Friday, May 30, 2014

Dress to Flower Pants Refashion



 I finally redesigned the very first garment I ever sewed; this brown flower dress.


This was an extra special refashion because not only was it the very first garment I made but it was also made jointly, with my mom. I remember, vividly, together choosing the pattern and the fabric, and collaborating on this project. I get a warm fuzzy feeling every time I think about it and will cherish that moment forever.


I wish I had a picture of my wearing it because I wore it a lot. At that time I was fresh out of college, not making much art, and looking for new art making experiences. Sewing was a perfect fit as it generated much  needed clothes for my very first museum job. 

However, not only did it not fit me anymore, but it also was no longer my style, and, I hate to say it but, it was ugly. I mean, how did I ever wear this? It's a muddy brown, shapeless and long! But I couldn't bear to give it away as it had too much sentimental value.

Then, I thought, with the current trend being flowers, I would make it into flower pants. I made my first flower pants two weeks before so I would just follow suit and do the same with this dress.



So this is what I did. I basically turned it upside down and cut four pieces of this pants shape out of the bottom of the skirt; 2 front pieces from the front of the skirt, and two back pieces from the back of the skirt. I then cut the pockets out of the front of the top. Only the back was left. I'm still trying to figure out what to do with it.


I absolutely love that I can wear the dress my mom and I made again, even if it's in the form of pants. I say it all the time. Clothes have meaning!



And then my son photo bombed my photo shoot. They don't take me seriously here, lol.

Do you have a garment that has deep sentimental value that doesn't fit anymore but you can't part with it? Tell your story in the comments. 

6 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing your smart re-creation with Visible Monday! Cutest photo bomb : >

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  2. Wow! I can't believe the transformation! I love the pants. I'm sure at the time, you were stylish in your dress, but I prefer the new reincarnation.

    I'm glad you saved the dress so it still has good memories for you in the form of pants. My mom made her brother a suit when she was a teen and later turned the jacket into a little dress for me (when I was a kid).

    I don't have the sewing skills that you and my mom have, but I do agree about the sentimental nature of clothes.

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    1. Oh, what a great story jeanofalltrades! Yes, there is definitely a lot of emotions and meanings to a special garment. I am so glad I got a chance to recreate this dress. Next will be my father's shirt that I took from his apartment the night he passed away. I hope I do that justice.

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  3. Wow! That's a great transformation if ever I've seen one! I've been thinking about a similar project ... I've been considering taking a maxi dress, a fairly full one, and converting the bottom to wide leg pants. I'm guessing that the waist-to-crotch fit would be the problem. Any ideas? I just want a jump suit and haven't found one I like.

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    1. Hi Jan! Thanks! Well, I would definitely go by a pair of pants that you already own and feel comfortable in and use that as a guide. I use clothes that fit me well, take them apart, and use them as a pattern. Then I put them back together again.

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