So apparently now I can add dress making to my jack of all trades license. I have always thought these altered slip dresses that all the fancy girls in so. cal are wearing were so darling, and I thought I would try my hand at my own fancy farmgirl version. I meandered down to my local thrift store to find myself a suitable starting point. A vintage, but not too vintage white lace slip for my base.
Then, another day, I happened to be out with a couple of good friends thrift store shopping again. Michelle ran across this gauzy, airy, fringed seventies white curtain, but she decided to pass on it. Of course I had no idea what to do with it at the time, but being only $3.00 I bought it anyway.
( a problem I have, I know, but let's not go into that now..)
Good thing I did buy the curtain I thought I had no use for, because it turned out to be the perfect accoutrement for my dress! (hence "curtain couture"!?! man, I crack myself up….
I hope you don't want the curtain back now Michelle!
I have something really fun coming up, a dinner party and a dream girls weekend adventure, (more about that later too..) and I thought this would be the perfect outfit for the occasion. I ran through my stashes of vintage laces and trims to come up with a few items of embellishment for sleeves. I had to have sleeves, for I don't like the whole "show the bra strap" thing. I guess I just feel more comfortable in sleeves. Plus I thought it a good place to be able to foof up the dress more.
I added some antique crocheted trimmings and a not so vintage, but pretty wedding collar at the waist to add more definition.
As you can see by the photos, I haven't quite sewn it all together yet, but I am working on it. I am pretty confident it WILL be done for the dinner party!
Here's a closeup of the curtain…
My husband thinks it's stupid I am going to wear a curtain wrapped around my butt, but he did say he thought the dress was pretty. Ok, maybe I shouldn't have admitted to everyone it was a curtain, because it does make me sound a little stupid for wearing a curtain around my butt!
I ramble…… if you are anything like me, you are probably saying "pretty dress, but where did you get that necklace???"
Well, I'll tell you then…… the fabulous girl who passed on the curtain which is now to be wrapped around my butt, made it!
Isn't it stunning??
Michelle is a very dear friend to me, and I have always greatly admired her fabulous altered anything. I bought this from her at the last Funky Junk Show, and it has been one of my favorite pieces I have ever owned. Here is a link to her etsy shop if you feel inclined to own one for yourself!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/MichelleReneeArt
So, total for the project??
white slip from Goodwill - $4.99
seventies fringed curtain – $3.00
miscellaneous vintage laces from garage sales - $2.00
making my husband laugh for wearing a curtain on my butt – priceless!
And that's what I call Curtain Couture!
xoxo, Tiffany
Your hub has so much to be thankful for..curtain and all.
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