This revamp was a one day challenge for myself so I could wear something upcycled and fabulous to the @labmpls meet-up on sustainable fashion in 2019.
1. It seemed like the best way to show people my version of #sustainablefashion.
2. It was my kids’ first full days at preK and mama bear was an emotional mess. 😭

I got this dress from my mother-in-law a few weeks prior. She was the maid of honor in a wedding sometime in the 90s. As you can tell this dress is not the right silhouette for me, with the drop V waist with gathered skirt. And that neck ruffle with the sleeve ruffle was too much. In addition, I am not a big pink person (probably because my skin is already usually the color of pink lol), so before I started anything I tested painting this fabric with red, heat-set fabric ink to give it a much needed pop. Test went well so I jumped in. ✂️I removed all the ruffles (keeping the bias finishing strip from old neckline), fit the bodice and removed the skirt. I then decided on the neckline, and a modified, sexier, dropped shoulder ruffle. I made straps to hold everything in place, pieced together the neck and sleeve ruffle fabrics to expand to the new shoulder circumference, and I cut a little extra bias from the excess to expand that bias finishing strip. ✂️I then hemmed the skirt by cutting excess from the top. I tapered all skirt panels in, leaving full flare at the hem, but removing as much as I could at the waist so there would be less gathers (or poof) once I reattached the skirt. I attached the skirt onto bodice at the true (high) waist. I then attached the ruffle and straps using the bias tape, and reset the zipper. 🛑 I had finished all of the sewing in time for my 1 day challenge and only needed to paint. In true #momlife fashion, my son was having a hard time sleeping, so I was up with him until 1am. Then I had to decide to finish or go to bed. 🤔
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🖌️ OBVIOUSLY I painted as much as I could before passing out