I found this gorgeous wedding dress at a thrift store. Sure, it’s outdated and not within the time of what’s in style right now, but I can see why a certain lovely bride fell in love with this dress and wore it to her wedding! I am sure she looked absolutely stunning in this dress and I felt a little bad(?) as I cut into this dress and made it into something different.
As I was cutting the endless about of tulle, shoulder pads, giant bow, lace trimmings, lace, and more tulle, I thought of the lady that wore this dress to her wedding. I wish I could meet her so I could see pictures of her in this dress on her wedding day! This is the kind of dress I would have fell in love with back in the day, it’s so fancy and elegant and princess-y. What girl doesn’t want to feel like a true Princess on her wedding day? I wondered what kind of life she had, what she was like, and I wondered why she didn’t keep this dress and what made her donate it, maybe she has passed on to the next life and her children donated it, or she was just de-cluttering. Either way, I hope she would be happy with what I did with the dress and wouldn’t be too sad. I honestly felt like I should have a moment of silence to pay respect to the dress and the lady that wore it, since it’s a piece of clothing she wore on one of her most special and important days. So I did. For real. I am such a dork.
The lining underneath the lace bodice is cream while the lace is white so I dyed the whole dress to a cream color to match the bodice.
Then while the lace dyed to a beautiful cream color, the tulle got more yellow than I had wanted so I just ended up cutting off the tulle.
*Dyeing tips: Some of you readers have asked for tips on dyeing evenly. I get hot water in a bowl and pour the dye in and mix it well. Then I submerge the clothing item and constantly stir it around for about 20 mins. Like literally constantly without stopping. I like using the pink rubber gloves I get from an Asian market. Then I let it sit for 10 more minutes, constantly checking every couple of minutes to stir it around. Put it in a washer in cold water with a tiny bit of detergent, then dry on delicate. Hope that helps! 🙂
I don”t like any fabric go to waste, especially lace! I knew I wanted to do something with the leftover lace I cut off and after looking at the lace designs, these two designs caught my attention and I instantly thought of a headband to make.
AFTER:
It’s hard to catch the true color of light colored lace, but the lace color turned out to be a gorgeous cream, ivory color. I did A LOT to this dress, I dyed it to cream so the whole dress would be the same color, I raised the waist line so it wouldn’t be like a v-shape waist-line, cut off all the tulle, cut the length of the dress to right below the knee-length, took off the lace collar, lace-bib, cut off the lace cuffs and cut off the sleeves and made it smaller and shorter length, took in an inch from each side of the dress, cut off the train and the giant bow in the back and gathered the extra lace from the sides to add to the back.
I wish I did other things to this dress such as add pearls and diamond embellishments across the neckline and also kept it long without the tulle. But like every Refashion Runway project, I am barely surviving with 3 little kids and I was rushed, once again with this project. I’ve been literally sewing my heart out until Friday 8 pm before rushing to take pictures before the sun goes down! But I’ve survived every week and I am still in the competition and haven’t been voted out so THANK YOU so much for your votes and your support, it means so much to me!
I hope you liked my boho-chic refashion and I will hopefully see you next week, the very last challenge!
Only 2 more challenges left and I need your vote more than ever! This competition has brought out so much insecurity and doubt in myself, and I’ve been constantly nervous, especially this week’s boho-chic challenge. Many people have said while my dress is “phenomenal and the best” I don’t get their vote because my dress isn’t boho-chic. Many of them have grown up during the boho-era and think it’s the same style as back in the day. But boho-chic is the modernized version of the original boho style, therefore the word “chic” added to it. It’s mixing vintage with a modern and Sienna Miller is said to have brought back the style in 2005 with more femininity and lace. I don’t want to lose this week’s challenge because of some people’s own definition of what a boho-chic is, when I followed the challenge 100% and especially when they’re admitting mine is the best transformation and design!
It would totally make my day if you took 3 secs. to vote. I am a runner-up for first place, I am so close! Please go to The Renegade Seamstress to vote, it literally takes 3 seconds, voting ends this Friday Aug. 28th. You can only vote once per device. Thank you so much for your support, it means so much to me!
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Wow! Amazing transformation! 🙂 xx
I'm a little obsessed with lace and this dress defines "epic," Sarah! Holy Cow. And, just for the record, lace is most definitely "Boho." #PeopleDriveMeNuts 🙂
Wow, Sarah 🙂 Every week through this challenge I am left speechless over your refashion magic. I love every piece of clothing you have made so far. You are one talented lady!!
