#ReMake of the Month: September || Refashioned Dress from Vintage Apron/Smock

    I love refashioning projects because there is so much great vintage/used clothing out there made with beautiful textiles that are just sitting on the shelf/on the rack/in the basement because the silhouette is out of date or something is damaged or theres just no use for them.  Refashioning breathes new life into those items and they get to re-enter the world with a big smirk and a brand new strut.  Plus I like to think that it potentially keep these lovely little beauties from eventually clogging up the landfills.
   

    This is one of those items that I’ll have to admit even I didn’t see much potential in.  But I got to hand it to the Gentleman – he has a pretty good eye for fun pieces.  This little apron/smock was a last minute grab, you know the one you spot while your already in the check out line?  The gentleman picked it up and said “what about this!?”  Me: (eyebrows raised – unsure if my man’s judgement has gone off a bit) “um…I guess I can make it into a dress?”  I love the idea of an “apron dress” don’t get me wrong, but these colors were SO BRIGHT and the print was SO WACKY I thought it would be too much.

   Boy was I wrong!  What a lovely little transformation from smock apron to bright vintage summer dress.  Luckily I had the perfect little matching bandeau to wear underneath.  This dress is so comfy and cool for hot days, and I get so many compliments on it!  I especially love the pocket detail.

Bandeau: American Apparel, Shoes: Lotta from Stockholm, Pearls: Vintage – from my grandmother

    The adjustments I made to make this little gal wearable were all pretty small changes that really made a big impact on the silhouette.  I took in the sides, which moved a lot of the open space from under my arms to the center back.  I added buttons and button holes down the center back of the apron to close the flap and make it into a skirt – aren’t the buttons so perfect?  Lastly I hemmed it.  I generally hem all of my vintage finds since I’m teetering on the shorter side and they tend to hit me in a weird place.  Usually I get a little over-zealous and make the hem too short, but I’m finally starting break this habit and I think I hit this hem just right.  I used the excess I removed from the hem to make my button and button hole plackets in the back which I also fused for stability.