{ thrifted + modified } The Pile and The Boots
{ sewing } mini boden challenge: appliqued skirt

{ thrifted + modified } the closet part 2

Thank you, ever so much, for your sweet words of encouragement on my last post.  I am so much more comfortable behind the camera, but your comments gave me the confidence to push onward and show you another one of my projects from The Pile.

Staging photos like these makes me want to laugh my head off.  However, they are necessary if I'm going to show you the proper before and after.  Draping stuff from a hanger just wouldn't do it.  We also have very few blank walls in the house.  This is in the master bathroom.  I am standing next to the toilet looking down, very seriously.  Excuse me, I have more giggling to do...

Okay.  Let's do this.

before

My sister gave me this dark gray stretch t-shirt jersey dress back in 1998 when she worked at Old Navy AND got a hefty discount AND it had gone to clearance.  Seriously, I think she paid about $1.50.  I wore it to work with a cardigan all the time.  I wore it to school functions.  I wore it to at least one funeral. 

And then I stopped wearing it because, somewhere along the way, the length started to bother me.  And it felt a bit too drab.  And, let's be honest, I was bored.

So it sat in The Pile for a very long time.

Until I got it out last week, chopped off several inches, and hemmed it.  It was instantly better.

But it still needed something.

that something extra

So I took a lesson from Tif and cut a straight enough strip from a vintage lace tablecloth and attached it to the inside of the neckline.  It was exactly what I needed.

after! (shorted + embellished)  with boots, of course.

Here I am -- with The Boots and one my favorite cheapo XXI cardigans -- wearing it for about the third time in two weeks already. Hurrah! 

(My grandmother wanted me to have that picture when she passed away.  I have it hanging in my bedroom and I love that it pops up on the blog when I'm posting about clothes and stuff.  She was the ultimate accessorizer and girlie-girl.  She would appreciate this, too.)

There is more in The Pile.  I think I'm going to have to have a better attitude about it from now on.  This is actually fun. 

What's in yours?

xoxo
miss chris

Comments

cathygaubert

ah! you are giving me so much inspiration, miss chris. however, i need some time to make all of these inspired thoughts come to life. could you give me that, too? pretty please? thank you ever so much!
yours truly,
cathy

chris carleton

ha ha ha!  Cathy, every time you post a project I wonder the same thing.  Surely, between the two of us we can come up with something. 

I know.  We need a DeLorean with a Flux Capacitor.  ;)

xo

Sarah :: greenclogs

My pile has nothing in it for me. It's all stuff for the other kids that they have outgrown because it's been sitting there for so long or pants that Jeff popped a button on *again*. So I'll just enjoy your pile and pretend that mine doesn't exist.

chris carleton

What?  Nothing?  Sarah, you need to pull something out of your closet then.  The kids will all outgrow their stuff anyway.

Also, I mended a hem on a pair of hubs pants the other day.  Im not going to post about that.  Not nearly as fun. 

natalie

Another great make over! I think far too often people get rid of stuff when a simple alteration makes it look fabulous! It also helps that you have great items to start with. And girl, I can't belive you are a mom of three. I would look like a sausage in that dress, seriously.

AshleyAnn

That is the cutest thing ever. LOVE IT!

Kelly

ohhh, I love it! And I love that you were able to refashion something instead of just tossing/donating it.

Dalai Lina

Honey, you look good in anything you put on!

Emily

How cute! You're inspiring me to go through my closet and start giving items a little face lift!

Shanda

I am LOOKING for those boots!!!!!

jenv

a list:

you are a rockstar
the dress looks FAB
i have that same cardigan and am happy i am not the only non-XXI who shops there
i am also on a mission for a pair of boots like that. saw a pair at macy's yesterday for $298. i WON"T be getting those.

you are inspiring me. i NEED to learn to sew!

Aunt Fashionista

Ha! I forgot about that dress! Nice work sis...

lizabgonz@mac.com

GOR-GE-OUS!!!!!!! & FUN, FUN, FUN!!!!

julie

Another great outfit on you...so cute!

pretty momma

Hmmm...two dresses in the closet just might get pulled out this weekend for an update..if i get stumped you might get a phone call;) thanks for the inspiration!

erin

you are so stinkin' cute. and i cannot wait to meet you!

Rhianna

so.. it's been a while since I have taken "blog time" ... I have been doing some major catching up this morning!! I love love the way you put life back into everything you touch, your blog always inspires me.. I am taking my singer (Cliff's grandmother's ) to the shop TODAY for a little tune up!!! Don't know that I will be working on anything for myself, but I definitely must get my sewing hat on so I can make some sweet little tiny things soon ;)

Puva

I love your boots!!!

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