Hope you will win.
Wow! That's an amazing transformation! My daughter has done this a few times with different clothing items, but nothing like this! I will go over and vote for you! Good luck!
Wowie what a before and after picture! Good job c:
I have my fingers crossed for you for the competition!
Xx Ice Pandora
OMGeeee, this came out beautiful. It looks well executed and is a complete transformation. Good Luck in the competition!
How adorable. You have some great skills there.
Dawn @ overboard creations
oh wow! Awesome job!!! Pinning to share!
I love princess dresses too and you are so sweet to think about the first owner of the dress! I love the transformation though! It looks great now!
Oh my goodness, Sarah! This is amazing! I wish I had a fraction of your sewing talent (and creativity.) Congrats on winning the last round! I hope you win this one too!
Sierra
Sierra Elizabeth
Sewing is a skill everybody can learn! You can do it too, I promise! And thank you so much for your congrats! I am crossing my fingers too. 🙂
Thank you so much Sara! It means a lot to me!
Thank you for pinning!
How nice of you to say! Thank you!
Thank you so much Jess! You are so sweet, it really means a lot to me!
Aww, thank you so much! It means so much to me!
Thank you so much Nevena!
Aww, thank you! You make me feel so much better! I am so nervous I will get points docked off a ton because people confuse boho with the term back in the day and not the modern boho-chic.
Wow, you are so sweet, your kind words and encouragement means so much to me! Thank you so much for your support.
Pam, you are the best, thank you so so much! I'd love to see your daughter's work, I bet she creates beautiful things!
Wow! look like you had lots of behind the work for transformation, the end result is gorgeous and beautiful.
daffysdream.blogspot.in
Wow, what a great transformation! I don't normally go on fashion blogs, but I really like yours because its all about repurposing and reusing. I also use scraps from clothing to add to my furniture creations. So glad to have visited you, you are doing great work!
I am speechless!!!
I LOVE your changes <3 You did an amazing job!
I am so impressed! The new dress is stunning!
WOW! you did a wonderful job I love the refashion. Love the beauty and creativity of it 🙂
Voted! Hope you win!!
WOW, what an amazing transformation, I will definitely vote and I hope you win!
xo,
Brooke | KBStyled
Wow! This is an incredible re-fashion, and the new dress looks fabulous on you!
AWESOME!!! the dress turns so good on you 🙂
http://imaginarymi.blogspot.com/
This is absolutely incredible! You are truly very very talented! I love the head piece as well, and I cannot believe that you manage to do all of this AND have 3 kids to look after! I have 2 myself so understand how much time our little darlings take up. Please don't have insecurities though – I know it's hard to accept that, especially in competitions, but regardless of any judging or competitions, or comparing yourself to anyone else, you really must know inside yourself that you are amazing, talented and really rather clever! I love that you took the time to be sensitive and kind to the memory of the owner of the dress, it says a great deal about you. Thanks so much for linking up to the #AllAboutYou linkup this morning. I can't believe what great posts there are already. Tweeting your post out now.
(PS – I wrote a whole post about what Boho-chic means a while ago if you ever fancy reading it! http://mama-andmore.com/2015/02/boho-life-boho-style-just-boho-mean.html)
Wow, the transformation is incredible, you are so talented. Love it 🙂 #allaboutyou
Debbie
How beautiful! You did a wonderful job turning that dress around!
Red Reticule
Wow this turned out amazing!
Thanks for sharing this awesome transformation! Please share more!
Xx, Antonnette
Check out my blog if ya get bored 😉
http://www.antoterese.com
WOW! That is just amazing!! I am sure she would be happy with what you have done. xxx
Love it! What an amazing job you did!!
Gorgeous girl, love the design can I have one too???? hehe
wana follow on GFC?
chk out my new post – http://sapphireziva.blogspot.com/
xo, kanchan
Wow! This is amazing! I just voted for you. Good luck!
Amy Ann
Straight A Style
You did a really great job!
I love this! You did an awesome job. Voted for you 🙂 Good luck!
http://www.mommyandkumquat.com
Oh my goodness this is amazing!! I am seriously impressed. What a great way to rupurpose a dress!!
http://www.amemoryofus.com
What an amazing seamstress you are! This dress is truly beautiful. What a transformation!
you did such a great job at updating this dress – it looks lovely!
