102 Days to Go: $1 Remake

Jul 10, 2012 | 30 Comments

This was another piece shot for the book that didn’t end up getting used.  We called this the “KIDS Incorporated” inspired look.

New Dress A Day - DIY - vintage - ugly 80s sweatshirt- 102

Day 102 - Before (aka commercial, sell me some cereal shot!)

Who else was obsessed with that show??

Kids Incorporated - OG Cast

Holla at those outfits!

I totally wanted to be Fergie and Jennifer Love Hewitt (or Stacy Ferguson and Love Hewitt as they were credited) back in the 80s on this show!!

Obviously the first plan of attack was getting rid of all that ribbon!!

I removed every strip of that primary colored, polka dotted ribbon!!  Once the ribbon was gone, I was left with a plain red sweatshirt.  Already we made a 180!!

I’m taking this the sleeveless route today, removing one sleeve…

New Dress A Day - DIY - vintage - cut sleeves- 102

One sleeve off...

…then the other!

New Dress A Day - DIY - vintage - muscle tee - 102

Muscle tee! Where's Daniel La Russo?!

I trimmed off the top of the sweatshirt next, cutting from shoulder to shoulder.

New Dress A Day - DIY - vintage - neck trim - 102

Neck Trim!

I’m making this a sweatshirt/tube top of sorts, so I cut one of the sleeves open and drew what will be my new pocket on the inner fleece side.

New Dress A Day - DIY - vintage - pocket trace - 102

Sharpie pocket!

I trimmed out my pocket, turned the piece upside down with the ribbed waist now acting as the top of the piece, pinned my pocket down…

New Dress A Day - DIY - vintage - pinned and ready - 102

Pinned & almost ready!

…and sewed the pocket in place.  I also took in the piece about a 1/2 inch on each side and hemmed the bottom.

Red-y to wear!!

New Dress A Day - DIY - vintage - finished - 102

Day 102 - After

I had cooking club tonight and made a lovely strawberry shortcake courtesy of a ridiculously amazing Martha Stewart recipe.  (I pinned it here!)

Martha's Strawberry Shortcake

Martha's Strawberry Shortcake

I have to say, I was super impressed with the way my shortcake turned out!  I’m always mildly surprised when things turn out the way they look on the page!  Like, I’m expecting it to look off you know??  I baked it on parchment paper and it looked like something from Bouchon!!

Marisa's Shortcake!

Marisa's Shortcake!

The handy pocket in front was just the right size to hold my phone and my camera as I was baking and steeping the cream with basil.  Yeah, you heard that right…basil!

New Dress A Day - DIY - vintage - finished pocket - 102

Fun with Pockets!

Fun outfit for a delish dinner, plus I matched my dessert once the strawberries were added.  I’m totally avail for all your baking/sewing/upcycling needs :)

In all · Dollar Dress Remakes
  • Bella

    Oh oh oh, looks like we made it. We’re Kids Incorporated! Arrrrrg..that’s gonna be stuck in my head all day now! Nice redo, Marisa, and that shortcake sounds wonderful!

    • newdressaday

       We can sing it together! K. I. D. S, yeah!

  • Vanessawhiteny

    Love the look!  Would never have seen that from the ribbon sweatshirt!!  So amazing!  PS…Now I want strawberry shortcake, looks fabulous! 

  • Paula

    Love the redo, it’s so cute and looks comfortable.  But the shortcake…..love basil but on strawberries?  I’m intrigued, must try.

    • newdressaday

      Totally try it!  The whipped cream tasted so clean – paired with the shortcake and berries, it worked so nicely!

  • Anne Rimler

    cute!

  • THE Bombshell*

    Oh, I don’t doubt the basil was awesome with strawberries. I make Pioneer Woman’s Peach Basil Ice Cream Topping every summer.  HEAVENLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • newdressaday

       Wowza!! I have to try that!! So ridiculously good ;)

  • Karenclark508

    I am not the best with a sewing machine, but this is so simple I’m going to give it a try.  I have a black sweatshirt in my closet!  Wish me luck!!!

  • Keenzi

    So cute and fun! The shortcake looks delicious, will add it to my approx 300 other recipes I’d like to try one day…Loved Kids Inc.!

  • Sarah_H.

    I like that little foldover detail on the top! And the pocket is soooo practical. Good thinking.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/LJKVA7JFNQSBSESUTVXI5K4FRM Lynette

    One of my favorites!

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

    That may be the ugliest starting garment you’ve taken on! You know, you should totally do an ugly Christmas sweater/shirt/etc. series….

    • newdressaday

       Oh, you know me well Jody :) Already starting to gather!!

  • Giniamagers

    LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!

  • Allisonm

    When I read that you were just left with a sweatshirt, I was thinking, “What is she going to do with that?”! Yet, I totally LOVED the end product!

    Also, Thanks for the pinterest link. I’m following you now. Maybe I’ll get more ideas! :)

    • newdressaday

      Ha, right? That sweatshirt was heinous :) Pinterest has turned into my writer’s block/procrastination site that I could literally spend hours on…

  • ally

    WOW AMAZING!  i love that there is a pocket!

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

    Fergie was a child actress? I did -not- know that! 

  • DinaB

    One of the ribbons across the top in the middle of the band or along the edge of the pocket would be a cute accent!
     Looks really comfy for a relaxing night with friends and lots of yummy food.

  • Angelrose07

    So cute! Loved this one! Good job :)

  • Lauraly

    Way cuter than I thought it was going to be! The strawberry shortcake looks awesome, too!

  • Christine in Hot Texas!

    Cute! I would add buttons across the top for added Deco. Maybe like (star shape buttons) white and blue ones,,, Just a thought… Have a great week! 

  • Tracymichell

    I LOVED that show!!!!! One of my faves as a kid, but the orignal one, with Mario Lopez. Good stuff. Cute remake!
     

  • Chris

    Really cute idea!

  • Lovestosew

    Great idea!  I have a few ugly sweat shirts that could use this treatment.  Love it!

  • Tollyfaye

    Loved Kids Inc, still love Fergie. I am a bit confused as to how this stays up, is it just the fold? Very cute!

  • Chrystalgypsey

    Marisa, as a gal who is VERY close in age to you, I ALWAYS get all your pop-culture references!  I enjoy the blast-from-the-past nostalgia you bring us :-)  

  • Wonder-V

    Kids Incor-po-rated…K! I! D! S! I remember that show from time to time! Some part of me gets a little sad when I see 80′s hair, though…how I still have eyesight after all of the hairspray and near misses with the curling irons, I don’t know! 

  • Sam

    Did you turn it upside down and use the ribbing for the top?