{restyle} combo dress

when i'm op shopping i tend to be drawn to parts of clothes - details, prints, fabrics - but rarely do i find something i like the whole of without feeling the need to tweak or snip! and so, often i'll combine parts of clothes to make one new item.

 in this case, i liked the detailing on the red top, but as i am currently sporting the uber-sturdy maternity bra strap (see above, sigh) i knew i'd never wear it with such thin straps. i liked the fabric of the skirt also, but because i'm tall it finished at an awkward neither-maxi-nor-midi length. i liked the length when i pulled it up as a strapless though so knew it'd be better (for me) as a dress.

here's a basic look at how i combined the two:

i cut the elastic from the top of the skirt and then following the shape of the discarded piece (see above) i cut the same shape from the top of the skirt. i overlocked it after cutting to hold the lining and outer fabric together.

then i joined the skirt to the trimmed top and reapplied the crochet trim.

i made my thicker straps out of the leftover fabric (see cutting directions above) and i had fantastic plans to make them breastfeeding-friendly by having them unbutton. in theory it works, but i didn't allow enough stretch around the top for the bodice to pull down. /fail. so i think i will just snip the extra length and attach them straight to the bodice. live and learn! :)

have you ever done a combo restyle?

do you thrift clothes for their good bits? or do you only buy if you like the whole thing?

i'd love to hear

~dee