Wednesday Remake: Black Velvet Dress

Today's remake is this fab black velvet dress. New Dress A Day - Housing Works Thrift Store - Buy the Bag - Vintage Black Velvet Dress

It was one of the pieces that cm from my stash of Housing Works goodies, also Day 6 of my 31 Days of Thrift!

New Dress A Day - Housing Works Thrift Store - Buy the Bag - Vintage Black Velvet Dress

The shape was great but I just wasn't feeling the trim at the neck.

New Dress A Day - Housing Works Thrift Store - Buy the Bag - Vintage Black Velvet Dress

Time to make some tweaks!

First thing I started to do was remove that neck trim with a seam ripper!

New Dress A Day - Housing Works Thrift Store - Buy the Bag - Vintage Black Velvet Dress

After making my way all around the neck, the trim was fully removed!!  I like the print, but I just didn't like it with the black velvet.  I'll find another use for this somewhere...

New Dress A Day - Housing Works Thrift Store - Buy the Bag - Vintage Black Velvet Dress

With my new neckline offish cleaned up, all I had to do was press it a bit to finish up this section.  There were noticeable spots from where the threads came out, so ironing was key to make it look like nothing was ever there.  Irons are truly magical.

New Dress A Day - Housing Works Thrift Store - Buy the Bag - Vintage Black Velvet Dress

It fit well, but I wanted to make it a little more snug, so I took it in just a smidge in the back and stitched it in place.

New Dress A Day - Housing Works Thrift Store - Buy the Bag - Vintage Black Velvet Dress

I left the length because I wanted this LBD to hit right below the knees.

With just two tweaks, we went from decent looking dress to knockout!!

New Dress A Day - Housing Works Thrift Store - Buy the Bag - Vintage Black Velvet Dress

How chic is this??

New Dress A Day - Housing Works Thrift Store - Buy the Bag - Vintage Black Velvet Dress

I paired the dress with more bits of black to keep this super cocktail-y and evening, but needed one big pop of flair.  Nothing like black sequins, a metallic T strap, and red heels to be that pop!!

New Dress A Day - Housing Works Thrift Store - Buy the Bag - Vintage Black Velvet Dress

Dress: Vintage // Heels: Oh Deer! // Necklace & clutch: Vintage // Sunglasses: Forever 21

New Dress A Day - Housing Works Thrift Store - Buy the Bag - Vintage Black Velvet Dress

I totally feel like I'm having my Audrey Hepburn moment now.

New Dress A Day - Housing Works Thrift Store - Buy the Bag - Vintage Black Velvet Dress

Taking away that little bit at the neck made all the difference!  Now, who's got a soiree that I can attend??

Stay tuned for more from 31 Days of Thrift!!

31 Days of Thrift: Day 5

It's Day 5 of my 31 Days of Thrift and I think I'm kind of obsessed with this look.  I went bold and big, pairing some maj prints today! DAY 5/31:

#15 – Black & white striped short sleeved T

New Dress A Day - Housing Works Buy the Bag - thrift store shopping

This shirt was a little shorter, from a standalone perspective, so I thought pairing it with something that I could tuck it into would do the trick!

I pulled my vintage daisy skirt (that's a part of a suit I found) from my closet and got busy tucking in that T!

New Dress A Day - Housing Works Buy the Bag - thrift store shopping

I'm a big fan of matching patterns and this one is totally bold enough to pack a sucker punch!  (Y'all know I'm a lover, not a fighter though...)

New Dress A Day - Housing Works Buy the Bag - thrift store shopping

Top: Vintage // Skirt: Vintage // Heels: Tahari // Clutch: Trina Turk // Sunglasses: Urban Outfitters

New Dress A Day - Housing Works Buy the Bag - thrift store shopping

Some fab Tahari heels and a patent Trina Turk clutch finish off the look which is one that I can feel super sleek in for a meeting or a mix of sweet and edgy for a night out.

New Dress A Day - Housing Works Buy the Bag - thrift store shopping

Ooh, and those red lips...a little Urban Decay action to really tie it all together.

Day 5 down!  Many, many more looks to come!

Monday Remake: White Lace Dress

Today's dress comes from one of my lovely friends, AA, who before she moved back to Chicago, handed me a bag of clothes to have some fun with.  This dress was in that bag... New Dress A Day - thrift store shopping - DIY - spotted white dress

It's got a lovely lace-ish overlay on top of an ivory lining, however there were small areas of discoloration.

New Dress A Day - thrift store shopping - DIY - spotted white dress

This dress fit well, however the spots were problematic.

New Dress A Day - thrift store shopping - DIY - spotted white dress

I knew that this was a job for some fabric dye!!  I decided to dye the dress...

DENIM BLUE!!

 New Dress A Day - thrift store shopping - DIY - spotted white dress - RIT Dye - Denim Blue

Now for a dress like this, I knew that the color wasn't going to turn out this dark.  (FYI, if it were 100% made up of natural fibers, then the color would be closer to that of the shade on the packaging.)  I was really looking forward to seeing how the lace dyed!

After a dip in the washing machine with the dye, my new dress was looking A-OK!!

 New Dress A Day - thrift store shopping - DIY - spotted white dress - RIT Dye - Denim Blue

The flowers are more pronounced now and you can actually see their form on the dress.  The slip part dyed a little lighter, however that matched with the darker lace on top is a perfect pair!

 New Dress A Day - thrift store shopping - DIY - spotted white dress - RIT Dye - Denim Blue

I pulled out a clutch that I got in London 10 years ago to continue the floral trend.  This bag is completely hand beaded with pops of fuchsia, gold, and mint green - kind of my perfect color palette.

 New Dress A Day - thrift store shopping - DIY - spotted white dress - RIT Dye - Denim Blue

I paired the dress with my navy Candies mules...

 New Dress A Day - thrift store shopping - DIY - spotted white dress - RIT Dye - Denim Blue

...and packed up a bag filled with snacks and sweatshirts to bring to an outdoor screening of "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes".

 New Dress A Day - thrift store shopping - DIY - spotted white dress - RIT Dye - Denim Blue

It was such a treat to see a classic that I hadn't seen before while enjoying a spread of cheesesteaks, strawberries, and gummy Haribo cokes.  Picnic trifecta, perhaps?

 New Dress A Day - thrift store shopping - DIY - spotted white dress - RIT Dye - Denim Blue

The new dress was a total hit - maybe I should have dyed it pink to match Marilyn in the movie?

 New Dress A Day - thrift store shopping - Marilyn Monroe - Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

There's always next time...

Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend!