Rags to Riches

I entered this competition Rags to Riches.

The criteria was to make an outfit from the mystery bag of clothing and model your outfit at the 'Opening Night'

This was a fundraiser for the Old Courthouse Gallery which is part of the National Trust.

Here I am modeling.

Here are the items in my mystery bag...

A piece of each item was to be evident in your outfit.

 This lovely medium dark blue 100% polyester Pelaco blouse...

 A lace type collar - again 100% polyester

 A vintage Target Rib Knit Cardigan with a slight Lame look to it ( probably the polyester at work again)

 This Image brand Tartan viscose oversize shirt / jacket

100% cotton 3 tiered skirt with a paisley print around the bottom and bells on the tie.

At first look the skirt was the most promising item, but in the end I found it difficult to use.

I quite liked the Cardigan but it had badly lost its elasticity and was stained in a few places so again it was difficult to use.

I drew up loads of designs and came up with a few quite different ideas but I really wanted to be able to wear this myself ( not only on the 'Night' but regularly ) and I am about 20 years past wearing hot pants, so I focused on the tartan piece knowing that I would wear a Tartan tunic.

I was surprised to find that I could in fact create a dress ( to fit me )  from the shirt.

I kept trying to add bits of the other items to it but it just didn't enhance it at all an I finally decided to leave it plain and accessorize with the other pieces.

 

 

So the end result was a Tartan Tunic Dress - from the Tartan shirt / jacket

I used a piece of stretch lace that I had in my stash to make a shift dress with sleeves and a neckline with a bow from the Pelaco shirt.

The Cardigan became fingerless gloves and boot cuffs.

I made a hair piece using the collar from the tartan shirt, the lace collar and a flower from the red skirt.

I also lined my wooden briefcase handbag with the red and crocheted around the handle.

I did not win a prize but I am pretty pleased with my effort and had fun doing it.

Re-Fashioning

I have been doing a little bit of refashioning lately...

Sadly not much in the way of before and after shots - I always chop into things and then go 'oh I should have taken a pic of that,... oh well!'

This is a terry cloth - top, I think.

I picked it up at the thrift store for $1 and thought I could wear it as a skirt...

Well, I could have worn it as it was, but I felt it was a little unflattering, so I cut off the shirred top, shaped the main section to taper in at the waist and then re-sewed the shirred top back on as the waistband.

It worked out quite well and I have worn it out and about.

Here is the finished version - I'm afraid you can not really tell much difference!

The next one is one of my favoured re-makes

Skirt - Dress

I picked up this nice black skirt at the Salvo's in a size too large for me

 



It has some nice gathered/pleating detail at the top and

I like the zig zag stiching that secures it.

Although the skirt was too big at the waist, the waist did fit nicely around my bust.

I removed the zip added a couple of straps and a little bit of strappy detail at the side and on the back...et voila!

It is difficult to see - sorry about that.

I like it and although it could look a weenie bit maternity, it has been long enough ( since actual maternity days) that I won't be totally mortified if any body asks " when are you due?"!

 

This one was a bit too easy...

I picked up this tiny little stick insect top and liked the lace neck detail.

 

So...

I cut it off and made me a necklace.

The following pics are of a vintage beach style house coat that I found.
I started out thinking it wouldn't need any altering and then I did quite a bit...

Basically I added all the black, buttons, bias binding and the lace detail on the pockets.

I am liking a bit of green lately.