Remake: Red Velour Nightgown

When you find a red velour nightgown on your thrifting adventures, you immediately think, "this is something 6-year-old me wore."

Seriously, this could be the adult version of my Christmas Eve jammy-jams.

I feel like it's my upcycling duty to make this piece work.

Because, there's lots of potential here.

Non-nightgown-y potential here, ya know?

I started by unzipping the zipper down to the lace trim.

The neckline is going to be a bit different - we don't need all that velour up there!

The collar got trimmed, er, removed and the lace is going to be a lovely guide to creating a new neckline!

Post-neck tweaks came the sleeve adjustment. I got a little scissor happy and snipped off the sleeves, past the elbows.

Some pinning and stitching came next to make this short-sleeved!

I wanted to make this fit better, so I took in the body a few inches. Less billowy, overall :)

I had dinner plans with friends, so I wore my new piece with black chunky flat sandals and my vintage purse.

Using a mix of modern and vintage accessories, the former nightgown feels much more "wear out in public" now.

I arrived just in time for the most magical sunset.

It was a perfect balmy night with good friends, amazing food, and city lights in the background. If only every night could be this dreamy.

Ooh and I became BFFs with a telescope. Maybe I missed my calling?? (Actually, I definitely did NOT as I barely got through Freshman year ASTR 100 when the Physics element of the star-gazing got in my way. Science...not this girl's BFF.)

Yay for old nightgowns turning into fun and comfy new dresses!

Three cheers!!

Remake: Black, White, & Tan Polyester Shirt

The pattern of this top is what sold me from the get go!

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

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!

Ya hear? ALL. THE. TIME.

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

This piece had the collar seam undone...

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

...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!

After the sleeves were trimmed...

...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!

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

Sometimes the smallest tweak can make the greatest change.

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

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

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

Red Velour Nightgown & Sewing Goodies Giveaway

I spent the weekend in bed with a cold, so in-between copious amounts of Nyquil and AlkaSeltzer Severe Sinus Congestion pills (who knew AlkaSeltzer made cold meds? I quickly found out during a trip to CVS where I hopefully did not infect the pharmacists...sorry pals!) I was trying to get apartment and outfit inspiration on Pinterest....

...while getting work done on that velour nightgown!!

Hey zippy, zippy!

Progress was made...

...but it hasn't fully made it to completion. We're almost there!!

In the interim of my nose blowing, tea sipping, working the day job from home, I'm offering a little stay crafty, but most importantly STAY WARM goodie stash for a lucky reader.

A Dritz kit with all the sewing necessities and a cozy handmade ear warmer that will come in super handy for the bitter cold that is still plaguing the country! (The mini sewing machine is yours too, if you so choose to take it!)

Leave a comment below with an activity you love doing while stuck indoors. Maybe it's catching up on housework, or maybe it's watching ALL OF HOUSE OF CARDS' SEASON THREE EPISODES THAT JUST CAME OUT ON NETFLIX!!! (That's not me...yet, but that is how a large group of people I know spent their weekend.) A winner will be chosen next week (3/13!!) so get those activities listed.

Also, big congrats to the winner of the Rafe purse giveaway, Jessica :) Fringe is on Spring's must list, so that bag is going to be the hit accessory staple of your wardrobe! Send pictures - can't wait to see how you style it!