how to make a shirt

Remake: Black, White, & Tan Polyester Shirt

The pattern of this top is what sold me from the get go! New Dress A Day - polyester shirt

The size was wrong, seams were undone, and the sleeves were too big because the elastic was worn out.

New Dress A Day - polyester shirt

Because I can't ever turn away from a good pattern, I knew this shirt could be salvaged into something I could wear all the time!

New Dress A Day - polyester shirt

Ya hear? ALL. THE. TIME.

Before we even get started, I'm kind of obsessed with the label of this piece.

New Dress A Day - polyester shirt

This piece had the collar seam undone...

New Dress A Day - polyester shirt

...so to keep the neck intact, I repinned the fabric...

New Dress A Day - polyester shirt

...and then stitched a new seam to keep it in place. This allowed me to retain the crew neck style of the shirt.

I loved the print of this piece, but the shirt was just a bit too big overall. Post neck fixes, I moved onto the body and the sleeves. I trimmed the sleeves shorter because the length just wasn't doing it for me :) Plus there was some pinkish discoloration that I didn't want to have seen!

 

New Dress A Day - polyester shirt

After the sleeves were trimmed...

New Dress A Day - polyester shirt

...I took in the torso because I wanted the piece to be snug.

Post-stitching, my new top was looking a little something like this!

New Dress A Day - polyester shirt

And the little shoulder pads in this top...I kept them in!! Surprised? (Totally atypical for me, right!)

New Dress A Day - polyester shirt

Sometimes the smallest tweak can make the greatest change.

New Dress A Day - polyester shirt

It's been pretty warm, so I paired my new shirt with some flip flops to enjoy an afternoon at the beach!

New Dress A Day - polyester shirt

Top: Vintage | Jeans: BDG | Necklace: Forever 21 | Sunglasses: Ray-Ban | Flip Flops: Old Navy | Purse: Vintage

New Dress A Day - polyester shirt

I'm styling this shirt another way tomorrow, so stay tuned!!

Remake: Vintage Purple Polyester Dress

Yeah, so this one is most definitely added to the "more uncomfortable vintage finds" list. It's a whole lotta polyester! New Dress A Day - vintage purple polyester dress

Polyester with a big ol'collar and a zipper down the front! Also there's a few belt loops with nothing to put inside...

New Dress A Day - vintage purple polyester dress

Kind of itchy, seriously heavy, and without a whole ton of awesomeness going on.

New Dress A Day - vintage purple polyester dress

However, I'm a-gonna bring that awesomeness. You heard, I'm a-gonna bring it!

I just had to point this out...there's a V-shaped piece of material that was sewn directly to the piece to give the essence of a pocket. In fact, my friends, there is NO pocket! I had to give this piece props for doing some serious foolin'.

New Dress A Day - vintage purple polyester dress

But right after I gave my OK sign, I took that faux pocket off. Seam ripper, get rippin'!

New Dress A Day - vintage purple polyester dress

I didn't notice the severity of the discoloration until I put the piece down and started to work. Just check out those sleeves and the collar! It's 50 shades of lavender!

New Dress A Day - vintage purple polyester dress

I decided to get rid of all the trim, so the cuffs came off...

New Dress A Day - vintage purple polyester dress

...as well as that collar.

New Dress A Day - vintage purple polyester dress

I'm working out some serious length adjusting, so I cut this piece in half-ish. I took off the skirt portion right below the hips, so I said goodbye to a little less than half.

New Dress A Day - vintage purple polyester dress

Because this piece is a bit boxy on me, I wanted to take it in. I pinned the front center of the piece, inside out, placing my pins about an inch from the purple trim area that the zipper is attached to.

New Dress A Day - vintage purple polyester dressNew Dress A Day - vintage purple polyester dress

I stitched a straight seam down this front area and turned it inside out.

New Dress A Day - vintage purple polyester dress

To give a little more shape to the piece, I created a V neck which worked out perfectly with the new front seam that I had created. I removed a few stitches from the front portion that I just sewed to not only created a new shape at my neck, but to allow for enough room to put my head through without needing a zipper. There's a bit of stretch to this fabric as well making it easy to take on and off.

New Dress A Day - vintage purple polyester dress

Remember those belt loops? I just had to take them off. I removed stitches at the side seam that were keeping them in place and took out both loops...

New Dress A Day - vintage purple polyester dress

...and restitched the holes that I just created.

New Dress A Day - vintage purple polyester dress

After all that work, I think I couldn't be happier with the result!

New Dress A Day - vintage purple polyester dress

Pastel textured top? I will absolutely take it!

New Dress A Day - vintage purple polyester dress

I paired my new top with a Trina Turk white skirt, vintage gold belt, and a pair of gold Charles David heels.

New Dress A Day - vintage purple polyester dress

It's super dainty yet has a structured edge, because the fabric is literally stiff. I think it would be awesome paired with a contrasting print for the next wear!

