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...
Check her out modeling the floral, billowy-ness!
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.
Look how pretty it's starting to look!
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!).
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.
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.
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...
...cut the area that was excess...
...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...
...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.
After all that work, this is what my dress turned into...
How's that for a remake??
I love that this button panel was what spoke to me :)
I just used that as my jump point and started thinking about the best way to highlight my favorite part!
It's such a light and springy piece - so perfect for the new season ahead!
I'm headed to Bali very soon (!!!) and guess what's coming with me...
...this dress!!
I paired it with my vintage Candies and vintage straw clutch, to help ring in the spring!!
You will see this restyled again when I bring it beachside with me, but until then...
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...
She is getting a WINNER!!!
I know you want to see how she transformed this! Head on over HERE for the afters!