Red Floral Baby Doll Dress Vintage Refashion

In refashioning these vintage garments I have learned that sometimes the smallest changes can make the biggest difference. I really enjoy preserving the integrity of these vintage pieces. I don't want to completely get rid of the design these people worked for all those years ago.

So here's the before. Gorgeous fabric, absolutely nothing wrong with it. Just not very flattering. It's extremely soft. It is made of 100% rayon, but it feels like super soft cotton. 

So all I had to do was bring up that hem! I'm only 5"1, so on me this is a little long for my normal taste, but even still it looks really pretty. I think it would be an adorable summer mini dress for someone taller too!

I've been trying to source larger sizes for a while. I'm still working on it, but this one can be worn up to an XL so at least that's a start!

Please feel free to pin and share!

I'm also working on little accessory items to use the remainder of the vintage scraps, because if I throw this fabric in the trash, doesn't that make me a hypocrite for what I'm trying to do with sustainable fashion?

Stay tuned!

Cotton Candy Vintage Tartan Refashion

Sometimes the smallest changes make the biggest difference. I've always loved pink and blue together, so this tartan skirt was a given. And it's no secret I'm pretty short, but regardless of that, this length was super awkward.

Just cut off several inches, made a new rolled shirt hem, and voila! This will be shorter on a normal sized human. I'm only 5"1. It will be a perfect length for someone taller, but I actually love this length on me too! And normally I don't like below the knee skirts on me.

This one is up in the shop! Go grab it before it's gone!

PS:  Curious puppy not included.

80s Does 50s

Another beauty fine the way she is! I need to come up with a clever name for these… What do y'all think?

This one makes me feel like it's the 1980s (because that's when she was born) trying out the 1950s. Have you guys have ever thought about that? How we love vintage and appreciate different eras now? What about in the eras that we moon over? Were there fashion forward people that were obsessed with other even older eras as well?

Comfort and Cuteness - Match Made in Heaven

I don't have a before picture of this one for you guys. I know. I'm so sorry. I did this refashion a long time ago, before I even considered adding them to my shop. 

But let me paint ya a mental picture:

She was just this really long tent like skirt. It could have been very cute as a maxi, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't supposed to be a maxi skirt. I'm only 5 foot tall, and it just barely grazed my ankles. Now, if a normal sized human wore it that long, it would just be extremely awkward looking. You dig? So I chopped off a lot of inches, folded over and sewed a new rolled shirt hem to finish her off. I also took it in quite a bit by removing the button on the inside of that waistband and resewing it further in. 

The pleats make this beauty so twirl-able. Is that a word? It is now!

In the shop!

Babydoll Jumper

This was another one of those pieces that was fine just as it was! This sweet babydoll jumper is so comfy and cute. People ask me why I don't own jeans. I guess it's a foreign concept. When I explain that it's because I like to be comfortable I get even crazier looks. Sometimes I will wear leggings and a top, but for the most part it's dresses all the way. I mean this thing can look completely put together, but you feel like you're wearing a nightgown!

And who doesn't love that?

This piece is up in the shop! I think I might move my shop to the left side, just so I can tell y'all "to the left to the left!" Beyonce is totally a good reason to completely rearrange my blog right?

Daisies - Refashion

I'm not very good at coming up with clever titles for these posts, you'll just have to settle for the pretty clothes. I know I know. How can you ever forgive me?!

This top made me think of something my mother would wear. And although she is literally the sweetest woman you will ever meet in your entire life (like I'm pretty sure she's a real life Disney princess, or at least the mom of one), her style is not something that most women under 60 would want to wear. But this collar is not something I could leave. Looking closer at the garment I realized all the wonderful elements present. Peter pan collar, blue daisies, gingham, and button up! This thing screamed summer!

Run down:

• Carefully cut the sleeves with about an eighth of an inch fabric along the seam line
• Folded that eighth of an inch down into the seam allowance and sewed

I have followed 2 different methods in making a garment sleeveless. The majority that y'all have seen is me removing the sleeves all together and creating a seam allowance from the existing fabric. Because of this top's shape I needed that extra fabric, so I went with the other method. Either way, as long as you get a nice secure seam, you'll be fine!