Wow! This is so incredible! This updated version is just gorgeous, it's the perfect little white lace dress!
xo, Rachel
A Blonde's Moment
Wow! What a transformation! You look absolutely wonderful. I love how you've breathed new life into the dress. 🙂 x
#AllAboutYou
You made a beautiful dress. I voted for you.
That is a beautiful transformation. You are really talented. I love that you used some of the lace from the dress to embellish a headband.
Clever, Clever, girl! I can see what kind of work and determination this took. Well done, with gorgeous results.
That transformation is so incredible! That dress came out GORGEOUS!
Amazing transformation! Great job!
You are a supremely talented designer! Hope you win! Yes, I will go vote.
Here from Two Uses Tuesday.
wow.. the dress looks so beautifull <3
I will really appreciate if could you visit my blog and
follow me. I will follow you back for sure 🙂
Have a nice day!
Diaries of a hidden Fashionista
Wow I love this! It looks super amazing now!
RedLip&Love
Wow, what a beautiful transformation! I love what you did with the style. It's perfect! I need some of that for my clothes. I have so many shirts that are off-white, but are still my favorite shirts. I need to give it a shot!
Great blog!
Would you like to support each other by following each other´s blog? ^_^
Et Omnia Vanitas
This is incredible! I voted for you. 🙂
What an amazing transformation! The finished dress looks so pretty!
~Jessica
Jeans and a Teacup
Wow, I can't believe the transformation! You're really talented, and I love the finished dress!
Rachael
http://www.threadsforthomasblog.com
That is a wonderful transformation. I love when something can be remade into something that can be used now. Such a pretty dress. Thank you for sharing at Share It One More Time. Cathy
You did such an amazing job transforming the dress…I wouldn't have even know that it was an old outdated wedding dress had you not shown the "before" picture. I hope you win!!
xo Sheree
http://poshclassymom.com
IG: @poshclsasymom
Wow amazing
LA BORSA DI MARTINA
omg you made the dress so pretty!! Thats amazing
xo
http://www.laurajaneatelier.com
I voted for you! This looks fantastic! (I was slightly biased, of course, because we are both Sarah's who love to sew…)
This is a really pretty dress!
xo
Giha
http://chicadventureit.com/
This is amazing. I could never have done something like that. I wish someone would do something like that with my wedding dress. It's still packed in the box from after the wedding.
Hi there
Just stopped by to let you know that I featured this on my Saturday Spotlight post this week!
Saturday Spotlight
Thanks again for linking up! Hope you have a great weekend!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
You did a great job! Love the before and after! 🙂
http://tickleyourvanity.com
Loving this! You are so talented. Thanks for sharing this at our party. Pinned and tweeted. I hope to see you on Monday at 7 pm, so we get to party with you again! Lou Lou Girls
You have made a really hard work but is really great the result congrats!! Look awesome dear
Melange-Boutique Blog by Noe&Lolita
Great pics, check out my new post – http://sapphireziva.blogspot.com/2015/08/hues-of-turquoise.html
xo, kanchan
Love it and at this time I would like to thank you for all your support!
Hope you had an amazing weekend!!
MyLyfeMyStory
What an amazing transformation !
You're an artist – an extremely gifted one !
Lovely chk out my new website – http://www.sapphireziva.com
xo, kanchan
This is gorgeous – Were the sleeves created from the extra fabric in the skirt?? I'm looking at doing something similar with my mother's wedding dress for my wedding.
I love the finished result!! I am in the middle of repurposing my mom's wedding dress from the 80's for my own wedding and am new to sewing as well…can you give me any tips on how you raised the waistline to hide the v shaped waist? That's the one thing I really want to change!! Any help would be much appreciated
This is the exact same dress that my FUTURE MOTHER IN LAW WORE WHEN SHE GOT MARRIED AND I will wear it to marry her son, I’m currently looking for alteration ideas to make it more modern and found this.
sO bEAUTIFUL! i HAVE BEEN KEEPING MY EYE OUT FOR VINTAGE WEDDING DRESSES AT THRIFT SHOPS TO DO SOMETHING similar.
fell in love with the dress untouched <3 <3 <3
I now I would definetely love to wear it in that century