I thrifted this dress a couple weeks ago but it was like an XXXXXXXL. Something about it appealed to me so I got it. Then it sat in my sewing corner for that time until I finally decided to tackle it a couple days ago. After five hours (really... I'm so serious.), this is what I got! I forgot to upload the before pic and I'm too tired (read: lazy) to do it now so I'll show you tomorrow, maybe.
I read the tag inside and it is from Korea. Destiny? Perhaps. But I still look like a grandma. I think I need to hem it a couple inches to make it sexy grandma. I'm so scandalous. Now that I am looking at these pics, I think the shoes may have been too bulky. Looks like it's time to go shoe shopping with my imaginary money.
If you're thinking the buttons are a little off... they are. I did it on purpose. (I didn't. I messed up.)
Don't forget to enter the giveaway to win a lace skirt! Only 5 people entered. Okay, 500. Follow my blog with bloglovin' for an extra entry. You should be doing that anyway...
I'm wearing a JCPenney tan trenchcoat (free with gift cards), reworked vintage blue dress ($7), Anthropologie gold bib necklace (free with gift cards), Forever 21 gold flower necklace ($8), and Target clog sandals (gift from my in-laws) with a JCPenney black bag (free with gift cards).
Update: the before
- took in the arm pits and sides..and it took forever because it's not a stretchy fabric and I had to fit it to my arms just right
- shortened the sleeves
- got rid of one row of buttons and added my own
- removed shoulder pads
- (the sash was already there... sewn into the back of the dress)
I was so ready to give up 2309874 times and it doesn't even look that great now. I did learn how to make a button-hole. I hate when I learn a lesson from a bad situation.
90 comments:
I love your trench, I have one similar and you did an awesome job with the dress.
If you did a DIY I would love you forever... No but seriously you should take massive amounts of pictures when you do something like this and then post them in an instructional way so that people with no talent or flair for sewing can make an attempt at it :)
I think this refashion is adorable. I like granny dresses, though.
GIRL. That is amazing. I love it.
OMG the before is terrible. You did an amazing job with that dress, you look fantastic! =)
elaine! the dress turned out fantastic :) love that you turned it into such a versatile ladylike dress that could be worn with ballet flats, pumps and even clogs. kudos!
lol wow I totally love what you did with the dress. Awesome alterations! =]
If this started out as an XXXXX(however many)L, you did an AMAZING job. I love the dress. Gorgeous.
And I think the shoes look great. :)
I love the pictures sans trench... though that might make the button thing more noticeable. I think it looks like a great shirt dress -- maybe not something to wear all the time, but still a fun thrifted item for your closet.
I really like the dress! If you hadn't said so I would have guessed the buttons were on purpose. I thrifted a dress that same length the other day and was planning shortening it, but I might not now because I love how it looks on you!
Shopping and Spreadsheets
this dress is AMAZING!! i NEED to learn how to use my sewing machine!!!!
Wao, the dress turned out fabulous!! I love the color on you! It looks so polished and up to date with the trench and statement necklace.
www.thejoyoffashion.blogspot.com
elaine!! i love the dress and i'm super impressed with your seamstress skills. go you!
monique
www.yogaandpencilskirts.blogspot.com
that dress looks amazing now - and you can't even tell the buttons are messed up, if they even are. i would probably shorten it an inch or two and then it would be an absolute winner!
I quite like the chunky shoes and the sexy g-ma length... it's all good in my books! Ha... even the crooked buttons!
So, pretty much everything's been said about this. But just re-hash; Love, Love, LOVE! Good job. I guess good things take time, hmm?
Brother. That's all I know..
I love that dress on you!
Hi Elaine!
What brand of sewing machine do you use?
I think you're right. Just an inch or so from the hem and you've got a knock out! The top of this dress is fantastic and your ability to alter is out of control... You're killing me with your multi-talented bag of tricks!!
Leaving the House in THIS?!?!
that is such a great thrift find. i think it looks good at its current length.
I really like this dress. So classic.
oooh i love it. it's very 50s...very grace kelly
i cant decide if i like the grandma length or want it to be shorter...
It looks soo cute without the trench coat! =)
I am actually loving that dress, and you do not look like a grandma at all! In fact, I think you look fantastic. Though those shoes aren't quite my type, I think they actually go quite well with the whole look.
http://kateolmstead.com
Lovely outfit. You are a very well dress grandma.
