56 Days to Go: Jessica’s NDAD Creation

Aug 25, 2012 | 20 Comments

Today’s creation comes from my gal Jessica in Portland!  It totally reminded me of the embroidered dress I worked on this week and made into a halter top!  Pretty embroidery is in the air…

Miss M –  I finally have a submission!  I make little tweaks all the time to stuff but never really a major transformation like your fun and thrifty creations.  This one isn’t all that major but it was done on a tiny budget and tight timeline!  I am an event manager, so summer is my busiest season. My birthday also happens to fall right in middle of June, so I hardly ever get to celebrate it in earnest, because I’m always working!  On the Friday before my birthday, some of my oldest and dearest girlfriends decided to surprise me with an impromptu evening of dancing to celebrate the big 3-6 and party like it’s 1999! (It was 80′s/90′s night… there was a lot of Prince.)  They called me at 6:00pm and insisted I meet them at 10!  With just 4 hours and nothing to wear, I turned to my by-the-pound bag from last month’s foray to “The Bins”.

Note to self – I.  Must.  Go.  To.  The.  Bins.

I bought 7 pounds worth of stuff for about $1.20 a pound and I pulled out this piece…

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage Nightgown - Jessica's Before

Jessica – Before (PS, Jessica – I’m totally obsessed with your stash of goodies.  I’m moving in!!)

…because of the cute embroidery around the neck!

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage Nightgown - Embroidery ECU

Embroidery ECU!!

I wonder if this lovely embroidery will make the cut?!

This nighty weighed around 4 or 5 ounces, so it cost a whole 35 cents at worst!  I had intended to remove the neck and stitch it onto a bag or vest lapel because it was a size 6 nightgown.  I’m a size 10 (on a good day) so I never thought to try it on however, I ended up giving it a shot one day and found that the armholes worked!!  All I needed to do was open up the neck because it was stitched closed, so I took my seam ripper, unstitched it, then removed the button, and cut off the little loop. 

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage - Button Removal

Later buttons!!!

I then pinned it at the perfect length to tuck it into some jeans and cut about 6 inches off the bottom.

 

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Cut Edge

Birthday Shirt Time!

I paired it with some dark wash jeans, a cream tank (to combat the sheerness of it), and an old tie that was the perfect shade of gold to match the scallop stitching around the neck!

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Jessica's After

Jessica – After

Such a fun birthday ensemble to dance to Vanilla Ice and MC Hammer, my faves!!

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - JM and KJ dancing

JM and KJ Pumping Up the Jam!

Nothing like a little PRINCE SHOW to ring in the new birthday year!!

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage Dress - Birthday Top!

Birthday Girl!!

Thanks for the inspiration to pull off a fun new top in just a couple hours, and for always being a voice in my head when I’m visiting all of my thrifty haunts!”

Hope your birthday was amazing Jessica!  You look gorgeous and I can only imagine that your dance party with the gals was fabulous!

  • kissem37

    You look fabulous! Great way to ring in your next year!

  • btejkl

    So pretty. I am also impressed with all the bins in the before shot.

  • Brandie

    OMG I saw this one and had to say that Jessica’s organization is amazing (the bins in the photo)! And I love how simple her creation was. I also like the tie belt. Good job!

  • Laura Whitman

    That is SO adorable! Great job Jessica and happy belated birthday!

    xoxo,
    Laura

  • Sue Kol

    Very nice redo, love the belt! Amazed by the bins :)

  • Kati

    Super cute! I love this makeover!

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

    Prince would approve of you wearing, ah, “bedwear” out dancing :)

  • Eveline Trap

    It looks great! You look stunning, love the tie as a belt idea…

  • Paige

    Hey, I went to college with her. Jessica is very talented and creative.

    • Jessica in Portland

      Paige! It was an all SOSC dance party in PDX!
      Thx for the <3

  • diane2809

    Very cute!!! Love the idea of making nightwear day wear worthy. I need to get organized like you, too!

  • http://www.facebook.com/jenifer.schmitt Jenifer Schmitt

    This is so pretty. Love the way how a few small alterations, turned into a fabulous versatile piece.

  • http://www.facebook.com/jenifer.schmitt Jenifer Schmitt

    So pretty. I love how a few simple alterations turned into such a beautiful versatile piece.

  • Lisa

    This is a great redo…love the whole thing. I think your idea for the tie belt was so creative and will use it myself. Good job!

  • Maureen

    Ohhh I love those bins! I had a nighty like this and tossed it out….. who knew such a cute redo possible!

  • http://www.facebook.com/tollyfaye Tolly Bockbrader

    Super cute, and have bin envy.

  • DinaB

    Happy Birthday Jessica!
    Love your great organized crafting supplies.
    I love the top as is, looks great on you, but when you have a bit more time, it might be cool to try dying the top, just a thought.

  • Lent

    LOVE the shirt! Really cute, looks good on you and love that it cost so little. Way to go!

  • Allison Woods

    The bins in Seattle spew forth many gifts. I do love me a good bin trip.

    • Brittany

      I’ve been wanting to check out the bins in Seattle for a while but I always put it off! Your comment was excellent encouragement to just go check it out already! Thanks!