You would never know it by looking at my closet, but I absolutely love fashion. My small clothing budget and plus size figure don't always make it easy for me to indulge in this area, but I've made my peace with it by a) living vicariously through my Pinterest board and b) making it a goal this year to build the best wardrobe that I can afford. My first step toward that goal was promising myself that I would not buy another piece of clothing that I didn't truly love. I can only imagine how many hundreds of dollars I've spent over the years on clothes that I bought on sale or on impulse that ended up being a mistake. Of course, every now and then I find something in the stores and I think, "That would be absolutely perfect if it weren't [too long, too short, too small, too ugly -- fill in the blank]." This happened last week in Target when I spotted what is actually a junior's dress. The thing was ridiculously short on me -- I'm almost 5'11" tall, and it ended over a foot above my knees -- but I loved the upper half. Then suddenly it occurred to me: I sew. I could cut the bottom off this thing, hem it, and have a brand new top that I loved. I quickly dropped this dress and another one in green into my cart and headed for the checkout lane before I came to my senses.
And can you believe my crazy plan actually worked? Just about fifteen minutes of cutting and sewing yielded a perfectly nice top, and after that it only took me ten minutes to fix the second one. It's like a whole new world has opened up to me, and now I can't wait to see what else I can find in the stores that just needs a few alterations before it's ready to wear. I feel a new obsession coming on...
Linking up with Weekending at 1/4" Mark.
That's really a brilliant idea..I'm only 5 foot 2 and theres lots of times things aren't the right length on me, but yet I've only managed to hem a couple of pair of pants so far I guess it's time to branch out!
ReplyDeleteOh the possibilities! Maybe the bottom half could be used for quilting ; )
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! And it looks absolutely lovely on you.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! And gorgeous photo Heidi - lovely new top!
ReplyDeleteVery cute - so clever of you!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Carla, it's a win win situation! The top looks great.
ReplyDeleteHeidi it looks great on you. It is hard for me to find ainything tha tfits at 5 foot 1 inch. I envy your height....Oh hes...just think buy too short dresses again and you get free quilt fabric too out of the left over pieces you cut off....husbands would never know you were getting a 2 for one deal...And you wouldn't have to hide the stash...
ReplyDeleteYou look fantastic! What a great idea. I know how you feel - next time I'm walking around a store, maybe I'll do the same! Thanks for the inspiration :)
ReplyDeleteFantastic makeover of that dress! Looks better now than before and great on you :)
ReplyDeletelooks lovely on you--I didn't like the bottom of it all but as a top it's fantastic!
ReplyDeleteLooks very nice on you too!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea - that top looks fantastic!
ReplyDeleteIt looks great! I don't like altering clothes...or making them for that matter...but you've done a wonderful job.
ReplyDeleteI have a small clothing budget too...but I shop only at goodwill, spending anywhere from $.50 for a top to $4 for a coat. I think my wardrobe is just right...and who wouldn't like a pair of gap jeans for $3-4. =)
Thanks for sharing your makeover with us.
Sewing Mom, good for you. I hunt Goodwill for a few different particular things -- today was sweaters to felt for a blanket I'm making -- and I noticed that there are REALLY nice clothes there. But you have to spend a lot of time trying to find them, and boy do I hate doing that.
DeleteGood for you! I hate everything associated with clothing alteration. I have a great pair of pants I got at Banana Republic probably a year and a half ago that just need a simple hem. Have I done it? No, I just wear boots with them whenever I wear them. Shameful! I'm lucky that I'm 5'6" so length on stuff is usually pretty close and I can continue to be lazy. It's such a good goal to only buy stuff you love--I love shopping, and I usually like how I look in clothes (I don't know if it's the newness glow or what!) so I always want to buy it all. So not possible on a student budget though... I'm currently on a 6-month clothes-buying hiatus. :(
ReplyDeleteAnyway, great job being resourceful! And for some reason, I loved finding out you were 5'11"! I never would have guessed, and it is awesome. :)
That's a really cute top. I just turned 40, and sometimes it seems to me that ALL the dresses are very little more than top length these days. (I am so old.) But your post made me laugh because since I learned how to sew just three years ago, my ultra-petite mom has been bringing me alterations from Target and sale racks where she's found something for $15 that "almost!" fits. I get really crabby about it, but since she contributes to my kids' college funds (every month!), I can't complain, and usually I'm pretty proud of having learned new alterations skills -- like hemming lined jacket sleeves via the little secret opening in the lining of one sleeve, I'm pretty proud of that one. :-)
ReplyDeleteYou look adorable! What a great idea!
ReplyDeleteThis is a fabulous idea! The top looks adorable!
ReplyDeleteYou look fabulous Heidi! How wonderful that you just snipped it off and have a shirt. Love that!
ReplyDeleteI love your top! It doesn't looked like you cut the bottom off, because the pattern on it is so beautiful this way! Now I want to look for clothes that I can make some alternations like you did :)
ReplyDeleteThis is brilliant. I love those little rayon xhilaration dresses but they are SO SHORT! And I love tunics. And an xhilaration dress costs less than 2.5 yards of rayon. Heading to Target like...now!
ReplyDelete