This dress is kind of a big deal for me. I bought it over a month ago at my favorite thrift store for $4. I was practically giddy because it was originally from BCBG Max Azria and I was sure it was silk. I was wrong about the silk part, it's polyester (I really need to read the labels more!) I wore it to dinner with the family a while ago, but I didn't love it. So, after reading Overdressed and taking the author's urging to refashion clothes to heart, I decided to cut off the kimono-esque, bat-wing-like sleeves and make it into a simple shift. I did my best to ignore the tiny Heidi Klum in my brain wrinkling her nose and saying, "It looks homesewn." This is what it looked like originally, with a close up of a ripping seam:
I found and dusted off my sewing kit, actually measured, marked on it with a kiddie marker I found, cut off the unwanted parts, closed it up from the waist, fixed the ripped seams, and hemmed the arm-holes. It. Took. Forever. Ok, I'm exaggerating. It took several nights of Olympics watching. But I'm pretty happy with the results! I think I'm going to go back tonight and make the arm holes a bit smaller, but I'm fairly pleased at the results and at myself! I'm also pondering buying a sewing machine...
Ok, but the title of this post comes from a website I learned about on Steph's blog Thinkings of a Thirty Year Old because last week she posted that she was going to enter her outfit on Thrift Store Runway. I was curious so I followed the link and found out that if your thrifted outfit costs less than $50 you can enter your photo and possibly win one of five $100 prizes! But wait! It gets better! (And this is why I'm telling you, otherwise I might have kept it to myself because I understand how probability works.) If there are 50 or more people entered in August's contest, each of the 5 winners will receive $500! That's like a million dollars at a thrift store! So... what are you waiting for? Go and enter one of your awesome thrift store outfits! And consider buying me fancy salted chocolate caramels if you win?
Daily Details:
- weather: cloudy but pleasant
- dress, thrifted at Frenzi, altered by me, cost $4 divided by 2 uses = approximate current cost per wear (accpw) $2
- gladiator sandals, super old, accpw $1
- pebbled bag, ebay, accpw $9
- arm candy: watch, old Target bracelet, Gap band
- ethical ensemble evaluation: A-
Great sewing job! I think it looks better without the sleeves. Makes it perfect for the summer. What a bargain!
ReplyDelete$4!!! Truly amazing! Those colors are so in Vivienne. I love the mix of black, grey and yellow. Good for you in taking in the sleeves and making it into a dress. It transforms the look. Sometimes we just need a little inspiration from others to re-work what's in our closet. Great job!
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I'll have to think about this contest. I'm not so sure I have an outfit I can do that's 100% thrifted mostly because I don't have any thrifted shoes. Maybe that doesn't matter?
ReplyDeleteLove the dress with removed sleeves. The batwing thing must have been too bulky on your petite frame. I'm so tempted to buy a sewing machine so I can alter things and make some maxi skirts, etc...Have you seen Jean at DrossIntoGold's post showing her altered sweater? It's pretty amazing.
Have a great Hump Day!
Wow Vivienne! What a great job! I love the pretty patterns and colors of this dress!
ReplyDeleteGood job with this dress. It has lovely patterns, and looks great on you. Love Thrift Store finds.
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Great improvement without sleeves, I think...good going on the sewing machine idea. Great for our designing skills. Yay.
ReplyDeletewhat a coincidence! the thrifted Zara dress I'm wearing today looks almost the same as your original dress but I actually do love the shape (I used to pretty much dislike the dress some years ago.. and surprise-surprise, it was because of the shape!). anyway, I actually like both variants of your dress!
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Maikeni blogi - part of me
I love this dress on you Vivienne and it definitely looks better as a shift...and how appropriate! I've been thinking of purchasing a new sewing machine myself, preferably one with a manual!
ReplyDeleteWow! This dress looks fantastic. I had no idea about Thrift Store Runway--checking it out now!
ReplyDeleteOMG, I think of Heidi Klum wrinkling her perfect nose and saying "it looks homesewn" every time I start sewing! Thank goodness it's not just me! The dress loos GREAT, BTW!!
ReplyDeleteI nominated you for a blog award! Stop by my blog to pick it up. http://thirdfloorwithwaterview.blogspot.com/2012/08/id-like-to-thank-academy.html
I love the result without sleeves, you did q wonderful job the colours of the dress are really bright and cute.
