transformation: skirt to dress

i have a gorgeous ankle-length wrap skirt that i never wear.  so sad.  but i just haven’t been able to send it to the thrift store because my mommy bought it for me (aww…) and i wore it to the rehearsal dinner for my wedding (…shucks).  so it has memories.  plus, the most beautiful georgette fabric (and it’s already lined!).  the colors are so romantic.  but the length is just…dowdy mcdowdikins.  for lack of a better word.  so it just sits in the closet.

then inspiration hit me the other day as i was reaching for a t-shirt in my closet.  (cue clouds-parting-in-the-sky music).  i could turn it into a super sweet strapless dress!  i mean, how cute?!  flowy, sweet, and upcycled.  so far it’s just in the planning stages, but the goal is to turn it into a faux wrap dress with a little sewing and a zipper.  and a grosgrain ribbon waistband to help define the waist.

i’m trying to decide between simple, which has a fifties kind of a vibe:

or a cleaner, more modern silhouette, which would involve darting and a little side rouching.  more sewing, but i am leaning towards it anyway.

i realize they look almost identical in the pictures, but as someone who is very detail-oriented, they look totally different to me.  and how cute with a little jacket and kitten heels.  ta-dow!

i’ll keep you posted with updates when i decide on the silhouette and finish this beauty.

viola gets dressed

for those of you who don’t know, my husband got me a swanky dress form for christmas.  i named her viola and thought it was high time i honored this great gift with a special outfit.  i pieced it together without a pattern, which was easier than i thought.  i wanted to give myself a challenge (like just finishing isn’t enough of a challenge!) so i thought i’d try to match a bold pattern.  easier said than done, let’s just say.  i don’t think viola and i will be winning project runway anytime soon, but i like how it’s shaping up so far.  not sure about the cummerbund-y wasitband.  it’s not done yet, but i’ll keep you posted!