Michele Made Me

A Gentle Old Shirt Refashion

by

I found this shirt at a Northern Ontario thrift shop circa 1997. It was love at first sight. I spent the couple bucks they were asking to make her mine forever. I wore her tons at first. I loved how vibrant she was. And how happy. After a while though, I grew a little tired of the old thing. I began to see her for what she really was. A shirt that didn’t become me so much. It was her line mainly that bugged me after awhile. She just sort of hung there. I never got rid of her because I just couldn’t say goodbye to that crazy-beautiful fabric. I’ve kept her closeted for years unused and forlorn. I think the last time I wore her was around 2005, poor thing. I have no idea how old she actually is, but I once bumped into someone who laughed and told me they’d worn the exact same shirt back in the 70s. That story leads me to believe that my shirt is around 40 years old. No spring chicken.

Anyway, I rediscovered her again a few days ago and vowed to do something with her. Either get rid of her or fix her, but do something. In the end, I just couldn’t part with her. That fabric had bewitched me. My decision was made. I guess I was updating the old girl.

Here’s what I came up with:

 

And here’s what she looked like on… Underwhelming, to put it mildly. (I was actually trying very very very hard to smile in this picture. But I guess my insides just refused to let me.)

 

I made all those changes (cut the collar and sleeves, shirred the upper waist and added a decorative cord) and here she is all freshened up.

 

And now here she is on and out in the daylight…

 

 

She was bursting to come out of that closet and be freshened up. Look at her now!

 

 

Not too bad for the old girl, eh?

 

♥M
As mentioned here, I’ll be playing along with the Refashion Files June Rainbow Challenge! Join me, won’t you?
 

Reader Interactions

Comments

    • Michele Pacey says

      OMG, I totally agree. I'm so unphotogenic and bad at photos it's not even funny… But I felt I should try to model the darn thing. I'd get better with practice if I ever practiced… 🙂

  2. catie says

    dang! i think there's a business opportunity in this.
    "michele's re-doux boutique", perhaps : )

    p.s. you are looking lovely!

  4. Michelle L. says

    So adorable how the shirring grabs the points of the pattern and makes them sing! I am really glad you saved this shirt because it looks fabulous now. So do you, shy Michele – you make a great refashion model.

  12. Lynette says

    Cute redo! I had a very similar shirt in the 70's (I was in H.S.)I can even remember the feel of the fabric, a light weight soft knit. The pattern was the same but mine was in greens/blues/purples and snapped in the crotch, called a body suit! A MUST for the really low slung hip hugger jeans! You have a real eye for re-deisgning clothing!!

  13. Melissa Kojima says

    Wow! That's great. I love how you updated "her". Wonderful job. Yeah, that's some crazy wonderful fabric that I wouldn't be able to part with either. Glad you just brought her to the current time period.

  16. PEACHES says

    CUTE! The old girl has never looked better — totally worth all those years marinating in the closet. They only get better with age 🙂