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Tuesday, May 25, 2010

In My Closet - Crazy Leopard Print

I was recently claiming that I don't have much leopard print in my closet, but truth be told, I don't really have much "natural" leopard print. Actually, make that none at all. That's ok because I love the pieces I do have. Take the colors in this Alberto Makali dress for example...

I'm drawn to the combo of turquoise, navy and lavender of it. Wild, but since the fabric is a wrinkled cotton, it comes across much softer. It's the length of the dress that didn't work so well for me...

Not so good, right? When I tried it on, my first thought was "Little House on the Prairie" gone crazy! But I love the top half, it's perfect for hot nights out in Texas and it's form fitting enough through the waist to give me a bit of curve, and I'll take any help I can get in that direction!
Yup, out with my beloved sewing machine.

I know it seems like I alter everything and that's all I post but I promise that's really not the case with my closet. I am on the short side (and currently on the broke side,) and I just really like to update what I have, to make it more unique and more me. Very little of what I own is in it's original purchased state.

Anyway, back to the dress. I thought this would be a simple hemming of the dress and it's under skirt but I was so wrong! I wanted to keep the navy lace at the bottom of the dress so I had to very carefully remove it first. Then, because of the wrinkles, it was difficult to cut a straight, even edge! Being a delicate cotton, to do an actual hem would weigh it down in a weird way so I had to do a very tight, compact stitch at the bottom to keep the fabric from unraveling. This was a first for me and a little nerve wracking! Reattaching the lace was quite time consuming, once again due to the wrinkle of the fabric. So something I thought would take an hour or so MAX, took me an entire afternoon! But the outcome is exactly as I envisioned it...

Much more fun, much more me. I'm planning on using a little safari style jacket over it for a day look. And I have a large chunk left that I intend to make into a scarf.

Maybe it's my love of DIY, or maybe I'm just not an off the rack kind of girl, (it would be so much easier if I was,) but I also love knowing I have a one of a kind.
J.

40 comments:

emily said...

the dress is so pretty, i love the result!

agnes said...

très jolie, et je préfère le modèle sur la dernière photo.
Elle est magnifique cette robe en courte

Audrey Allure said...

Love the dress & the colors of the print :)

Unknown said...

gorgeous dress ;) you should come to the next fashion lunch...
http://www.newtoatx.com/2010/05/25/atx-ladies-who-lunch-june-3-2010/

Cafe Fashionista said...

I. Love. It. The print is STUNNING; and the length is just perfection - especially adoring the lace hem you added. It makes me think of the underwear as outerwear trend. Gorgeous!! :)

TOXiC said...

Try cutting it & um I guess, & put a over sized belt and see how it looks.

=)

:Salutes:

Ash Fox said...

adorable dress. love the print.
x

Amber Lucas A Mused Blog said...

i love your makeover of this dress!! It's perfection!

Amber
ambersmouthwash

Anonymous said...

Well done! I was kind of worried when I saw the first photo...haha

Melanie@Unravelled Threads

Tiffany Kadani said...

Wow you are so crafty!

I love both lengths- you are absolutely beautiful in either one.

noel vallens said...

the print is great and love the new length- and i also think it's wonderful that you alter everything! when i buy something there is usually one thing that i'd love to change about it. it's great that you're able to tailor it into something you'd actually wear - otherwise, it just never gets worn.

Anonymous said...

wow, this dress turned out amazing! the new length looks so much better, and your legs look great in it! you're so crafty - i really wish i was on friendlier terms with the sewing machine so i could alter stuff myself too..

Jade Purple Brown said...

thats a fun dress!

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

LOVE how you shortened it. It looks just fabulous on you!

Nora said...

nice printed dress!

thanks for stopping by at my blog.

hugs and kisses,
NORA
Fashion Fantasy Land

Anonymous said...

Finished product looks great! <3

Fashion Tidbits said...

it's super pretty! love the colour too, so refreshing

Law1sfab said...

amazing J well done !!! I love it and the trim is just darling. I do love a high impact print, very sexy cut. You look fab. Have a great weekend, and hope you have lots of sun to show off this dress and your ace pins xxxxxx

Nefd said...

well i love the look its smashing maybe a belt or some tights thats just suggesting i like it the way it is though

bravegrrl said...

i am the same way... for the most part and alter, change or wear things other than the way they were intended :) it's fun!

xo

Tokyo fashion-HOLIC said...

Love this lepard pattern!
Great outfit.
XX
http://tokyofashionholic.blogspot.com/

michelle_ said...

the print of the dress is wonderful !
have a great weekend !
GLISTERS & BLISTERS

Tori said...

I love what you did to this dress! Its so pretty now, love the print! :)

Lisa Lisa Lisa said...

It may have taken more work than you bargained for, but it turned out great!!! I love that you kept the lace at the bottom. I'm such a sucker for lace =)
If you are coming up from Texas to WI, I would suggest going through the Evansville area of IN. Part of that town is very cutesy.

Anonymous said...

Hi, I love your blog.

I want to invite you to visit mine and become one of my followers, don't worry because I'll follow you too.

http://miabbook.blogspot.com/

Kisses,
Mia

STOCKHOLM AND SOUTH said...

lovely fabric!

Fé... said...

You've got one cool fashion sense, darl! The dress definitely look younger and hip after you DIY! Great job!

vint junky said...

Fantastic DIY honey! love the lace trim


xxx

Vinda Sonata said...

you look fantastic, j!!! creative retouch of the dress, too. fresher and prettier!
i'm glad that you like my comments ^^ keep in touch!!

A Gluten Freestyle said...

The colours are perfect and an amazing alteration job. Love the idea for the scarf!
Thank you so much for the birthday wishes.
x

Heart Charlie said...

I LOVE your dress! leopard print it so fun ;)

Meream said...

End result is sexy! Great job :)

Unknown said...

im loving leopard print right now x

SabinePsynopsis said...

You've done a great job by 'spicing' up the dress. The print is fabulous and it looks amazing on you now!

Anonymous said...

A. I love leopard.
B. Congrats on your dress transformation..looks fantastic.

xo Mish

rouli said...

cool leopard dress post!!!!!!

thanx for visitin:))

kiss

www.thebeautifulandthehard.blogspot.com

Pearl Westwood said...

No way dont appologise I love seeing your creations. I am so lame with sewing, if I cant wonderweb it, I have to pay to get it altered - at least it gets done right! I currently have a shameful bag of things I have chopped up (thats the easy bit) and now are waiting to get fixed LOL! The dress is 100% better now, stunning x

joelle van dyne said...

ooh i love that dress! the colors are SO pretty. clearly unnatural leopard print is the best :) ~joelle

www.janetteria.com said...

Nice dress, Honey!


Iva Messy said...

SO PRETTY!!!