musical costumes DIY

Remake: Blue Checkered Ruffled Dress

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

Hi you guys!! Today's piece is SO good. The dress looked like it was straight out of a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical.

I went straight into musical theater mode and gave my best "I'm getting the vapors" look.

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

But, look at those SLEEVES!

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

That collar too...

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

This piece needed some serious help to turn it into something that you don't need to be on a stage to wear!

Before we start, I saw this lovely little tag inside the piece - love when there are little hints of who wore this before me!

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

If I only had time to tag my clothes too...

I started off with the sleeves! Took them a bit shorter and got rid of the tightly cuffed wrist area.

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

Next came that skirt!

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

That major ruffle at the bottom was definitely coming off.

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

Once the length and arms were shortened, I prepped all of the raw edges before sewing new seams and a new hem.

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

We're almost there! The collar came next. I just wasn't into the lace trimmed edging...

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

...so with a seam ripper, I took off both sides of the collar. One side down...

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

...and now they're completely off!

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

I pinned the collar back together and stitched a basic seam around the edges to keep it in place before I began to craft a new neckline.

I trimmed a straight line down the center of the piece, using the edge of the square pattern as a guide, then pinned under my trimmed area to form a V, before sewing everything in place.

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

Ready for the reveal???

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

From dowdy to fun summer dress!

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

I paired this with some tan booties, my FAVE safari purse (as I like to call it) that my mom found at Goodwill in Charlotte, a vintage belt that came from my dad's high school collection, and a pair of aviators!

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

A big patterned piece made super wearable by pairing it with more neutral shades. It was just the thing for a little summer dinner party complete with brownies.

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

They totally matched my color palette!

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

So did the rosé. I feel like rosé matches everything :)

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

I have to say that I really love the fluttery sleeves the most. Now only if the dress came with pockets!

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

Vintage Blue Checkered Dress

Maybe that will be the next addition to this piece because pockets always make things better!