New Refashion for a New Season

It's a new season in more ways than one.  First, it's actually cool here in TX, so it feels like Fall!!!  Second, and probably more important to me, it's a new season for the life of our family.  I haven't blogged in what seems like ages.  I took a little (long) hiatus when we moved in May.  We are finally settled into our new home, new job and new school.  Our school is a University model, so my kids go to school part-time and homeschool part-time.  Needless to say, mom has had as much of a transition as the kids!  

I was really missing refashioning, so I hit up the local Goodwill and scored big time!  I mean, who could pass up this beauty?

In my head I pictured this dress could be cute with an empire waist, so I decided to remove the elastic.

I was surprised to see how huge the dress became after that!

Not only did the dress become huge, but the waist ended up really low.  I decided I'd just chop it off and reattach it higher.

After reattaching it higher, I measured where I wanted my hem to be.  Can I just say that I love hemming striped fabric?  It's so easy to keep straight!  At this point I tried it on and I liked it, but it was still too big.  I turned it inside out and starting at the sleeves I took in about 1-2" on each side.  Unfortunately, this did away with the pockets, which I was really hoping to keep.  However, it just looked so much better taken in, so I had to sacrifice the pockets.

I added a fun necklace and a cognac bag and booties and wore it that very day!

Before and After

There were many ways I could have refashioned this dress.  What would you have done?