The Idea:

Ordinarily, I like to splurge on a new outfit for my birthday. Last year, my dear friend Julia Wild helped me create my own outfit which was inspired by some of my favorite brands like For Love and Lemons and Are You Am I. This year, I knew my options were still endless since of course I could just order something online. However, since there was nothing in particular that I had my eye on, I decided to design my own outfit and attempt to sew it myself. As I was cleaning out my closet, I found an old dress that my godmother gave me. It was handmade but very matronly with virtually no shape. It was made to be worn more like a nightgown, but the fabric was beautiful eyelet (currently my favorite fabric) and I saw something in it that I could create.

The Process:

Looking at the dress, I saw a lot of possibilities, but since I have never actually taken apart a garment before and tried to make something new out of it, I decided to go with the easiest vision I had in my head. I took apart the top and the skirt of the dress to create a two-piece set. The skirt was the easiest part. I took out the seams at the waist then re-sewed them to make a tube that I could run a tie through to make the skirt adjustable. Though my seams were far from straight, it worked and the skirt was finished in a day.

The top was far more complicated. I knew that I wanted to bring the neckline down, but I was scared of cutting it too deep and passing the point of no return. I also wanted to bring the top in so that it didn’t lay so flat on the body, but since the fabric is not stretchy at all, I knew I had to be super careful how much I brought it in otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to pull the top over my shoulders to put it on. I spent hours pinning and re-pinning the top to reflect the kind of shape I envisioned. Once I was happy with the shape, I still continued to stare at the top simply trying to wrap my head around how it would fit. (This is where a mannequin bust would have come in handy.) If I cut too much off or brought it in, the top simply wouldn’t be wearable and so I sat and tried to think of a solution.

The top with the side seams pinned to make the shape more flattering.

Once I was satisfied with the v-neck, I started sewing the edges in to hold the shape. For the side seams of the top, I finally decided that the only way I could get that fitted look without the use of any zippers, buttons, or elastic, was to make the top backless with adjustable ties. With some faith, I carefully cut out the back of the top and prayed that I would have enough fabric from the pieces that I cut off to create the ties for the waist. I had no extra fabric and nothing to spare, so I got really lucky that it worked. The top was completed!

The Result:

I was so, so happy with how my first sewing project came out. I’ve sewn small things before but never quite as intensive as this. I want to thank my lovely friend, Julia Wild, who designs and creates her own clothes, for guiding me along the whole way. My technique is far from perfect if not non-existent because I’m so eager to just start and learn as I go. There are lots of stitches that are uneven and possibly sticking out but because the fabric is white, it hides all my mistakes pretty well. Overall, the pieces turned out even better than I could have imagined. It was definitely challenging but I’m very excited to start new projects and bring more designs to life.

This process also gave me a greater appreciation for clothes in general. We’re so used to wearing clothes made cheap and fast that it’s hard to envision what it actually takes to make the things that we wear. Still, I cannot afford to patronize every small designer brand that I adore, but I am starting to learn what it takes to make something unique and wearable. From the carefully cut fabric to the seams that create the very shape of the garment itself, so much planning and thought goes into fashion. It really is an art form of self-expression.

Cheers!!

Thank you for reading! Please feel free to leave a comment, share, or like! I’d love to know what you think and I aspire to continue to create content that brings people together.

xx

Ella Kol