I am a total thrift-shop junkie, as has been well documented here. A couple of years ago, I made a major haul at a local youth center’s rummage sale fundraiser. I need to go back and fix the pictures in that entry, but if you want to see my haul from that day, there’s a Flickr set that covers it
Anyway, one of the potentially most-wearable items from that spree was an ultra-cute Betsey Johnson dress. Only, I’ve tried and tried, and I just couldn’t wear this dress in public in its original configuration. It’s just too low-cut and I would feel too exposed and get embarrased.
So, what’s a cleavage-shy gal to do?
How about cut the top off the dress, carefully unstitch the rickrack trim, and re-mix it as a chic fall/winter skirt?
As a skirt, I can wear it with quite a variety of tops I own, and I am definitely maximizing the awesome chenille rick-rack trim. I had to graft rick-rack from one of the straps on to the end of the main strip, but I was super-careful and you can barely see the joint.
Speaking of careful restoration, I had to do a little darning magic on the back of the waist. Apparently when I cut it and turned it for the hidden elastic waistband, I snipped the fabric.
Before.
After.
The skirt is fully lined (as the dress had been) and so I will be able to wear it with tights without having to either wear a slip or bear with cling. Now, instead of taking up space in my closet, being cute and unwearable, it will be a useful and frequently worn component of my wardrobe.
Gorgeous! I like your reinterpretation better than the original dress. Professional and slick yet still really fun.
Definitely an improvement. Awesome.
Thank you both! I’m pretty stoked with the results. I’m going to wear it with an orangey-rust sweater tonight to a medieval christmas music concert.