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Before & After: DIY Lace Dress

DIY Fashion Mar 11, 2013

I’ve yearned for a statement lace piece by Lover ever since they first hit stores, and so when I spotted a few wisps of lace at my local thrift store (albeit attached to a seriously hideous dress) I knew it was time for another before & after transformation. In its former lifetime this dress was probably more suited as a widowed sister wife funeral outfit, or perhaps was owned by the dowdy wife of a deceased Italian mobster, but with a little bit of time and elbow grease, it was possible to turn it into something truly special. For this project I stuck with my time tested before & after approach of 1. change hemline and 2. alter waistline – makes all the difference in under ten minutes flat!

Perfectly simple date night outfit of DIY lace dress, Tony Bianco Heels, Coach watch and MAC Lipstick

You need:

  • A simple lace dress
  • Scissors
  • Needle and threads
  • A seam ripper (quick unpick)

or buy a sewing kit here.

How to: 1. I started by changing the length of the dress – a must when you are dealing with a not-so-flattering ‘before’ piece like this. To get the right length I laid out a skirt onto the dress, matching the waistbands and then cutting horizontally below the edge of the skirt – making sure to leave enough for a hem. I then sewed the hem over using a sewing machine (although you can do by hand if you don’t have one). 2. I then attacked the bodice of the dress. The black silk lining was hiding the gorgeous and intricate detail of the lace, and so I used my quick unpick to carefully remove it, detaching it from the neckline and the waist. 3. I also carefully removed the stitches attaching the lining to the zipper at the back. 4. I also got rid of the casing that was attached to the neckline. 5. And sewed the neckline down by hand. 6. I then made alterations to the fit of the dress. To do this I simple turned the garment inside out and pinned then sewed darts into the back so it fitted snugly to my body. Voila! I can’t explain how satisfying it is to see something which immediately makes you think ‘ick’, only to take it home and turn it into the perfect date night ensemble.

Tags Before and after DIY Dresses Instructionals Lace sewing Tutorials
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