The other day I came across this article on Yahoo! today and was so inspired! This is one ambitious lady. This challenge reminds me a bit of the Stash Bustin' challenge and the Me Made March I followed over at So, Zo. I'm definitely adding it to the list of things I would like to try someday! You can watch Marisa's progress on her blog, New Dress A Day and you'll definitely see me there, too!
Some days, you feel like you have nothing to wear... Well, there are a couple of inspirational ladies who have taken that idea and embraced it!
The first woman I want to introduce you to is Zoe from So Zo (of Stash Bustin' fame). She has created a "Me Made March" challenge in which she only wears clothes that she has made all month long. Down to the pajamas and a totally awesome leopard coat! This is a pretty terrific challenge, and I can only imagine how amazing it would be if this trend took off. I think that sometime soon, I will take on something similar, but for now it will probably have to be that everyday I wear something I made rather than self-made from head to toe... but someday I will definitely be up to giving this challenge a try!
Thanks for the inspiration, Zoe, and keep up the awesome work!
As promised, here is Stash Bustin' project #2, a little girl's dress (approximately size 3T) made from an old pair of jeans with the skirt and ruffle made from fabric in my collection. The hat and dress were so much fun, I think I have a collection in the works!
I felt really inspired by So Zo's Stash Bustin' challenge... inspired enough that I broke into my stash of my husband's old jeans with the holes in the knees and grabbed a roll of accent fabric out of my collection and... voila. A day later, I have an engineer's hat.
I plan to make another hat and a little girl dress... three new items from one old one!
"People, may I please have your attention for a moment. I am launching a new campaign: Stash Bustin'! Like pretty much ever sewer on the planet, I have too much (fantastic, potential-filled, perfectly usable) fabric sitting about crying out to be turned from it's raw form into a myriad of awesome projects. It really is quite a crime. Therefore, I am pledging to bust my stash, using as much of my fabric collection as I can, over the next few months. I will only be stepping into a fabric store when absolutely necessary to pick up items like linings and interlinings to complete projects when I don't already possess an alternative."
Although my life circumstances keep me from doing as much sewing as I like, I'm really into this idea and want to sign up and promote anyone else interested to join in!
I will post my Stash Bustin' projects when (if!) I complete them!
I recently purchased this adorable vintage brown/green/blue cotton plaid dress from Swift Vintage (blog here and awesome etsy shop here). The dress fit me very nicely (I kind of have a "vintage" body type and seem to do well with 1950's/early 1960's stuff). I was, however, feeling a little bit... matronly... in it given that it is so dark in color and has a conservative neckline. So I decided that a bit of hemming was in order. I cropped it to just above the knee and was happy with the results. The angle of the picture isn't terribly flattering, but it gives the idea. This was just the little alteration that this dress needed to feel a little more up-to-date and flirty and more appropriate for evening. Although you can't see it in the picture, I have decided that I like to wear my belts backward to add a little interest to the back of the dress. Maybe I'm crazy, but I like the look. I love this dress so much and have worn it twice already!
I try to adhere to the principle of "waste not, want not", so I'm holding onto the extra fabric. I think there is just enough to make a cute little vintage inspired baby girl dress like this one:
Attention all you fashionistas living in the greater LA area: Sept 11-13 is the Dress On A Dime Women's Resale Boutique at the Residence Inn, 25320 Old Rd. in Santa Clarita. The semi-annual sale features women's clothing, shoes, and accessories-- thousands of new and gently used name brand items FOR CHEAP! :) You'd be doing a big favor to the planet by purchasing used on top of the benefit to your bank account. Because, I'm guessing that even in the best economic climate we wouldn't be able to afford that lovely money dress featured in the photo above (found at trendhunter.com) made from $100,000 worth of British money. Here is another fun money dress, and who could forget the awesome American Express dress worn by Lizzy Gardiner when she accepted the Oscar for Best Costumes in 1994 for The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
I am a mom of toddler twins. One of the occupational hazards of being a mom of toddler twins is that my clothes often become stained beyond repair. I have decided to take these sad items and create wearable art out of them, and covering the stains with paint! This photo of a shirt from Six Foot Owl Clothing is great design inspiration (although I think I would leave out JFK's head... it's just not my thing).
"Bring your desires down to your present means. Increase them only when your increased means permit." - Aristotle
Yesterday I desired a sundress. I did not have a sundress in my closet. My means did not permit me to procure a sundress. What's a girl to do?? Then I saw it... the blue three-tiered skirt with the elastic waistband that I've had for a couple of years now. I like this skirt because it is comfy and full, but the thick elastic waistband was not terribly flattering and I never seemed to have the right thing to wear with it. So yesterday was the day that the skirt became the sundress! This is an insanely easy way to recycle an old wardrobe piece into something new and fun.
If you have a good strapless bra that you like to wear or you're fortunate enough not to need a bra, all you need to do to turn a skirt with an elastic waistband into a sundress is hike the waist up over your breasts and put a sash or belt around your waist.
I, however, don't do strapless without a serious foundation garment. So, I simply opened up the side seams on the top tier to make armholes. I slapped on a belt, in a moment of inspiration (or lunacy, you be the judge!) I turned the belt buckle to the back to add a little interest. I slapped on a brooch and--voila!-- I'm ready for my husband to take me out to dinner. Now, if only finding a babysitter was this easy...
This is a bias tank I created from hemp silk. Hemp is far more renewable than many traditional fibers, and requires fewer chemical fertilizers and pesticides to grow, making it an ideal fiber for environmentally conscious garments. Until recently, buying used and vintage clothing was virtually the only means of being both "green" and fashionable. We are fortunate that today, many designers and manufacturers have jumped on board with consumer demand for ecological clothing that maintains a sophisticated sense of style.
Some days, you feel like you have nothing to wear... Well, there are a couple of inspirational ladies who have taken that idea and embraced it!
I felt really inspired by So Zo's Stash Bustin' challenge... inspired enough that I broke into my stash of my husband's old jeans with the holes in the knees and grabbed a roll of accent fabric out of my collection and... voila. A day later, I have an engineer's hat.
I am a mom of toddler twins. One of the occupational hazards of being a mom of toddler twins is that my clothes often become stained beyond repair. I have decided to take these sad items and create wearable art out of them, and covering the stains with paint! This photo of a shirt from Six Foot Owl Clothing is great design inspiration (although I think I would leave out JFK's head... it's just not my thing).
"Bring your desires down to your present means. Increase them only when your increased means permit."
Posts