Feel free to share anything from my shop or blog! I would love for you to hit that little Pinterest button under any of the posts you've enjoyed! 

Floral Tent to Floral Tea - Vintage Refashion

This fabric is clearly incredible. Those florals, those colors, oh my! But why in the world is there so much of it?!

Run down:

• Removed the shoulder pads
• Measured and cut the sleeves at an angle
• Sewed a new rolled shirt hem to finish off the sleeves
• Cut several inches off of the skirt
• Sewed a new rolled shirt hem to finish off the skirt portion

I've had a lot of people lately love these refashions, but are disappointed when they see the measurements/size. I know vintage dresses are generally crazy small, but I can assure you I'm constantly on the look out for other sizes! One of my main goals for the shop is stocking larger sizes, so stay tuned! This beaut is already up in the shop! Get over to that right side and click away!

It's all in the Details - Vintage Refashion

The moment I saw this gal's collar I knew I couldn't pass it up. I snatched that baby up so fast you would think it was covered in Nutella. The fabric is lightweight and has just the right amount of flow, but that collar. Oh boy, that collar. Peter pan, scallops, and embroidery?! Seriously how...

Honestly this blouse could have probably been just fine the way it was, but who wants to wear long sleeves in the summer? Regardless of how breezy the fabric is.. Plus, those sleeves made it more dated (and not in the good way) than I would like.

Run down:

• Carefully measured and cut the sweet sleeves at an angle
• Sewed a new rolled shirt hem to finish off the sleeves.

Bam! That's it! If you've been following me you might remember when I said I have a bad habit of picking things that need an insane amount of work. This was another piece that helped me remember that the sourcing is part of the hard work!

She's up in the shop! Riiiiiiiight over there ---------->

80s Nightmare to Skater Dress Dream - Vintage Refashion

This might be the hardest one for me to give up. Husband and I were gifted an extra quality time day by the universe. He was released from police academy a day early because they are taking a day from us this week. Since it fell on a school day we were actually able to go adventuring in Nashville. We haven't done that in forever, so we went to our favorite antique stores and then some new ones. I found this one and fell in love with the fabric. I almost didn't get it, because it didn't have a tag and I was going to have to ask how much it was (yay social anxiety). Thankfully I have the most supportive husband ever and he pushed me to get it. And you'll see below why I'm so grateful he did!

I mean, check out that fabric. Seriously so beautiful and even more beautiful in person. It's lightweight and soft, perfect for spring and summer. I could just see how gorgeous this was going to be without the sleeves and slightly shorter. And obviously ditch the doily bib thing.

Run down:

• Carefully removed the bib collar thingy
• Blind hem stitched the neckline back together
• Removed the sleeves (again, be careful with this)
• Folded over and stitched the arm holes
• Cut several inches off the bottom
• Sewed a new shirt hem on the bottom

So I'm not gonna lie. This one did not go perfectly. That list up there makes it sound like a piece of cake. I tried to salvage the sleeves and make them capped, because I love a good puff sleeve. But there were way too many gathers and no matter what shape I went with, it still looked dated. I should have just made it sleeveless to begin with, because look at that!

Someone needs to buy this one before I just keep it… even though I shouldn't.

Please feel free to share if you liked this refashion! I'm on Pinterest and Instagram too.

Dramatic Attic on IG gives you first look at everything!

Pickin'

I have this "bad" habit of picking refashion garments that need a ton of work. Like, take hours to come up with a plan, sew a million times and rip it out and do it again, and scream and punch things, ton of work. Sometimes I forget that the "picking" is part of the work, and sometimes lady luck is on my side and I source a gorgeous vintage that needs absolutely no work.

This beaut is up in the shop! I added a mini etsy to my right toolbar so you can just clicky there. Easy peasy! Let me know if you have any requests! A ton of refashions/vintage are coming to the blog this week! Stay tuned!

Clearly I like plaid - Vintage Refashion

It's no secret I love handmade. However, this dress was clearly handmade vintage and definitely needed some work.

