Tuesday Remake

Feb 5, 2013 | 35 Comments

My face says it all…

New Dress A Day - DIY - Upcycled Dress - Vintage

BEFORE

I loved the color, especially with my new red hair, but the rest of it was just boring.  I did like the cute ruching detail by the shoulders too, but all in all I just wasn’t feeling it.

New Dress A Day - DIY - Upcycled Dress - Vintage

Blerg.

Time to make some ch-ch-ch-changes!

First off, I’m removing that collar!!

New Dress A Day - DIY - Upcycled Dress - Vintage

Taking the collar off!!

I love that the tag is in French, however the meaning just doesn’t fly anymore.

New Dress A Day - DIY - Upcycled Dress - Vintage

Sans Age? Really? You designers are going with ageless for this one?

I’d just call it sausage.  Yeah, that’s not-so-secretly how I read it the first time I saw the tag.  My mind’s always on snacks.

I pinned the new neck without the collar…

New Dress A Day - DIY - Upcycled Dress - Vintage

Pinned Collar!

…and sewed it in place!

New Dress A Day - DIY - Upcycled Dress - Vintage

New Collar!

I shortened the piece as well (taking it above the knees) and sewed down a new hem!

New Dress A Day - DIY - Upcycled Dress - Vintage

New Hem!

With my stitches done, the dress was fini (en Français)!

New Dress A Day - DIY - Upcycled Dress - Vintage

AFTER!

A matching belt came with the dress, however I couldn’t take all the red and switched it out for a brown leather one.  I added my flat boots, a thrifted brown floral brooch…

New Dress A Day - DIY - Upcycled Dress - Vintage

Side View!

…some fun leopard print socks (a Kohl’s snag from when I was in NC over the holidays), and my fave vintage ring from a flea market on S. Congress in Austin.

New Dress A Day - DIY - Upcycled Dress - Vintage

Accessories!

I ended up pairing this outfit with a sweater during the day because I was a bit cold, and then ended up switching the socks into brown opaque tights when it got dark out because I had officially entered the dripping nose stage.

New Dress A Day - DIY - Upcycled Dress - Vintage

New neck in action!

I think that this piece really just needed some other colors brought into the palette.  With a neck tweak, a bit of length adjusting, and some styling, this dress has become something quite cute, n’est ce pas??

In all · Dollar Dress Remakes
  • rc

    you should really try a neck other than the boring V you do all the time

    • newdressaday

      Ooph, harsh! I love the way V’s fit me, so in my book they’re not boring. You can make any neck you’d like though…

      • Kat

        I love V-necks too, Melissa! They fit my body and face shape so they’re never boring. Hugs!

      • jesse

        I think rc is just referring to the fact that you do the same V neck re-do most of the time. It would be nice to see you expand your technique for the people that would actually like to learn a few new DIY tricks. Sometimes being a one trick pony gets boring for your readers, even though it’s quick & easy for you. She was just being honest, not harsh. Thats how constructive criticism & a public forum work sweetie!

  • Sue

    Absolutely adorable.

    And rc, the dress already had a v-neck.

  • Leah D.

    Super cute. I love the socks with it :-)

  • Elizabeth H

    I think I’ve been watching too much Mad Men lately because when I saw the before pic my mind went immediantly to 1st/2nd season Peggy. Haha, but I love how the simple accesories really make the dress.

    • newdressaday

      YES!! Totally early Peggy, pre-promotion. (*Hope I’m not giving any spoilers…)

  • http://www.facebook.com/mjakobovits Melinda Lee Jakobovits

    First of all, YAY for the shout out to Austin! I am working right at this very moment at UT in downtown Austin. Secondly, I have a question that I always want to ask and never do since I am more of a lurker than a commenter. Do you ever have problems with the fabric on some of these vintage pieces? I am more of a cotton kind of girl and I notice with this one that it looks like a polyester blend or some other sort of silkier feeling fabric. Is it hard to work with?

    • newdressaday

      Hello MEJ!! So this piece had a polyester top with a more felt-ish fabric for the skirt. Honestly, both fabrics were super easy to work with, but it totally depends. I had to be super careful with the neck to avoid pulls when I was seam ripping, but the skirt was easy breezy to stitch.

  • lookngoodgal

    I like the before collar, but I agree with shortening. When I saw the first pic, I thought it had an I Love Lucy vibe, especially with your red hair.

  • Shrav

    Ha,ha..seemed like you really hated the dress how it looked before. I thought it was cute, but ur remake is fab!

    • newdressaday

      Ha! I was just so uninspired…after sitting with it for so long, I just couldn’t handle :)

  • Sarah_H.

    I thought it needed a larger collar rather than no collar, but I agree with the more open neck. And shorter is what it needed, that and your styling. Those leopard socks are absolutely le dernier cri.

    • newdressaday

      Bring out that French, Mademoiselle!!

  • Judy B

    Tres chic.

  • http://www.facebook.com/marie.roxanne.3 Marie Roxanne

    oui oui oui! I think this would look good with a square neck too!

  • Christine Pankow

    America’s next top model! :-)

    • newdressaday

      Whoot, whoot! Watch out Tyra!!!

  • thedashbadger

    Sausage. Ah, you’re adorable :) And great job with the dress! How cute!

    • newdressaday

      Always thinking of food…

  • Samina

    Fantastic remake! And who said redheads can’t wear red? You look beautiful.

  • Laura Bee

    Ooh love it! You always give me ideas to change items I already have.

    • newdressaday

      Yay!!!

  • carol

    The re-do with the boots is adorable!!

  • Nancy

    Oui! Tres chic!

  • http://www.facebook.com/vikki.kay.3 Vikki Kay

    Like the socks with the outfit.

  • Lauraly

    I love it! Great color, too.

  • MaidMarion

    tres mignon!

  • MaidMarion

    tres mignonne!

  • camsmama

    I think it’s cute now, and with a v-neck, you can always add a turtle neck to be warmer, some tights and the same boots, and voila…a warmer outfit. Very nice changes!

  • Laura Whitman

    I love that color on you!
    Great job, as usual. :)

    xoxo,
    Laura

  • Diane

    Tres adorable! Great job!

  • Allison Woods

    This is another case where you’ve focused in on the color of the fabric rather than being hung up on it being….ugh, polyester. I applaud you for it, and it’s certainly helped me to similarly visualize. I think that color looks great on ya too.

  • Jennifer

    I’m not sure about this re-do and styling. I would have kept the collar to keep the shirt dress look going (very classic), but I agree with you about shortening the skirt and changing out the belt. Shortening it made the dress look more modern, and the belt that it came with made the dress look cheap. I like the belt, but I would have probably paired it with a brown belt or an obi sash (not black) to make the dress look richer. I like pairing the dress with the brooch (very pretty), but I think the boots/socks makes the look uneven. The boots/socks look so heavy against the lighter material dress. Adding a cardigan would probably balance it out, IMHO. That said – that is a really good color on you.