Refashion Runway Season 5: 1970s

Thank you all for your votes on the Statement Sleeve Challenge! I ended up coming in 4th place and I’m super thankful!

This week’s Refashion Runway Challenge 1979s! I decided to go with a casual everyday 70s look.

I started with this lovely 80’s dress and white button down shirt. The shirt has a beautiful design on the front made of cording, hard to see since it’s white on white.

First thing is first: removing the sleeves, collar and 1 shoulder pad. The opposite shoulder pad must have been lost long ago?

I wanted to turn this dress into a jumper of sorts. I decided on a square neckline, which I accomplished by carefully cutting the front into a square.

Then I pinned new hems for the armholes as well as the square neckline. The. Sewed that up!

I marked where I wanted the new hem to bed, it was in dire need to be shortened. I cut off the excess material.

I pinned and stitched a new hem!

One last detail for the jumper: buttons. The dress originally had buttons that were the same pattern as the dress. First I changed them to grey buttons. I hated that idea so I changed them again to black buttons.

Now for the shirt!

I took in the shirt on each side to make it more fitted.

The grey dye ended up being a flop. So, I had to resort to plan B- dye it again in black.

Whelp! After this came out of the dye bath, I realized I hated the grey.

After the failed grey dying attempt I threw the shirt back in with some black dye!

I sewed a casing for some elastic around the sleeve cuff.

Threaded the elastic through and stitched the elastic ends together. Then finished stitching up the casing.

An accessory:

I thrifted this old sweater and threw it in the black dye with my shirt.

I cut a circle using a BIG plastic lid I had out of the back of the sweater.

The I cut 1/2 of the waistband off the sweater.

I placed the circle of sweater fabric with the right side facing down. Then I folded in the sids around the waistband that I cut and pinned it all together.

I slowly stitched it up being mindful of the gatherings.

In contrast to today’s fashion where we boldly mix colors and patterns the 70s was about matchy matchy. Therefore, I coordinated the color of the beret and shirt to my tights as well as my thrifted shoes!