New Dress A Day - vintage purple polyester dress

From horrid to happening, this house dress saw a complete 180. And yes, I totally took time to stop and smell the flowers.

New Dress A Day - vintage purple polyester dress

I love that you would never know what this looked like in the beginning as well! I'm bringing a screen shot of the before look with me whenever I wear this from here on out!

Bali Week: Patterned Tunic Remake

I'm back in the states after a most incredible excursion to Asia. The two weeks were packed full of activities, small day trips within Bali, flights to Thailand, and lots of food, photos, and fun. (Had to get the "f" alliteration in there!) I'm in serious jet lag mode, but couldn't be happier to have it because the trip was just one of the most incredible experiences of my life. It was my first venture to Asia and I can't wait to return. This week will be a fun recap of what I did and what I made while I was away! Thanks to all of you for your patience in my lack of posts over the two weeks - I had a bunch of things that were scheduled in advance and ran, however my internet connection wasn't always top-notch in some of the places that I was staying. This week will be chock full of awesome remakes and DIYs as I was crafting all along the way! (Here's a few teaser shots on Instagram!)

Today's piece was this awesome patterned tunic that I scored at a swap party before I left on my trip.

New Dress A Day - DIY - Patterned Tunic - Upcycled

I loved the purple and white color combo with the rust trim around the arms and neck...

New Dress A Day - DIY - Patterned Tunic - Upcycled

...but knew that I wouldn't ever wear it being as long as it was with the high, open sides.

New Dress A Day - DIY - Patterned Tunic - Upcycled

The cotton was so thin that I knew it would make a perfect piece to bring along with me.

New Dress A Day - DIY - Patterned Tunic - Upcycled

Time to get rid of that extra fabric and turn this piece into something that I won't want to take off!

I started by cutting the piece shorter, trimming about two inches below where the side seam began.

New Dress A Day - DIY - Patterned Tunic - Upcycled

With the piece trimmed, I pinned under the raw edge of the fabric...

New Dress A Day - DIY - Patterned Tunic - Upcycled

...and ironed it down to fully prep for a new hem to be sewn.

New Dress A Day - DIY - Patterned Tunic - Upcycled

I stitched the bottom of the piece...

New Dress A Day - DIY - Patterned Tunic - Upcycled

...and was left with the perfect cover up for my trip!

I wore it when I took a weekend trip to Nusa Lembongan/Ceningan, two small islands just off the south-east coast of the main island of Bali. (I'm jumping ahead a little on my trip, but we'll backtrack this week so you'll see everywhere that I went!)

While on Ceningan, I stayed at the most charming hotel - Le Pirate Beach Club, which was actually made up of 10 little "beachboxes" right on the water.

 

New Dress A Day - DIY - Patterned Tunic - Upcycled - Le Pirate Beach Club

The colors couldn't have been more inspiring! Who doesn't want a little teal in their lives? It was a great spot to wear my newly transformed piece on top of my bathing suit!

New Dress A Day - DIY - Patterned Tunic - Upcycled - Le Pirate Beach Club

I was wearing and reapplying sunscreen the entire time, but right at the hottest point of the day (the noon-2 pm time frame was the most brutal) I put on this top for some extra shoulder coverage.

Oh, and I had a friend visit me at this time too...

New Dress A Day - DIY - Patterned Tunic - Upcycled - Le Pirate Beach Club

There were roosters everywhere on the island and they acted as the most amazing natural alarm clocks. I was trying to make as many sunrises as possible during the trip, and the roosters were quite helpful on this leg. If you weren't looking to wake up at 5:30am, this probably wouldn't have been the best spot to stay, unless you're the hardest sleeper in the world!

Each beachbox was named something different...

New Dress A Day - DIY - Patterned Tunic - Upcycled - Le Pirate Beach Club

...and being right on the water, I was so surprised to see that this area is also where seaweed gets farmed. The tide goes in and out twice a day, so at low tide, it looks like this...

New Dress A Day - DIY - Patterned Tunic - Upcycled - Le Pirate Beach Club

...and at high tide, it looks like the shot below. It was really such an incredible scene.

New Dress A Day - DIY - Patterned Tunic - Upcycled - Le Pirate Beach Club

When I was up at sunrise, I got to see all of the farmers out in the sea with their flashlights gathering seaweed as well - early risers get the first worm basket of seaweed!

New Dress A Day - DIY - Patterned Tunic - Upcycled - Le Pirate Beach Club

Oh and that's an infinity pool on the edge of the property. Yeah, my first time in an infinity pool, and this is my view. The amount of times that my mind was blown this trip cannot be counted on all my hands, feet, your hands, your feet, etc.

New Dress A Day - DIY - Patterned Tunic - Upcycled - Le Pirate Beach Club

This top got another wear on this trip...

New Dress A Day - DIY - Patterned Tunic - Upcycled - Le Pirate Beach Club

...but I'll post that later on this week. It's styled a bit differently and if it's possible, I'm acting even more goofy in those pics!