Remake: Black & White Tweed Dress

I found this dress and fell in love with the tweed material!

Vintage Tweed Dress - 1

I also loved the large buttons. I'm a button girl - the bigger and more embellished, the better in my book!

Vintage Tweed Dress - 2

I love pockets too, but the pockets on this dress were small and sneaky. Don't try to be a pocket if you're gonna be little, ya hear? I need room!

Vintage Tweed Dress - 3

The shape was totally off BUT the seams were perfectly lined up to transform this into something I'd wear often. 

Vintage Tweed Dress - 4

Like REALLY often.

Vintage Tweed Dress - 14

First off I got rid of those shoulder pads. Like the pockets, if you're gonna be small, why bother!?

I mean go big, or go home.

Vintage Tweed Dress - 5

When I first looked at the piece, I immediately thought JACKET! The way the seams were, it just screamed out loud, "turn me into a jacket, girl!"

Yeah, this dress literally screamed to me. That's the kind of relationship I have 😂

Vintage Tweed Dress - 5

I started removing the seams at the waist right off the bat and in my haste, I got an injury.

Vintage Tweed Dress - 6

You might have thought that the seam ripper caused the cut, but no. I was just TOO excited that one of my nails on my left hand cut the knuckle on my right.

Little word of caution...go slowly, friends! That tweed is not going anywhere!

I continued to remove the seams until the top part of the jacket was fully detached!

Vintage Tweed Dress - 7

I created a new hem, pinned down the bottom of the jacket and stitched away!

Vintage Tweed Dress - 9

Once stitching was complete, it was time to rock my new jacket!

Vintage Tweed Dress - 9

I paired the new jacket with a vintage black dress and lace tights for my "this is what I wear in LA when it rains" look. 

Vintage Tweed Dress - 10

This would pair so well with a jeans/t-shirt look too!

Vintage Tweed Dress - 12

The big collar really pops now too! I'm totally in love with how this one turned out!

2.13.17 - Before & After

Remake: Neon Floral Housedress

Well hello neon housedress of epically awesome proportions by Miss Elaine!! (Thanks to reader Cathryn G for sending this glorious piece my way!!)

Vintage Neon Floral Housedress - 1

The floral colors make me dream of warm summery temperatures (it's SO cold and rainy in CA right now!) that I just had to craft this piece while on a little beachy holiday!

Vintage Neon Floral Housedress - 2

I'm not going to wear the dress to the beach, however I'm gonna make something that'll be perfect to wear with some cutoffs made from an old pair of jeans!

Vintage Neon Floral Housedress - 3

First up! Time to TRIMMMMMMMMMMM. ✂️✂️✂️

Vintage Neon Floral Housedress - 4

Being I couldn't tote my sewing machine in my carry on, I figured I had the next best thing for beachy crafting...a FABRIC FUSION glue pen!! 

Vintage Neon Floral Housedress - 5 (Fabric Fusion)

I also crafted a makeshift desk out of a wicker ottoman to craft a new seam with fabric glue! 

Vintage Neon Floral Housedress - 6

It's just a DIY party of all sorts going on!!

Vintage Neon Floral Housedress - 7

I made sure to get all the little nooks and crannies tacked down and let the piece dry overnight. This wasn't the worst view during the dry time either, I might add... 😂

Costa Rica Sunset

The next day, my new top was ready to wear!

Vintage Neon Floral Housedress - 8

I love the vintagey feel of the top paired with the cutoffs and bright floral Nanette Lepore hat. It's definitely pattern overload, and I love it!

Vintage Neon Floral Housedress - 9

If I could have bottled up the heat and humidity (yes, the humidity too) and brought it home with me I would have in a heartbeat! Gimme that humid air all day just for dewy skin!!

Before / After 1.19.2017

And now, maybe I make a 60s style mini skirt with the remnants? Lots to ponder, LOTS!

Remake: Art Deco Beaded Top

I don't have a ton of luck with shades of ivory. They either wash me out (thanks, Irish/English skin!) or feel super yellowy.

Art Deco Beaded Top - 1

This shirt has the latter feeling and it's not just the stains under the pits!! 😂

Art Deco Beaded Top - 2

But the BEADWORK!! The glorious beadwork!! That's what sold me on this shirt. I was obsessed with the art deco-y, feathery/leaf print at the collar.

Art Deco Beaded Top - 3

I wasn't about to let this shirt win, so I did what I do a lot of the time. I grabbed some wine. OK, not exactly the wine you're thinking of...

🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷

🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷

I added my shirt to a dye bath (Wine dye can be found here!) and let the piece marinate. When working on this shirt, it got me thinking about using real wine to dye! I know - why waste, BUT, let's see if some leftover cab from cooking can do the trick! That'll be coming soon...

Art Deco Beaded Top Dyed

When I first saw the piece post-dye, I was completely blown away. It turned into something SO spesch. 

Art Deco Beaded Top Dyed - 1

It's literally the shade of m'dreams!!

Art Deco Beaded Top Dyed - 2

No, but really...look how the beadwork pops!  

Art Deco Beaded Top Dyed - 3

And PS, not gonna lie. This shirt has total mullet qualities. Business in front and PARTY IN THE BACK. I mean, look at those buttons!!! 

Art Deco Beaded Top Dyed - 4

Saying I got excited was a total understatement.

From start to finish, this piece went around the moon and back! I can't wait to test this out with some skirting options - there's so many different ways to rock this piece.

1.9.2017 - Before / After

This is a color / beverage I can always get on board with!