If there's anything I've learned about buying clothes over the past 22 years, it's that you should never ever settle! If you don't find something you absolutely love, hold out, the perfect outfit could be just around the corner, or in my case, the sewing machine!
Below is the Bowline Dress from Vineyard Vines 2011 summer collection, that I ordered for the Fourth of July.
Though I loved this cute red, white and blue halter, and its fun nautical/chevron pattern online, in person, the shape wasn't flattering on me AT ALL.
Here I am wearing the dress the only time it had ever been worn in the past two years!
Here I am wearing the dress the only time it had ever been worn in the past two years!
This picture honestly makes me cringe! My hair, the dress, the shape, the material, everything is going so so wrong.
Something had to be done!
When I rediscovered this dress in my closet in early June, I decided that I either needed to pass it on to it's next home (Goodwill, blog sale, etc.) or do something about it! I chose the latter, and started brainstorming! This dress had a lot of potential, it just needed a little help getting there. My Mom made an appointment with her sweet friend, Kathy, that alters a lot of my dresses, and the magic started!
Something had to be done!
When I rediscovered this dress in my closet in early June, I decided that I either needed to pass it on to it's next home (Goodwill, blog sale, etc.) or do something about it! I chose the latter, and started brainstorming! This dress had a lot of potential, it just needed a little help getting there. My Mom made an appointment with her sweet friend, Kathy, that alters a lot of my dresses, and the magic started!
Pre-transformation
(Excuse the Doodle in the pictures!)
Front:
(Excuse the Doodle in the pictures!)
Front:
The fabric for the bow around your neck was so stiff! I'm not sure what Vineyard Vines was thinking when they designed this dress. Yuck!
Mid-Alterations
Here I am with about 25 pins holding our changes in place! Yay for going strapless!
Here I am with about 25 pins holding our changes in place! Yay for going strapless!
Post-Transformation:
The final product! A dress that I can wear, love and enjoy!
Kathy removed the entire top of the dress, making it strapless! She also inserted a set of darts in the front, so that it hugged in all the right places!
This just goes to show you that you're never truly stuck with a bad dress! If you don't like the way something looks, change it! Make it more you! Why not enjoy a great piece of clothing instead of having it sit in your closet?
Kathy removed the entire top of the dress, making it strapless! She also inserted a set of darts in the front, so that it hugged in all the right places!
This just goes to show you that you're never truly stuck with a bad dress! If you don't like the way something looks, change it! Make it more you! Why not enjoy a great piece of clothing instead of having it sit in your closet?
Thanks so much, Kathy, for all of your hard work and patience on these alterations! You're amazing!
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As always, Have a Sweet Day!