A couple of weekends ago, I bought a $24 on-sale dress at Old Navy without trying it on (the dressing room line was nuts). At home, I realized it was too short -- and when I say that, it means something, as I've worn some abbreviated little skirts in my day. Here it is on their model:
When my husband Jamie saw it, he actually pronounced, "Match Game"-style, "That dress is so short, I can see the fillings in your wisdom teeth." But I loved it: crisp cotton, cool pattern, kinda unexpected color combination. I didn't want to return it and didn't want to wear it over leggings or anything like that (too maternity for my taste, especially in light of being asked, even on my thinnest days, if I'm pregnant. I'm not). So I decided to "Katie-fy" my dress: retrofit it in a way that my friend and colleague, Blueprint fashion editor Katie Hatch, would approve of. I bought a second dress in an XL so I could cut off the wider bottom portion of the skirt and use it to lengthen the size M I had at home. To attach this extension without worrying about the pattern lining up, I'd add a contrasting strip of fabric.
I actually pieced together this strip from scraps of fabric I had lying around, speedily quilting in the manner of Denyse Schmidt and her highly addictive book, Quilts: 30 Colorful Quilt and Patchwork Projects. Aside: About a year ago, I acquired a stuffed-animal-making habit with her super-easy Steve the Cat pattern [ever write a sentence and then think, how did anyone ever agree to marry me?].
Anyway. In about half an hour, I finished the strip and sewed it around the hem of my dress. Then I chopped off the bottom of the XL dress and sewed that to the strip. Now when I wear it, no one comments about my dental work.
This is a cool idea...I have a 10 year old and now I can get more wear out of her clothes that she loves to wear. And I bought that dress for me!!!
Posted by: Ginger Edwards | Friday, April 13, 2007 at 11:29 AM
Brilliant...i FORGET...gggrrrr...to think about altering things to make a "not-quite-right" into a "just-perfect-for-me" item. Thanks for the inspiration!!!
Posted by: Sarah Dugan | Sunday, April 01, 2007 at 07:43 AM
LOL I bought that dress too!!
It's the one and only dress I have bought in my life! I plan on wearing it with jeans or something under... Baby steps...! :)
And yes, it does show A LOT of cleavage! lol
Posted by: Janick - Nea Jewelry | Thursday, March 29, 2007 at 05:00 PM
So funny! I bought this dress as a TOP (I am 5' 9") and 8 months pregnant. I think it looks cute over a tank top and cropped jeans. I am hoping I can wear it after the baby comes and won't be asked when I am due!
Posted by: jennifer | Thursday, March 29, 2007 at 10:09 AM
Fun fix! But I'm super short so will probably have no reason to "cute"-ify the Old Navy dress.
Posted by: ali | Thursday, March 29, 2007 at 12:29 AM
Very clever! I would further accessorize this dress by introducing another band of the contrasting material to the empire bustline as a sewn-down tie-able belt (front or back), so that the secondary material becomes less of a distraction at the hemline.
Posted by: Karen | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 01:02 PM
Great idea and (the tricky part) execution. Now you have to give someone the XL top to refurbish.
Posted by: Carrie | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 09:55 AM
Genius! I am tall, so I will definitely be tucking this idea into my memory bank! thanks :)
Posted by: leslie | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 07:24 AM
funny, I almost bought that dress too...Then I tried it on and oh my what a show I would be making at the playground picking up my sons ball. Back on the rack it went for someone else.
Posted by: Robin | Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 06:37 AM