Monday, June 25, 2012

A Gentle Old Shirt Refashion


I found this shirt at a Northern Ontario thrift shop circa 1997. It was love at first sight. I spent the couple bucks they were asking to make her mine forever. I wore her tons at first. I loved how vibrant she was. And how happy. After a while though, I grew a little tired of the old thing. I began to see her for what she really was. A shirt that didn't become me so much. It was her line mainly that bugged me after awhile. She just sort of hung there. I never got rid of her because I just couldn't say goodbye to that crazy-beautiful fabric. I've kept her closeted for years unused and forlorn. I think the last time I wore her was around 2005, poor thing. I have no idea how old she actually is, but I once bumped into someone who laughed and told me they'd worn the exact same shirt back in the 70s. That story leads me to believe that my shirt is around 40 years old. No spring chicken.

Anyway, I rediscovered her again a few days ago and vowed to do something with her. Either get rid of her or fix her, but do something. In the end, I just couldn't part with her. That fabric had bewitched me. My decision was made. I guess I was updating the old girl.

Here's what I came up with:


And here's what she looked like on... Underwhelming, to put it mildly. (I was actually trying very very very hard to smile in this picture. But I guess my insides just refused to let me.)


I made all those changes (cut the collar and sleeves, shirred the upper waist and added a decorative cord) and here she is all freshened up.

And now here she is on and out in the daylight...


She was bursting to come out of that closet and be freshened up. Look at her now!


Not too bad for the old girl, eh?

♥M

As mentioned here, I'll be playing along with the Refashion Files June Rainbow Challenge! Join me, won't you?

21 comments:

  1. Well done! I am laughing at your posing (before oh so serious and sober) and then (after so alive and vibrant!).

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    1. OMG, I totally agree. I'm so unphotogenic and bad at photos it's not even funny... But I felt I should try to model the darn thing. I'd get better with practice if I ever practiced... :)

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  2. dang! i think there's a business opportunity in this.
    "michele's re-doux boutique", perhaps : )

    p.s. you are looking lovely!

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    1. Love that Catie: "re-doux". You're so clever. :)

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  3. So much fun. An excellent save, I'd say!

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  4. So adorable how the shirring grabs the points of the pattern and makes them sing! I am really glad you saved this shirt because it looks fabulous now. So do you, shy Michele - you make a great refashion model.

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  5. it's so fresh now!!! Brava Michele!
    xxxx Alessandra

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  6. You are so cute...anything you do has a lovely twist. :)

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  7. Great makeover of that fabulous old girl (the shirt).

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  8. Où vois-tu une vieille fille ? J'ai vu simplement une vieille chemise que prend un coup de jeune !!!
    J'aime beaucoup
    Nadia

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  9. How Nice..your shirt's print is just Lovely..& you have done a Smart job dear :)

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  10. perfect the change, like always. a new life
    kisses
    from madrid

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  11. Cute redo! I had a very similar shirt in the 70's (I was in H.S.)I can even remember the feel of the fabric, a light weight soft knit. The pattern was the same but mine was in greens/blues/purples and snapped in the crotch, called a body suit! A MUST for the really low slung hip hugger jeans! You have a real eye for re-deisgning clothing!!

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  12. Wow! That's great. I love how you updated "her". Wonderful job. Yeah, that's some crazy wonderful fabric that I wouldn't be able to part with either. Glad you just brought her to the current time period.

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  13. Great work!! You have vision!!

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  14. I love how you've transformed the shirt! Great job!

    Agy from Green Issues

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  15. CUTE! The old girl has never looked better -- totally worth all those years marinating in the closet. They only get better with age :)

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  16. The sleeve length is the trick! I will have to try to remember that. Nice work.

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