Refashioned 90’s to 40’s

October 4, 2011

Written by Meg

Can i just start with how much i love this dress???

It started off as a rather tragic 90’s dress (before picture at the end of post) – but I couldn’t go past the fact that it was silk and Ralph Lauren and the print kind of reminded me of this sample I made last fall. I have a shocking silk addiction. I need to stop thrifting silk…

Anywayyy, my first reaction when I find a long dress at a thrift store is to quickly hem it. But I had this idea that if instead i cut the mid section out, then gathered the skirt at the waist, then I would end up with something kind of reminiscent of a 40’s house dress. I think it worked!! I’m ridiculously thrilled with how this dress turned out!

Dress: Thrifted & altered
Shoes: c/o Modcloth
Belt: Zara, came with this skirt
Necklace: Vintage via Ebay

About Author

Meg

Meg is the Founder and Creative Director of Megan Nielsen Patterns, and is constantly dreaming up ideas for new sewing patterns and ways to make your sewing journey more enjoyable! She gets really excited about design details and is always trying to add way too many variations to our patterns.

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Linley

11 years ago

friend! love what you did with this dress! that shape/length looks amazing on you!!

Author

Meg

11 years ago

Reply to Linley

Linley!!! Thanks honey!! youve totally made my day!! xoxo

Caitlin

11 years ago

I’m in love with this dress! This is why I need to become a master at alterations and sewing :)

districtofchic

11 years ago

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I want your crafty skills!!! I love how this dress turned out!!

Clara

11 years ago

Gorgeous!!! You have serious skills, girl. Very jealous! :) Make a dress in this shape in your next collection, pretty please? :)

Loren

11 years ago

This alteration looks amazing on you. I see similar dresses to this in thrift stores all the time, I’ve never been inspired to make anything quite this awesome before.

BiblioMOMia

11 years ago

SO gorgeous! What a brilliant, but relatively easy, idea. LOVE. It looks unbelievable on you.

Theresa

11 years ago

I have a very similar dress that I bought with the intention of just hemming it (mine isn’t silk though), but what you did looks amazing – any hope for a tutorial or at least a short description of how you did it?

Author

Meg

11 years ago

Reply to Theresa

Hi Theresa!! SOrry for not posting a tutorial straight away! its up now :) https://blog.megannielsen.com/2011/10/diy-alternate-method-for-shortening-a-long-dress/

Heather, 29 Skirts

11 years ago

Whoa, what a transformation! The dress looks adorable!

Kath Shea

11 years ago

Ta daa!!! Such a great result. I also covet your sewing skills and eye for (re)styling garments! : )

Annelise

11 years ago

Meg you look amazing!!! Seriously stunning – Where can I get one? Xx

Kiri

11 years ago

Thanks for showing us this, I have a similar dress I’d planned on shortening but hadn’t even thought about adding a waist into it.

Katie Mead

11 years ago

I have a dress like yours too…it’s been waiting for a hemming. Your idea is so much better! Any chance for a how-to?

Author

Meg

11 years ago

Reply to Katie Mead

Hi Katie!! So sorry for not posting the how to straight away!! It’s up now https://blog.megannielsen.com/2011/10/diy-alternate-method-for-shortening-a-long-dress/ – good luck with your dress!!! xoxo

Casey

11 years ago

Fantastic redo! I had a similar dress I thrifted a few years ago and shortened for a more flattering look as well, which resulted in my favorite “40s” dress (until it accidentally was thrown in the wash and shrunk! boo-hoo!). Yours was definitely worth revamping for the classic cut and beautiful fabric. :)

mil

11 years ago

dress is absolutely perfect on you….inspired choice of accessories…hmmmm…its got me thinking…

megan nielsen design diary - DIY: alternate method for shortening a long dress

11 years ago

[…] all! Sorry about not posting a tutorial for this dress alteration yesterday – sometimes I worry I’m overloading you all with tutorials, so I wasn’t sure […]

Jess

11 years ago

Wow! What you’ve done with the dress is amazing!

Girl & Closet (Veronika)

11 years ago

Goodness, that dress looks absolutely gorgeous thanks to your fabulous skills!! I adore it! Hope you’re having a fantastic weekend. xo veronika

Author

Meg

11 years ago

Reply to Girl & Closet (Veronika)

Thanks so much Veronika!! you are just the sweetest!! xoxo

Clare

11 years ago

What a seriously beautiful dress! I love how you styled it here, too. :)

Anna

11 years ago

Wow! There’s no comparing the before and after. What made you look like you belong in some commune is now a super cute and sexy yet very classy everyday dress! Love the 40s look! And may I say that you have the most lovely super pale skin! I’m so jealous, I work so hard to have lovely pale skin like that but I don’t think mine is that pretty. ;)

Iveta

11 years ago

This look are grate on You! and I love shoes.

Sophia

11 years ago

I had a long pink linen dress exactly like this that I’ve wanted to shorten for ages, but wasn’t sure how. I saw your tutorial this morning, and shortened my dress this afternoon. It turned out perfect. Thank you so much!

Refashioned 90’s to 40’s

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