Clear out unwanted items in your wardrobe to make a Spring dress from an old business shirt and maxi dress. Not really as ambitious as it sounds when you throw a little creative wardrobe refashioning in the mix.
I’ve had this business shirt in my wardrobe for years, it still fitted well and the fabric is beautiful quality (and was an expensive purchase) but it was a little too ‘corporate’ for my lifestyle today.
The maxi dress was a hand me down from my sister, nice fabric, but totally unflattering on. Both were on their way to the donation pile.
If you are keen to make a similar style dress for yourself and don’t have any suitable garments to refashion, take a visit to your local thrift store and see what you can find.
You could also use a flowy elastic waisted skirt in place of a maxi dress as an alternative.
Looking for other fun ways to refashion a shirt? You may enjoy:
How to Refashion a Business Shirt into a Dress
You will need:
- Fitted shirt
- Long dress or skirt in lightweight fabric
- 0.5cm (1/4″) wide elastic length = waist measurement
- Sewing machine
- Overlocker (serger) optional
- General Sewing supplies
- One Hour
Skills Required:
- Confident beginner or intermediate sewing skills
- Apply elastic
How to:
1. Cut the sleeves off your shirt about 1cm (1/2″) from the shoulder seam.
2. Fold the edge in twice to create a rolled hem and stitch to inside of sleeve. This creates a neat finish without needing to bind or face.
3. Mark waistline and cut, leaving a seam allowance of 2cm (1″)
4. Measure length of skirt desired and cut the dress, retaining original hem. On the raw edge, use a zig zag stitch to attach elastic to inside of skirt section. Stretch the elastic as you sew.
5. With the top right way out and skirt inside out. pin skirt section onto top.
6. Serge or sew with a long zig zag stitch the 2 sections together.
It took me around an hour (not including photographing the steps), but take your time to get a neat finish, especially around the sleeves.
All done!
The hardest part for me was getting good photos of myself wearing the dress. I am no fashion blogger so I spent a hilarious morning with a tripod and self timer. The photo shoot took me longer than making the dress!
Accessorize with a cute vintage belt, and enjoy wearing your new dress this spring.
Beautiful! gorgeous photoshoot.
Thank you 🙂
That's brilliant!!!! And I second KJ – love the styling! beautiful.
Such a great and easy idea!! Will definitely try this soon!!
please share a photo on our fb page if you do 🙂
Absolutely love it, found your blog post via a share on Nuffnang FB page today
Thanks Erica, quite enjoyed reading through your blogs too.
Cheers Cinti
I love love love this! May try one this week. I do struggle with elastic though! When I sew it onto something and stretch it at the same time, it stays stretched after rather than springing back. Any tips? What could I be doing wrong?
You may want to find a firmer elastic. Some aren't as elastic as others. The one I have used is quite firm so it bounces back quite well.
Go to your local haby store and have a feel. the softer ones will probably not spring back as much as the firmer ones. Also try using a longer stitch when sewing
Love this Cintia. Love the whole repurposing idea – got a few projects on my list, will now be adding this one too!
Anna
P.S. And thanks for popping over to my blog for my Turning 30 Giveaways – hope you come back again soon 🙂
Fantastic restyle! And great tutorial- you’ve made it look so easy
Thanks Lisa, it was really fun to make too.
Great upcycle! I love how you put these two patterns together. And I just might have the skills to do it. Whew!