With the fingers of spring tickling at the edges of our days, I’ve been renovating my wardrobe. And came across this dress…
Although the dress had a sorta sporty feel to it and I think my style is vaguely sorta sporty? maybe? whatever the heck is my style anyway…. seriously I have no idea! anyhow, somehow the dress felt wrong on me. I wore it a few times, gave it a shot, but no.
But you know I’m not one to let lovely fabric go to waste and this fabric had been a gift from Sam. So I unpicked the panels, saving all those zips. And managed to patch together enough fabric for a new little skirt. Which is great because a few skirts were jettisoned in the clean-out so it is only fitting that some new skirts could come in, yes? Just keeping the balance! 🙂
I used Vogue 1247 and lengthened it… surprise! I know I have a few of these in my wardrobe already but what can I say? it’s just an absolute winner. It’s so quick and easy to make, is exactly to my style tastes and you cn put it together with small bitsy pieces of fabric. How many times have I made this pattern already? I’m not sure, but lots.
Ok I’ve just counted. Eight times I have made this pattern. Eight. That’s not even counting the two times I’ve spliced the pieces and made it up plain, without those distinctive waitress-y pockets.
Some of the beige double topstitched seaming of the original dress is still intact in the skirt, which is fine by me. I like weird little quirks in my clothes, didn’t you know?
The pockets are lined with blue sprigged cotton, leftovers from my sew bossy dress in its pre-dyed colour, and the lining is the original pale latte coloured acetate lining of the dress, simply cut to the right length from the bottom and keeping the hemline intact. Instead of sewing the darts in the lining I folded them in pleats instead, as is my wont. This is not laziness, honest! the idea is that there is some wearing ease in pleats whereas as there is no wearing ease in sewn down darts.
I know you can’t see them in the photo… but I am totally wearing matching socks too. Ha! I love matching details, even those you can’t see!
Details:
Skirt; Vogue 1247 lined, blue damask, my review of this pattern here
Blouse; a mixture of different patterns, powder blue silk, details here
Socks; hand-knit by me to a 60’s pattern, details here
Boots; Enrico Antinori, from Zomp shoes
Nice save! I agree with you, Vogue 1247 is a great skirt pattern. I have five in my wardrobe.
I agree.
Ya gotta have a balance of skirts to tops.
This is a beautiful fabric to want to keep wearing in what ever form you want.
The fabric is awesome, good job changing it into something you will wear a lot.
Yes that fabric is too pretty to not save! A great save it is.
Fantastic remake. Sort of Casually Elegant Carolyn. Must make that skirt one day myself 🙂
Oh I definitely have to put that skirt on my wishlist! I liked the dress, and I like the skirt too!
love the skirt (and that fabric is awesome too, i can see why you wanted to transform it into something that you're going to wear more often).. i really need to force myself to sew more simple garments, like this skirt you just made.. i always make dresses.. or some crazy print blouses that i don't get to wear, cause i have no simple skirts to go with them
Love your new skirt, but also liked the dress it morphed from.
Ah, that dress was so cool. However sometimes that doesn't translate to wearable, and it's far better to have material you love made into something you'll wear a lot. This skirt fits the bill, and it's lovely. Good work on recognising that the dress needed to be altered, and how. Enjoy it! 🙂
thank you! I haven't ruled out making it again, in a different fabric 🙂
Wow. Sooo beautiful. And I love how the colour brings out the red of your hair.
Love this version the fabric is gorgeous. Planning my second skirt in this pattern just love it.
I always appreciate the details and reasoning. I am excited to try pleating my linings rather than sewing the darts. Beautiful refashion!
I liked the dress, but the skirt is really great too! Whatever your style labels are, I always think you look totally cool and effortless.
It's lovely – and so much the better that you'll really wear it now!
I like the idea of trying something that is a bit 'out there' and then having the skills to change your mind; sort of like taking a basic 'femaile prerogative' and adding intelligence on top. Beautiful fabric well worth refashioning. That tip about folding rather than sewing darts is brill.
This is a lovely refashion! Beautiful fabric totally worth saving. The skirt definitely looks, "You".
Lovely! And the color is perfect for you.
I love to take an unworn piece out of my closet and make it into something I rwally enjoy wearing. Great remake!
Nice fabric save. It's a shame about the dress, when I first saw it I really liked it and thought it was very you. I'm also a huge fan of V1247, it's amazing!!
I am with all your other fans – er followers – I loved the dress on you, but the skirt looks fantastic too. I am always impressed at how you can take something and turn it into another, quite different, thing. Gorgeous fabric, and am loving the cat photo bombing you!! I also match my unseen socks to my outfit if I can…
I liked your other dress, but this is a fantastic save. I can't wait to see what all those zippers end up on!
Lovely – I can see why you keep using that skirt pattern!
Love your ability to create new pieces from other dresses. The skirt is wonderful and the inside of the pockets is a nod to me. Kisses, dear Carolyn.
That fabric is fabulous! I would want to wear it everyday. Its so in style right now.
Love the style of the dress, but the zippers seem a little fussy for you.
You can never have too many of the perfect skirt.
WOW! Great idea to change from a dress to a skirt. Think it works so much better as a skirt and it looks great on you! I also have kitties that love to leave a cat hair or two on my fabric while I am cutting out my fabrics!
That skirt is fabulous. I have admired the other incarnations you have made so I am trying to work out why I don't have that pattern? I'm sure your lovely cat could give the explanation!
P.S. I love you screen printing – both dress and unders. Fabulous.
Nice remake! The dressier fabric gives it a new twist.
Ah I loved that first line about spring. Is it me, or do you have a really short winter where you live (envy!). The new skirt is lovely, I am glad you took some close up pictures as you can't see the fabric detail on the outfit shots. It is well worth saving and makes a very pretty skirt. Just to make you laugh, I am known for my love of matching socks to my outfits, especially my tops. My friends used to joke that I was wearing a bodysuit that extended all the way down underneath my trousers :))
thanks Philippa! Yes, we have a mediterranean climate, with hot summers and mild winters. Socks matching your outfit? is cool; always was, always will be 🙂
This is just gorgeous with that blouse! That skirt pattern is so versatile. I just love all the versions you've made of it.