of me wants to see the cap-sleeved maxi version, too… Wish we could see both!!

  • til

    i was hoping you’d leave it as a maxi and cut off the sleeves instead. (sad face).  but super cute this way too.

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

    That dress was pretty great to begin with! The shorter length makes it more reasonable for real-life wear, while the sequins are just awesome.

  • Book Gr

    Love what you did!! 

  • Payer1612

    i love when people use the term “vintage” when what they really mean to say is something old, stretched out, beat up & in need of retiring.  i agree though, your hand stitching is way improved.  normally its a bit sloppy looking.

    • Anna Puddles

      I love when people use the comment space on blogs to put others down, when what they really need to do is take a good long look at themselves and realise that putting others down will not make themselves any better. We are all fearfully and wonderfully made and marrissa has an amazing tallent which she kindly and freely shares with us. You payer1612 have gifts and tallent’s too but please do not waste them by sniping at others.

    • LT

      rude

  • Diane2809

    Very cute and I love the sequins and the new neckline.  Wow – your stitching is very nice – I wouldn’t even show mine! 

  • Anna Puddles

    Love it digging the 60′s vibe for sure. I think it would look fab as a long top as well. Brill job Marrissa.

    • newdressaday

       It was a 60s weekend…just wait for the post later!

  • Sandlsiemens

    one of my favs, for sure :-) and i personally love the look of the long sleeves with the shorter skirt :-)

  • Jessica

    with heels and a cardigan, I’d totally wear that on a date… 

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1785609995 Tracie Redleaf

    awesome dress and I love those boots

  • Farrers4

    I LOVE it!! love the colour, love the sequins (totally what i would have done!!) and boots too! boots and dresses… you totally rock this look. How is polyester in your climate?? Here in Australia its soooo muggy in summer that its hard/ almost impossible to wear poly comfortably. Now that its winter here, im pulling out my poly!! and hey!.. i might just go the boots and dress look too! xx

    • newdressaday

      Do it!  Luckily in Los Angeles we don’t really get the muggy, humid temps – more of just the dry heat.  I just pick my days according to weather…poly always works better on the cooler/breezy days!

  • JAlex

    Cute idea with the sequins! Your stitching is much improved, you should be proud, you did a great job! My initial thought for this was remove the sleeves and make a dressy tank, so you have inspired me to go find a fancy thrift store dress and do just that! But I really do think these embellishments are the best you have done, simply, classy and of excellent workman ship.  

  • Dianerz

    Very nice, love what you came up with and it looks great on you! But I have to mention… your posture in most of your pictures looks awkward. Pull those shoulders back – it will make you and your creations look so much better.

  • Keenzi

    Love the new neckline and sequins! I was kinda hoping for sleeveless or even just above elbow sleeves to balance out the short skirt. The long sleeves with the shortened dress kinda make me think “majorette”, but majorette is not necessarily a bad thing, as it still looks cute/fun. : )

    • newdressaday

      No, it totally does Keenzi :)   I thought I could add a baton and do tricks down the street, which would have been epic.

  • Carol

    Very cute re-do. Sequins  and sparkles always are fun. Such a pretty color on you too. Oh, and it’s nice to see something long sleeve for a change.

  • Emily_Joyce

    Nice! This is a lovely color on you, it really looks lovely with your hair. The sequins really dress it up. Perfect date night dress!

  • Sweetelle_99

    2 Cute

  • Allegrapollock

    I love it! And I want it!

  • Alicegauto

    this is really cute!! but I think that, with long sleeves, it would be way better if it was a little longer! or maybe sleeveless and this short.. i thing it would be even more adorable! (:

  • Karenclark508

    The only thing I would’ve done differently is… NOTHING!  It’s adorable!!  Two thumbs up.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000036127085 Tina Sayegh

    You have so much talentttt and its amazing that you discovered it!

  • Crystal

    Totally LOVING this look.  Something I would wear in a darker color. :)  Another fantastic redo…keep up the great work, Marissa!

  • Erin

    I LOVE this!!!!!!!!!!

  • Chris

    Ver Pretty!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=680881792 Stephanie Unson

    LOVE. What an awesome re-do! Those sequins were a great touch =D

  • Lovestosew

    I love the new neckline.  Great Job!

  • Maureen

    The dress when long reminded me of my prom dress from 1980 and made me nostalgic,but I love the redo!

  • char

    It’s adorable!

  • Cora Webber

    I love the sequins! And I am excited to have just signed up for a summer sewing class – thanks for all the inspiration, I’ve been following your blog since the beginning and am so stoked to finally get on the sewing bandwagon!

  • shiksagoddess

    Beautiful job on the dress, and the color looks great on you.  I’m not so sure about the sweater/cover up.  If you love it, that’s all that matters.

  • Trisha

    Love this dress!  Surprising how sequins just make it pop!!

  • http://enchantedbybooks.wordpress.com/ Danielle

    You are so good at alterations!  The dress looks great!

  • Helena (from Portugal)

    LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!! I want this dress for me… :D Great remake!!! Congratulations!!!

  • olka umanskaya

    what a beauty!!!!