Refashionistas!

When my 18 year old daughter came to me and said "I need a dress for Spring Formal, and it's next week", I started to panic a little inside. We live 2 1/2 hours away from the closest shopping center, and with the price of gas as it is, I really didn't want to drive that far just for a dress. Besides, I hate shopping under pressure. Time was ticking...and I had to come up with a plan.

And then the "upcycler" in me kicked in and a lightbulb went on...I had an idea!  I remembered the dress that I had found at our local thrift store a few months back for only a couple of bucks, and teasingly, I asked my daughter to try it on. With good humour, she did. She loved the colour...and, of course, hated the style. :) It was many sizes too big...but that was to our advantage...more fabric to work with. We decided to do a "refashion"(I think that's a word). :)

Before

We did some brainstorming together, found a pattern...


...and started chopping!

I sewed it up and waited for her to come home from school to try it on.

It was "almost right".

After a very late night of sewing, alterations...brainstorming...and more alterations....

...ta da! Isn't she cute?

After

Back shot

We even made a tie for her guy! It was really easy, actually...rather than starting from scratch, I just covered a tie that I had purchased for 25 cents at same thrift store. :)

I

I was so pleased to not have to make the long trek to the mall, or part with too much cashola, and she and her guy were happy to be decked out in their one-of-a-kind, handmade  "couture"!

The happy couple!