$1 Remake - Quilted Robe/House Dress Redux

This was one of my favorites!  I actually used this piece on a few of the recent TV segments I've been a part of just because of the accessibility of it - really easy tweaks make this piece fit and fab!!

I couldn't be more in love with the quilted fabric and the turquoise button on the back was not messing around!!

This piece will take 30 minutes tops to make it something that you won't want to take off!!

Because this piece was done for the Ricki Lake Show, at the studio,  my process shots look a little different than usual!  In my dress, I got on the floor and was rocking out the craftiness in a mini dress.

My first step, post-assessing, was to cut the length of the house dress/robe-ish piece and begin to remove the zipper.

The length was trimmed and the zipper, keeping the piece together, was removed with a seam ripper and a little pulling.  It was actually super fun to pull the zipper out after getting the first few stitches out, seam ripper style!

With the length adjusted and zipper removed, I hemmed the bottom of the piece as well as sewing down the seams on each side of the new coat.  To give the piece a little more pizazz, I found some faux fur trim at the fabric store, and added around each sleeve of the jacket.  This is something that can be hand stitched, fabric glued, or safety pinned even, to get it affixed.  The last option is perfect just in case you want a non-permanent fix.

Post-tweaks, my jacket was complete and looking chic on my model EM in the center!

I love that you can wear a pair of jeans and a tank, and let the jacket be the new focal point!!

As we speak, I'm re-packing my NY bags now (bringing this jacket with me too, even though it may be a bit hot) to head off to Phoenix!  Road trip begins in just a few short hours.  For the AZ-ers, I'll be doing a fun segment on Sonoran Living Friday morning and if you're are in the area on Saturday, I'd love to see you at a fun book meet and greet!!

PHOENIX – Saturday, 11/17

New Dress a Day Book Signing + Meet & Greet  (with treats!) 4pm CHANGING HANDS BOOKSTORE 6428 South McClintock Drive | Tempe | AZ 85283

 Happy Thursday!!

I'm Going,Going, Back, Back, to Cali, Cali

My East Coast trip is coming to an end.  It's been such a great time hanging out with friends and readers, and making new friends on the train, at dinners, and over cocktails.  I'm going to be sharing and posting all the photos shortly, here and on Facebook, so everyone can see the fun DIY-ing, vintage garment consulting, and catching up that was had!  It's back to LA then off to Phoenix on Thursday for a fun signing at Changing Hands in Tempe on Saturday! The dress that I posted yesterday...

...was the one that I wore for the Better Homes & Gardens, Better TV segment.  Here were my models...

...and here is the clip!

(PS, my models were all the fab in-house PR team at Random House!  Thanks girls!!)

I shall be hand sewing on the flight, so get ready for a fun finished piece post-arrival!!

Farewell NY!!  I'm going, going, back, back, to Cali, Cali.

Jen's NDAD Donation

Happy Monday friends!!  I just got back from Boston after a fantastic few days (fun post to come...) and am heading out to my hometown on Long Island today!!

It's been a while since I've been back, but I couldn't be happier to see family and friends, not to mention hang at the Barnes & Noble in Bay Shore for a fun book signing/party! (Come out if you're around NY/NJ/LI/CT friends!)

Today's dress was one that Miss Jen sent my way...

Unfortunately, the note attached stayed in LA, so I'm without the story behind this piece!  (Jen, feel free to share in the comments section!)

  I was loving the skirt part of the dress, but needed to fix the top portion!

PS, I love that Jen kept the price tag on this puppy too!  Look at Value Village hookin' a sistah up!!

Because I wanted to keep the skirt intact, I decided to focus my energies on the top portion of the dress!!  The silver panels at the shoulders were awesome, but the sleeves were quite billowy, so I grabbed some scissors and began to chop!

That was my one adjustment - a quick sleeve trim to make them fluttery was all that was needed to really change the look and feel of this piece!

I wore the dress in LA, pre-ginger hair...

I was in love with the new sleeves!

Because I loved how this dress looked so much, I decided to bring it with me on my East Coast travels and wear to a shoot for Better Homes & Gardens' Better TV show that airs today!!  (Check listings here! I'll also get the clip posted online as soon as it's available!)

From blonde bun to red bun...

...the dress is still equally as awesome!!

Hope to see some of you tonight on LI!  Next stop is Phoenix on Saturday!!