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City-aholic.blogspot.com.es
You did a good job!! The dress looks amazing!
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meinmode.blogspot.com
no one ever gets closet enough to pay attention to the seam anyway, silly heidi klum! and indeed - i think without the sleeves is much more becoming on you and it makes the print better - i could see how the sleeves could be a bit much. i wish i had a thrift store outfit to share - i'm planning on going this weekend to try and find a boyscout shirt and a few other things!
ReplyDelete<3 katherine
of corgis and cocktails
Thank you for the shout out about our contest! Just an FYI (especially for Joni), you can incorporate existing items that you already own, but you will be judged mainly on the items that were acquired from thrift stores. Happy thrifting! From, Thrift Store Runway
ReplyDeleteIt's so pretty! The dress looks great on you and I love the way you refashioned it.
ReplyDeleteI recently bought a thrifted nightie that has no stretch and is a little narrow at the bottom, so it's not comfortable to wear; not tight, just gets restrictive when moving. Just for fun I tucked it into a pair of jeans and it makes a great top. Today, I'm going to attempt to cut it shorter and make it into a pretty top.
I LOVE what you did with this dress and it looks much improved. I love the colors and print, so I'm glad you worked with it :)
ReplyDeleteYou did a fantastic job with this dress!! Awesome!
ReplyDeleteAnd what an awesome contest for thrifters - I'm totally checking that out!
the dress is beautiful! i love the colors and you did a fantastic job with the alterations...i never would have known!
ReplyDeleteI love the outfit! The dress is awesome!
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Amazing outfit!!!!!
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xoxo
You look fabulous ...great dress!!
ReplyDelete~Anne
Hooray! I've been working on a plan to refashion my clothes as well with statement making trims, like feathers and sequins. I think this will be more fun and memorable for me in the end.
ReplyDeleteVivienne, you did a great job on this dress, hugs you in all the right places. I entered that contest a few months back and heard nothing, guess my outfits were not what they were looking for. As a matter of fact, I never heard anything from them. I will check it out again. I saw one guy on the site that had modeleled his thrift finds several times so I did the same thing. Looking awesome, girl. dawn suitcase vignettesxo
ReplyDeletei wear 100% thrifty almost everyday. My daughter (the new Mom) is a 100% thrifter, too. She got me hooked. We love to get the bargains that we just can't get else where. I even buy my furniture thrifted as much as possible! The sofa and loveseat in my home currently were hand me downs from my daughter's husband's parents...(say that 3 times fast)! They retired and started redoing their home... hence I get the old (in very nice condition) sofa and loveseat and they are the perfect fit for living room. score! I told this same daughter that you love salt on choco covered caramel and she confessed she can't eat it that way. I love small hard pretzels with melted choco chips. However, I don't like the ones at the stores already coated...too much. I 'm a thrifty dresser and a picky eater. I love the colors in your up-cycled dress! Great effort! Are you getting your sewing machine thrifted?
ReplyDeleteGreat job altering the dress! It looks so much better and looks great on you!
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome! I am all for altering thrifted finds, although my intentions are good that pile is still pretty big!Lovely dress, the colours are great on you.
ReplyDeleteWow, you really did a great job! Nina probably wouldn't be able to tell it was home sewn.
ReplyDeleteThat $500 is totally like a million bucks, isn't it?! I don't even know if I could handle going into a thrift store with that kind of money... I think I'd be overloaded with the possibilities! I think you did a great job with transforming your dress! And I am very impressed that you have a sewing kit! I had hopes of owning a kit or something like that, but after that Pinterest fiasco, I don't think I'll own anything more than a few spools of thread and a couple of needles.
ReplyDeleteI love your outfit
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Hi dear :) in love with your blog hun! what do you think of follwoing each other on GFC and bloglovin'? Let me know
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http://thefrench-fries.blogspot.pt/
xx
you look lovely! i say who cares what heidi klum thinks or says? i mean i like project runway. ok, i LOVE project runway, but i don't always agree with heidi's taste, at least not for me. style is about looking & feeling good about what you wear. oh, & expressing yourself, so i'm glad you ripped out the sleeves, & made the dress work for you. :) contest? i'm thinking, & that may take a long while...
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh - what an amazing find and it does not look home-sewn at ALL! You look gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job, I love how this dress looks on you!
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