74 Days to Go: $1 Remake

Aug 7, 2012 | 36 Comments

Just a little note before we start…I’m getting a few ad spaces set up with BlogHer, so the layout is a bit funky.  It’ll be tweaked shortly, but just wanted to let you know I apologize for the extra bit of scrolling.  We’re doing a little layout change and will have some fun new updates (including book stuff!) very soon!

Woo, now off to today’s piece!

I loved the mint green of this dress when I Goodwill’ed it this past winter.

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Before Dress - 74

Day 74 – Before

There were some spottage issues as well as this going on…

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Missing Snaps - 74

Who took the snaps?

Lots of snaps with no partners and some hook and eyes with just a hook or just an eye.

Oh, and can we chat about this…

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Gross Rust Stains - 74

Classy bottom!

Yeah, we’ve got some work to do!

I trimmed the dress to remove those not-so-cute rusty marks first thing, and left it at about knee length!  I tackled the front closures of the dress next.  There were some on the left side and none on the right, and vice versa, so I just removed them and streamlined it all.

I took off the scattered non matching rusty snaps and hook and eyes…

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Hook & Eye Removal - 74

Hook, Line & Sinker!

…and replaced them all with new snaps.  There were threads in place of where the old hooks/snaps were so it was easy using those as markers where to put the new snaps down.  I actually liked the idea of the front of the piece only using snap closures, just for security!

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Stitching Buttons - 74

Bend & Snap!

The seams were coming undone in many places on this dress.  The seam down the back?  Open.  The seam along the side of the body?  Open.  Some seams on the arms?  Open.

I’m not sure if this thread was just super old, or of trés bad quality, but this dress looked like a tornado had struck.  I came in like FEMA, but in my case GEMA (Garment Emergency Management Agency) and stitched up those holes!

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Mending Open Seams - 74

Tackling those holes!

I wanted to add a little character to the front of the dress, so I pulled some gorg floral ribbon from my collection.  I did a quick iron over as it got a bit crinkled in my box o’ribbon…

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Ribbon Ironing - 74

Iron time!

…and began to pin in place.  I followed the neckline and continued the ribbon down the front of the dress.

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Pinned Ribbon Trim - 74

Violet ribbon!

With my ribbon pinned, I sewed it in place!

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Ribbon Stitching - 74

Almost done!

;

New Dress a Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - After Shot - 74

Day 74 – After

I loved the idea of keeping the sleeves long, just to be able to cinch them at will, however I was feeling the heat.

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Ooh Eee!

It’s getting hot in here!

I had the vapors and the giggles in the new camera lighting!!

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - The Vapors!

Ooooh Eeeee!!

Fans are a-blazin’ tonight in my hot casa, that is for sure!!  Stay cool!!

  • Billiarddragon

    I love it!! The floral trim truly sets off the color of the dress. I can never find things like this at my local Goodwill, I’m a plus size, unfortunately. I keep looking, though…

  • Disneychick1980

    Love it, good color choices!

  • Judy B.

    This was one of those times I thought, “NO WAY is this going to become anything I like,” and once again I was wrong. LOVE the ribbon.

  • http://www.wom-mom.com/ Wom Mom Ethne

    Super cute!  I thought it was a no go with the first picture.

  • Rufflestx

    I have followed your makeovers from day one – - – - a long time ago. Thank you for showing an interest in the art of the do over. Thought it was about time I let you know. Keep it up, you are representing a multitude of closet switchers.

  • Ashettles

    I love this dress.  For those of us on the heavier side, I see how the ribbon down the front makes you look taller and even if you don’t need it – thinner.  This dress is awesome.

  • jaego

    I recently went thru all your “makeovers” and was struck by how that winning smile of yours came shining through, and how creative each “after” photo was .  You obviously had a great time compiling these photos. I totally enjoyed looking at them. Thank you, Marissa, for giving me such an entertaining afternoon!

    • newdressaday

      That just made my day :) Thank you!!

  • CaraMarie

    LOVE the mint color!!!  That’s been my go-to color this summer– I’m a fellow red-head, so it works! :)

  • Busywoman2

    I wasn’t sure about the ribbon, but it sure perks up that dress!

  • Afan

    I love it! It’s amazing what simply adding ribbon can do. Inspiring as always.

  • Constant Visitor

    Meh, looks like a housedress, sorry hon! I love most of your stuff…

  • Poindextra

    My gosh – what a transformation!  I LOVE the flowered ribbon trim.

  • guest

    this brought back memories of donations for the homeless ministry we worked for. can you imagine being given this dress sans zippers, seamless seams or worse all buttons removed zippers ripped out and in desparate need of being landered and no sewing equipment and no power to use a machine if you had one. ??? not sure what anyone is thinking when they donate that sort of thing.
    You really came to the rescue on this one. and it loked good also.
    really enjoy your blog and sincerely hope you start over again when you finish this series.

  • Jane

    GEMA = very funny!

  • anita

    Had you merely repaired it and dyed it black, you could have added a scarf and worn it as an abaya somewhere in the middle east.  The fitting and the trim make it work a bit better but I would add some more of that trim at the cuff of the sleeve and possibly as a belt.

  • Wh1652

    you are so cute!   here is something to remove stains (rust is tricky)   combine 1 cup dishwasher powder with 1/2 cup bleach in a bucket of hot water.  let it soak for about 10 mins.  somehow the dw powder & bleach combo does not fade color just erases most stains.

  • bgballroom

    Old polyester thread can really rot. Ask my son who came home from a swing dance class with his vintage polyester pants duct taped together! LOL

    I am also on the “I thought I would hate this but actually love it” team.

  • sandra

    Love! Love! Love!

  • Debra

    SUper cute! This is my favorite so far!

  • a_jay30

    I love the addition of the ribbon!  Great and comfy looking redo!

  • KP

    Although I love your blog and check it almost everyday, this time my attention was attracted to your iron. Can I get the model and/or where you got it? I need one.

    • newdressaday

      Yes! It’s a Rowenta iron – one of their travel ones. ‘First Class’ seems to be the type. It’s small, but perfect for using at home or toting on trips!

  • Cinak630

    one of my favorites. really nice save

  • Lauraly

    Adorbs! This is one of my favs!

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

    That looks more like an old lounge robe to me, than a dress. But the ribbon definitely converted it to outside wear!

  • Diane2809

    I would have been so grossed out by the rust stains that I would have totally passed this one by…kudos to you!

  • Silel2

    que fofo!

  • Chris

    The rust stains were gross. Glad you cut them off. This turned out really great!

  • Anna

    This one went from gross to adorable. Good job, I like it.

  • SkyeF

    Very cute.  I love that minty green too.

  • Mancunianvintage

    Great rescue effort! Looks fab – it’s my first time here so I’m looking forward to what else you can pull out of the bag!

  • Allison Woods

    The ribbon totally makes this–nice job!!
     

  • Jen Bailey

    I wasn’t sure about this one, but yet again you wow me. I love the finished dress.

  • Laura

    oh wow it turned out beautiful. I never would have thought of purple and mint green together, I may have to give the combo a try myself.

  • Stephanie

    I LOVE house dresses, so I think this is so 50′s fabulous! That beautiful purple ribbon looks beautiful against the beautiful foam-green dress, what a dreamy combination. And the shoes match your hair instead of your dress, which creates a lovely and un-obvious cohesion for the entire ensemble. Well done! xoxox