Monday, June 27, 2011

Refashion

Men's shirt refashion

For several years now, I have been wanting to refashion one of my husband's shirts into a dress for me. I have a small pile of his shirts that have either shrunk in the wash or that never fit him well to begin with, slowly accumulating in India and the US. Since storage space is notably scarce in our rented Parisian apartment, there really is no room for piles of anything. So I finally gave it a go, taking inspiration from Antoinette and her clever refashions.

Men's shirt refashion

I was working with a large-tall Eddie Bauer shirt, so I had quite a bit of fabric to work with. I started with ripping out the collar and the shirt pocket. I initially wanted to keep the collar stand but it was much too large, and it had to go. After I cut along the side seams on the body and sleeves, I converted the box pleat on the shirt back to gathers.

Men's shirt refashion

I used a self-drafted pattern to cut out the shirt fronts and back, and the sleeves. The sleeves are my favourite part!

Men's shirt refashion

I also sewed the original pocket back on the right front of the dress.

Men's shirt refashion

I added small gathers to the shoulders, which you can't see very well in these photos, and I left the back of the dress longer than the front (inspired by Wiksten's Lissa dress).

Men's shirt refashion

I finished the entire dress with french seams, and I had enough fabric left over to make bias tape, which I used to finish the sleeves and neck. I wore it the day to wander around Paris!

Men's shirt refashion

Thanks to my husband for taking all the photos of me in my new, refashioned dress.

24 comments:

  1. Aaaaaahhhhh!!!!!!!!!!! Nice job. I love those sleeves, too. Looks like you are a really talented patternmaker!

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  2. That's so cute! Who knew re-fashioning could be this fashionable!

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  3. I really love what you did with this shirt. Can you share the pattern you used? I'm a beginner, and that would be really helpful. I am trying to refashion 3 men shirt, and I just fell in love with this one.

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  4. I would also love love love the pattern. I have been wanting to make one as well from my husbands shirts but haven't found a pattern.

    mrsclevenger2008@yahoo.com
    www.anomalousjaney.blogspot.com

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  5. very lovely indeed! I was wondering if you would share how you converted the box pleat in the back to a gathered look? Did you have to rip the original seams? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

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  6. Please share the pattern!!! I have 5 children. I am always looking for ways to refurbish clothing. My daughters would love to wear this blouse! It's adorable!! My email is lingle7@sbcglobal.net

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  7. Would have loved to see how you refashioned the neckline. Nice pics! Inspired to give this a try for sure!

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  8. I would really love this pattern as well! I've seen so many really nice men's shirts that would be really cute! Great idea and style!

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  9. Tres chic!! Love the pictures too!

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  10. Would love the pattern as well. Thanks
    Kandace_hunt@yahoo.com

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  11. This is wonderful! Did you take apart the entire shirt? You must have to make the back gathers, right?

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  12. I love ur shirt! I'm pretty new to sewing, so still need a pattern for whatever I make. It would be great if u could share ur pattern...it would be much appreciated!

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  13. Please share this pattern!!!! I've messed up 2 shirts:( My husbands deployed and I'm trying to stay busy. I'm going to run out of shirts soon:) Thanks a bunch!!!!!

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  14. So great! Would be happy to have this pattern too, if it's possible) mikka.sole@gmail.com

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  15. Hello! My husband has the perfect shirt for me to try this out on! Can I please have the pattern as well? my email is hmphotography8@gmail.com.

    thank you :)

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  16. This is so great! My dad's throwing away a shirt of his that would be perfect for this refashion. Can I please have the pattern (if possible)? Please and Thank you :)
    mahamss@hotmail.com

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  17. Seems like she doesn't choose to show us exactly how she did this shirt make-over!

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  19. I have bought clothes that I want to refashion but I don’t have the eye for what to make if these clothes. If I sent you pics of the clothes I want to refashion, would you tell me what inspiration it gives you?

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