<3
bonjourgazel.com
I love the dress. The buttons make it a little more modern. Oh, and don't hem it too much or when you belt it you will feel nekkid.
My Heart Blogged
You do not look like a grandma! But I do understand, I feel the need to hem some of my thrifted things a lot. And my "sewing corner" (it's not really a corner) has a giant pile of things to be worked on right now...I just have no time or motivation. Anyway, I love this outfit. Everything about it. And haha, I definitely claim off-centered things as intentional sometimes too. I like it. It's cute. :)
Bri
http://fourtyninedresses.blogspot.com/
e, i see what you are saying here, but i think it's awesome. plus, how many grandmas do you know who wear statement necklaces or a chic trench? oh and don't forget that snazzy bowler bag. i don't know any...
I love what you have done with that dress great job!!! I don't think those shoes are too chunky at all you look beautiful!
you know i love grandma clothes.
i'm impressed you made this fit you from an xxxxxxl.
i agree to shorten it up...i'm all about sexy grandma's. love the sleeve length.
I love that you can alter your own clothes! I'm actually very jealous. I am in the exact same situation as you. I thrifted a dress that needs some serious altering, but I can't sew. Time to beg my umma for her sewing skills! :)
Haha sexy grandma :) And hey, buttons are supossed to be off.. didn't you get the memo?? ;)
I LOVE it! It seriously takes me forever when I alter thrifted finds too. And because of that I buy stuff from the thrift store and it sits around forever before I get to fixing it because I know it will take forever. In this case though, your long hours were worth it!!
It's a great dress, and I think you should go with buttons were on purpose.It make the dress work on you. A couple inches off the hem and the shoes will still be perfect. So would a nude pump! My inherited sewing machine is in storage right now, but will soon be out staring at me so I have to learn.
I absolutely adore your blog... it actually insiped me to start my own blog....i'm so dang nervous...any tips on blogging?
I see that it is Grandma inspired, but it is totally CHIC grandma! I love it so much!
http://work-it-blog.blogspot.com/
What a wonderful blog! I love it! keep it up!
you are so inspirational and I would love to hear your opinions on my blog!
check it out! :)
www.so--hi.blogspot.com
Hello doll! I'm your newest follower! (get excited!) And I'm half Korean too! (get more excited!) I'm loving all your outfits...will you be my stylist please??? :)
jacqueline
jaxandmarbles.blogspot.com
Oh so talented. I just thrifted a dress I'm looking to shorten up a little..but I don't know how to sew...so it's just sitting in the back of my closet until I find a friend to help. You on the otherhand did a great job!
Actually all those gift cards were won through giveaways. I would like rich friends too please.
Wow girl you've got some major luck with gift cards and gifts!!! I wish I had that kind of luck with generous friends...maybe I should just make friends with rich people! yeah yeah? :P
oh and fabulous job on reworking the dress girl!
www.makersofshoes.blogspot.com
Wow, good work! I don't think I could resize a dress in 5 years, let alone 5 hours. Also, that last pic is really pretty. I like your smiling photos.
North Meets South
Princess length.. I like that! I think I'll have to hem it though. It stops right at the widest part of my calves and make me look like I have elephant legs.
Great minds think alike.. I was also considering my JCP heels but with the longer length it would've made me look shorter! So after I hem it, for sure!
That's what I was thinking too!! (the shorter sleeve) I was thinking either doing a shorter sleeve or hemming it a couple inches but not both. I don't know why..
Me too! I just don't know how to wear them..
You did a fabulous job! One of my fave vintage pieces is a coat from Korea.
Marie @ Lemondrop ViNtAge
Grandma or not, I like it! I've been looking for a dress of such length and sleeves and neckline for a while now, without success. Your two necklaces look great together and with the dress!
I think that dress is lovely! Although I have to agree that a shorter hemline would probably make it even better...specially on us shorties!
Lidi @ Eclectic Flair
You don't look like Grandma!! :D I looove the dress! :)
You did an excellent job! I think the hem looks like a great length, but a few inches shorter would look cute too.
Good job! I love that dress and I don't think you look like a grandma at all!
