Remake: Brown Plaid Skirt

New post has finally arrived! I'm still abroad, but will be getting these posts up whenever/wherever my wi-fi access allows! Thank you SO much for your patience with me :) I love vintage skirts - I tend to collect them. (Reminder to take a photo of my skirt rack in my closet, as it has gotten quite large as of late!) The plaid pattern on this one was just my speed...

New Dress A Day - DIY - vintage skirt - beige plaid - thrift store shopping

...and the fact that there were pockets only made it more intriguing. Small issue...it was just a bit too large for me.

New Dress A Day - DIY - vintage skirt - beige plaid - thrift store shopping

Did I pass this one by?? Obviously not. That skirt rack is just waiting for this puppy to be added to it!

I started off by measuring the skirt on me and figured out just the right amount to make it perfect for my waist. I pinned my areas to take in...

New Dress A Day - DIY - vintage skirt - beige plaid - thrift store shopping

...and got to sewing!!

New Dress A Day - DIY - vintage skirt - beige plaid - thrift store shopping

With a new seam created down the back of the dress (didn't want to adjust the pockets at all, so I created my seam here) it was time to make it a bit shorter. I just wasn't enthused with the "cankle" length where it currently hit me.

New Dress A Day - DIY - vintage skirt - beige plaid - thrift store shopping

I trimmed my length...

New Dress A Day - DIY - vintage skirt - beige plaid - thrift store shopping

...prepped a new hem...

New Dress A Day - DIY - vintage skirt - beige plaid - thrift store shopping

...and stitched it in place.

New Dress A Day - DIY - vintage skirt - beige plaid - thrift store shopping

With just a little bit of tweaking, my new skirt fit like a charm!!

New Dress A Day - DIY - vintage skirt - beige plaid - thrift store shopping

I paired it with a white tank, some vintage beaded necklaces, a pair of Calvin Klein slingbacks, my vintage wicker-y clutch, and pink, as I deem it, "She-Ra" belt.

New Dress A Day - DIY - vintage skirt - beige plaid - thrift store shopping

The downward point on the belt totally reminded me of hers. (I was such a fan when I was a kid! I had her "Princess of Power" castle too!!)

New Dress A Day - DIY - vintage skirt - beige plaid - thrift store shopping - She-Ra

This skirt will look fab paired with a printed blouse or even with a lightweight knit sweater as it begins to get warmer everywhere else outside of Los Angeles.

New Dress A Day - DIY - vintage skirt - beige plaid - thrift store shopping

This will definitely become a new season staple!

New Dress A Day - DIY - vintage skirt - beige plaid - thrift store shopping

Cozy, comfy, pocket-full...dream Marisa wardrobe piece!!

Remake: Brown Plaid Skirt Teaser

Hello friends! Apologies for the lack of posting - the wi-fi has been a little dodgy while I've been in Bali...the mass bunch of post photos just don't seem to be uploading together :) However, I'm heading to another part of the city tomorrow and will have better access. Keep your eyes peeled... Until then, this is one of my fave first shots after arriving. How 'bout that for a coconut?? It's almost as big as my noggin. (PS, for more up-to-date trip pics, head on over to Instagram/Twitter!)

New Dress A Day - BALI - Coconut - Potato Head

This piece will be hitting the blogosphere next...

New Dress A Day - DIY - vintage skirt - beige plaid - thrift store shopping

Love me some plaid skirts!

Thanks for your patience and happy weekend!! xx Marisa

Remake: Dress Swap with Recycled Fashion

Today's post is a fun one!  I partnered up with my Australian pal Erica at Recycled-Fashion for a little outfit swapping!  We decided to send each other a fabulous thrifted find (hers is below), work our magic on them, and then post the after shots.  We've been working on this for a little bit and it's finally time to reveal what we came up with! This is what Erica sent me...

New Dress A Day - Vintage Floral Dress - DIY - thrift store

Check her out modeling the floral, billowy-ness!

New Dress A Day - Vintage Floral Dress - DIY - thrift store

I received it in the mail and got working!!  Any thoughts of where I'm going to take it?  I think you're going to like the final product!

First thangs first.  Yep, thangs.  Cut.  Them.  Sleeves.

New Dress A Day - Vintage Floral Dress - DIY - thrift store

Look how pretty it's starting to look!

New Dress A Day - Vintage Floral Dress - DIY - thrift store

I really wanted to bring notice to the amazing button panel at the center.  The wheels started turning and I began to snip the edge of the fabric right next to the buttoned panel on each side, starting at the neck going down about a third of the way (falling at m'boobs!).

New Dress A Day - Vintage Floral Dress - DIY - thrift store

After the center area was trimmed, I started to snip the same fabric right at the neck seam.  I opened up this entire area, cutting from the center seam to the back zipper.

New Dress A Day - Vintage Floral Dress - DIY - thrift store

Once everything was trimmed, I made a triangle shape with the fabric (pinning it under) on each side of the buttoned panel.  I repeated this step with the material on the back of the dress, using the top of the zipper as the tip of my triangle.

New Dress A Day - Vintage Floral Dress - DIY - thrift store

I ended up having some extra room at the neck after all my tweaking, so I detached the button panel from the neck strip with a seam ripper...

New Dress A Day - Vintage Floral Dress - DIY - thrift store

...cut the area that was excess...

New Dress A Day - Vintage Floral Dress - DIY - thrift store

...and pinned it back together, to prep for sewing.  This is going to make it more fitted up top.

Next, I sewed the front and back of the dress...

New Dress A Day - Vintage Floral Dress - DIY - thrift store

...the neck strip, and then I took the top portion of the dress in on each side to make it as fitted as I could.

New Dress A Day - Vintage Floral Dress - DIY - thrift store

After all that work, this is what my dress turned into...

New Dress A Day - Vintage Floral Dress - DIY - thrift store

How's that for a remake??

New Dress A Day - Vintage Floral Dress - DIY - thrift store

I love that this button panel was what spoke to me :)

New Dress A Day - Vintage Floral Dress - DIY - thrift store

I just used that as my jump point and started thinking about the best way to highlight my favorite part!

New Dress A Day - Vintage Floral Dress - DIY - thrift store

It's such a light and springy piece - so perfect for the new season ahead!

New Dress A Day - Vintage Floral Dress - DIY - thrift store

I'm headed to Bali very soon (!!!) and guess what's coming with me...

New Dress A Day - Vintage Floral Dress - DIY - thrift store

...this dress!!

I paired it with my vintage Candies and vintage straw clutch, to help ring in the spring!!

New Dress A Day - Vintage Floral Dress - DIY - thrift store

You will see this restyled again when I bring it beachside with me, but until then...

New Dress A Day - Vintage Floral Dress - DIY - thrift store

MUAH!!

So that's what I did with Erica's piece.  Now it's onto the piece that I sent her!

Here's what the lovely before shots looked like...

New Dress A Day - Vintage Floral Dress - DIY - thrift store - Ruffles

She is getting a WINNER!!!

New Dress A Day - Vintage Floral Dress - DIY - thrift store - Ruffles

I know you want to see how she transformed this!  Head on over HERE for the afters!