The sleeves were the main problem. I took the before photo only a couple days after getting my tattoos and it was pretty uncomfortable to put this dress on. Everything fit fine, except the sleeves. They weren't even in width and even my scrawny arms had a hard time getting into that cuff. They had been hand sewn shut from the outside. Sorta bizarre. I also had to take out the sides next to the sleeves some. They were completely uneven keeping me from moving my arms very much at all.

The fabric was also super stiff.

I had to wash and steam dry (in my fancy pants washer/dryer combo) to break up the stiffness. It came out feeling soft and comfy, but had very slightly shrunk. It didn't change anything about the dress except made the flaws in the sleeves even more apparent.

So I shortened them on an angle and made a new shirt hem to finish.

I think they turned out super cute with the gathers making it puffed.

I shortened it by about 4 inches and used the extra fabric to make a pointed belt.

The pockets are still in kind of a weird place (right there in the front), but still pockets! And, ya know, charm and stuff. (but mostly… it's a dress with pockets!)

This one will be up in the shop also!

Thank you for following my journey. I have a ton of projects coming up, so stay tuned!

I Rock Alotta Polka Dots - Vintage Refashion

So let's get right into it. This gal was a size 16 basically buttoned up muumuu. I think my face says how I feel about it. Regardless of size this thing would be ill fitting on anyone.

So I had to remove the sleeves first (seam ripped). Then I was left with huge arm holes of course that didn't fit the new sleeves of this dress.

I loved the darts that made it simple, but flattering so I left those. And I wasn't sure about the buttons.

The lighting is HORRIBLE because this is a phone pic (I promise next time I'll use my camera for before pics), but they are this almost iridescent white. The soft square shape felt unique to me, though.

So as you can see, I kept the buttons!

• After carefully taking off the sleeves I took in the bodice by creating some pretty huge darts on the sides. This also took care of the oversized arm holes
• Sewed a new shirt hem to finish off the sleeves
• Cut several inches off the bottom
• Sewed new shirt hem on the bottom
• There were these weird tails in the back that were supposed to cinch the waist, but they were too far down, so I seam ripped those out
• Blind stitched the open darts from the "tails" closed again
• Made a little belt with the extra fabric from the bottom (pointed)

I'm about 5"1 and this falls right in the middle of my knee. So It would be shorter on a taller girl, of course, but I think the sweet capped sleeves and belt make this such a cute summer dress!

The belt cinches it in perfectly for me, but it's not attached, and I think a red or yellow belt would be so perfect with this! I didn't take the sides in to be completely fitted to me, so it gives a little more wiggle room for sizing.

I'm pretty happy with how this one turned out! This is my first personal refashion (not counting the one for school) that I'm listing in the shop! I have done many refashions before, but I've always kept them. I'm excited to add more for sale! 

Let me know if you have any requests!

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Plaid Nightmare to Plaid Pinafore - Vintage Refashion

I found this dress back when I was searching for the Africouture refashion. I loved the plaid. It made me think of kind of 90's grunge/punk-ish. I wasn't sure if I would figure out something to do with it, but I thought what the hey! I'm glad I picked it up! This is definitely more of a refashion for a specific taste, but I hope y'all like it!

It was too long and the v-neck was so low the arm holes didn't even kind of work and it made the waistline too far down.

I obviously kept it oversized. I liked the almost baby doll feel it gave the dress.

Run down:

• I took the shoulders up a couple inches to fix the waistline issue
• I left the arm holes oversized to create an oversized pinafore style
• Chopped off many inches from the bottom
• Created a new shirt hem
• Changed out the buttons to black modern ones
• Chopped up an old belt
• Sewed said belt to the back of the dress to give an option to cinch and create more of a halter if desired

In the first picture I have the belt on the widest hole to keep it oversized. It definitely looks wider, but when it hangs it has a nice laid back feel to it.

It can be worn with layers or by itself if you are like me and not very busty. haha

It gives a nice side boob thing if you dig that, and if not a really cute bandeau would look good.

When I bring the belt in it creates more of a halter top.

I love all the ways I can wear this one! I also love that it has slightly more of a punk look to it now, so as it shows wear it will just fit the aesthetic even more.

I hope you enjoyed this refashion!

And let me know if you have any questions or requests!