Makeover: Maxi Dress with 1930s Inspiration

I hesitate to even call this a makeover, since it wasn't that involved. I didn't even get a "before" picture because I didn't think it would be worthwhile. But I found that even a little creativity can make a big difference.

 

This started out as a modern dress, picked up at a thrift store because it was dirt cheap, I like polka dots, and the waist detail was cute. It went into my alterations/mending pile where it stayed for over a year. Not long ago, towards the end of my pregnancy when I had outgrown a lot of my other clothes, I realized it had potential for a maternity dress and pulled it out to see what I had to work with.

It's a polyester knit, which I would never sew with and don't usually buy. However, the flow is nice and the print is very vintage. It's quite stretchy, so that worked well for maternity. It was a basic sleeveless maxi dress with a plain, lined bodice, and it went to my ankles or past. Maxi dresses aren't my thing, so I started with the makeover by cutting off about 4 inches. 

 

The nice thing about knit is it doesn't ravel, so I could just turn up and top stitch the hem. I left it long but not almost-puddling-on-the-floor long. I had faint hopes of making at least look 1930s inspired, but wasn't sure I would achieve that.

The shorter length helped to make it more wearable, but it still could use some help and I had the 4 inch strip I had cut off, so I put my mind to what I could do with it. The plain neckline could use some jazzing up...neck detail is huge in the 1930s, and I had plenty of leftovers for a nice size bow. It was a pain to work with since the fabric was so limp and slippery, but I persevered and ended up stacking hemmed circles to make a generous double bow, which I tacked to the center of the neckline. Suddenly it looked a lot more 1930s!

 

Styled with a pearl edged sweater left open (partly to hide the slight distortion of fit and partly since so many of their outfits were fitted under a boxy jacket), I accessorized it with 1930s accessories and actually think that in the end I achieved my hopes for a 1930s overall style, though it's far from period correct. 

 

Regardless of that, however, it's much more feminine and wearable now - much more my style - and all it took was a few minutes to shorten and hem it, and a bit of thought on decoration. Maximum rewards for minimum effort! 

 

Again, I am encouraged to look for potential in thrift store finds, especially if I'm short on time for a whole new project. No need to settle for plain or boring!

 

Now I just wish I had altered it earlier so I could have worn it more while expecting. Oh well, it's served me well already in the past few weeks and probably will in the few remaining.

Comments

[Dee]

This is so pretty...polka dots are classic! I like how you used the extra fabric to make a bow. You did a good job transforming this thrift store dress into a vintage outfit.

Best wishes, Dee

[Sarah - Sew Characteristically You]

I think this is my favorite maternity outfit of yours! It is very feminine and has that retro feel. When doing outfits for reenactment type stuff I want to be as accurate as possible, but for most everyday stuff I like the feminine vintage feel while still fitting in with the modern world.