This is week 2's project for Merrick of Merrick's Art's Pinterest Challenge. Hilary's DIY jewelry cleaner was week 1, so this week it was my turn. Since a hi-low hem was on my list and I had a dress waiting to refashion, this dress was born.

Here is my new baby!
Business in the back... |
No, not my bum, the dress! I refashioned a thrift store dress of questionable cuteness into this little beauty with a trendy hi-low hem!
I hemmed it up so that it's the perfect length on my legs to be flattering.
...party in the front! |
I hemmed it up so that it's the perfect length on my legs to be flattering.
I am so pleased with how this came out! I just changed the hem, cinched it in on the back so fits more snugly...
...and tied the ties in the front with a cute waist-defining bow:
How I did it
I just love how this dress so much! I found it at the thrift store for $3.99 (see this post), and before I chopped it, it looked a little something like this:
So not flattering! It was too loose in the waist, too long...just dowdy. But I did love the pattern. The little teeny polka dots and blue flowers on the black background were kind of cute, and '90's florals are really popular this spring. So I decided to just go ahead and give it a try.
But I wanted something a little more "Forever 21" and a little less "I was 21 in the early '90's."
First, I laid out my dress and made sure all of the seams matched so that it was folded exactly in half so that the two side seams touched:
Then I cut my new hem at an angle, leaving about an extra inch of length for hemming. I cut the front about six inches higher then the back.
So sorry about the embarrassingly bad picture! I was too excited to make this dress and I started working on it at night, which means the lighting was horrible for taking pics.
Last I folded the fabric over about 1/4 of an inch, then folded it over again for a new hem. I pinned the new hem in place and sewed it down:
That's it! There you go! It was a really easy refashion with fantastic results! I'm having to stop myself from buying up all the old floral '90's dresses at thrift stores. With results like these, who can blame me?
Now I get to try this new trend with something that only cost me $3.99, and is custom fitted to my own body! Love.
Jessica
Such pretty details on this dress. And you updated it so easily! Thanks for linking up!
ReplyDeleteAMAZING! I am so glad you gave this dress new life. It's such a cute pattern...but was an unflattering cut. Thanks for linking up!
ReplyDeleteTara
Penniless Socialite
February Group Giveaway!
Blog hopping from Katherine's. I must bookmark this post for refashioning my summer maxi dresses - thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you stopped by! I have a couple maxis to refashion this way as well. Let us know how it turns out!
DeleteLove this! It looks great on you! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThis turned out great, I want to try! Thanks for the tutorial!
ReplyDeleteVery darling! It's very flattering on you.
ReplyDeleteThanks! What girl doesn't love to hear that? :-P
DeleteWhat a great refashion job for a frumpy grandma dress!
ReplyDeleteGreat job! I love high-low hem dresses!
ReplyDeleteThat looks lovely and looks good on you. It is easy too. New twitter and pinterest follower. I wonder if you have GFC?
ReplyDeleteJudy
http://www.pursuitoffunctionalhome.com/
http://www.kusinaniinday.blogspot.com/
I LOVE the high low trend!!! Now I wish I had an old dress to do this too, yours turned out beautifully!!
ReplyDeleteVery cute! It turned out well! Thanks for sharing this at my Pin Me Linky Party. I hope you come visit & link again.
ReplyDeleteI found you from Sew Country Chick. I love the way you brought some new life to this somewhat dated dress. This looks great. Thanks for your easy instructions too. See my post here:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thelostapron.com/2013/03/easter-dress.html