I'm in awe that you could take a giant grandma dress and make it fit so nicely. Seriously. In awe. Even though you're not in love with it yet, it's so cute!
you look lovely! that dress is super cute... I love it!
This is fabulous. It looks a-mazing on you. seriously. love love love it.
la vie petite
I don't care how long it took you, you did a great job! I always see mumus in thrift stores but have zero sewing skills. And, I love the off buttons... if you didn't say anything I wouldn't have know that it was an accident :)
Wow! It looks awesome, Elaine. Your hard work really paid off. Who knew grandmas could be so sexy?
You look mega cute. You are also wearing way to much bling to look like anyone's grandma. Very sweet dress I like the vertical stripes.You should think about leaving the extra length at the bottom, it looks very cute and longer skirts are supposed to be 'in' this season. Just call it 'princess length'.
Pilgrim made sexy? I think yes.
I thought that was just one necklace at first. They look really good together!
I love the dress and would not even have noticed the buttons if you had had not mentioned it! Great sewing job.
I think the dress looks so cute! good job! you're so stinkin' cute!
The dress looks good. I would never try to do something like that by myself. You go girl! :)
So pretty, Elaine! I can't believe you altered it yourself...wow, you're good!
such a great silhouette! looks lovely on you!!!
I agree that the hem could come up a few inches.......to the knee perhaps? Cute dress!
So cute look at you, your like Martha Stewart but Sexier. I think you did a great job and I will be entering the giveaway even though my chances are slim with 500 entries.
Write it in Lipstick
I like this outfit just as it is Elaine!!
Congrats on the awesome job!!
Monique misszuman.blogspot.com
xx
Wow, this dress is beautiful, great job! I'm curious, how it looked before!
That looks gorgeous but I agree a few inches shorter would be even better :) xx
I love that dress. It's very Grandma in a good way. I need some sewing skills, you are my inspiration for sewing ha.
C x
http://memiorsofalittlethingcalledlife.blogspot.com/
I agree, I think a shorter skirt and sexy grandma would be better ;o) but, I like the pattern.
HaHa! Sexy granny indeed! :D I am jealous that you're able to saw... that's next on my to-do list! :D
xxx
http://gypsy-diaries.blogspot.com
Beautiful dress!
xoxo,
colormenana.blogspot.com
I think the dress is cute! :) I actually didn't notice the button thing until you pointed it out, haha. I agree with subtracting a few inches off the hem, but this length looks good too!
This dress looks like something Karla Deras from "Karla's closet" would wear. I'm not sure if I like it or not... but congratulations on the result, it doesn't look bad at all.
i love it! and it think the shoes are perfect!
I actually think it looks very cute on you, but with those shoes you should probably hem it. Or keep the length and add some other shoes!
you look lovely! can't believe it was from a XXXXXL size XD
but it looks good on you, girly look! :)
have a great day!
VERY cute material and dress. I do agree that you should take the hem up. But I love the sleeve length. And I think your magenta-ish JCP heels could be cute with this somehow. (I think I just really love those shoes, I'd be okay if you wore them with everything!)
I really like the pattern of the dress, and it looks super comfortable! I saw hem it more, and actually maybe try a shorter sleeve on it? I dunno how workable the fabric is, so maybe the sleeve is impossible. Still - heart it :]
Way to rock the GMa dress! I love how fitted you made it and the sash is super flattering. LOVE!
This dress does look grandma-ish, but in a good way. I bought some earrings the other day just because they reminded me of the kind my grandma used to wear. I like grandma stuff.
you look HOTT. you really did a good job with the dress...better than i could do. i can (barely) sew straight lines.
the dress is really pretty i'd love to see what it did look like before!
http://vikkibabbey.blogspot.com
I superly duperly love this! You did an awesome job girlie!
Meet Virginia Design
i actually really like this. like a lot. hemming is nice though, show off your knees (which really isn't my most attractive feature but it makes me feel prettier to show them off, i don't know why) and the imperfect buttons work on it too. I love taking in dresses, they make me feel so domestic/cool/awesome after. and you can tell people you took it in and they're all impressed. win.
Nice work! You looked like you were playing dress-up in the orginal size. =)
What vision. I do not have the eye to see something like that and think to turn it into what you did. I'm impressed.
YEAH. A little too long in my opinion :(
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