I originally saw a dress similar to this one on Pinterest. It was made by clothestalking. Immediately I really wanted a dress like that one. Since I have been upcycling my clothing the last couple of years I knew I had a top or two similar to the boxy shape loose top of the clothestalking dress. Plus I had the skirt of an old silk Thai dress my uncle had sent me years ago. I needed a way to put those pieces to use. So when I finally got the time I upcycled this dress. I like that it is loose and comfy, but it is also a combination of rose-like colors, which are some of the colors that look best on me. I like the avant-garde look of the outfit. I have always liked avant-garde garments but usually can’t afford them on my budget. That is where even simple sewing really can come in handy; in being able to create what I yearn for but otherwise would have to do without.

I did have to sew my pieces together from the top, so that I could make sure I was keeping the line straight on the top of the silk. I pinned it from underneath when I had it reversed. I didn’t add pockets where the sides extend. I might later on but I doubt I would put anything in them so I decided to skip them for now. This dress is very comfortable and the fabric makes it such that I can wear it year round if I wear layers of warm t-shirts, undergarments or stockings underneath. Plus I like wearing it with my batik jacket from the early 1990’s, which has lovely fall colors in its pattern. The top piece of the dress was from Liberty of London when I worked there. It was part of my yearly allotment of clothing that we were given for wearing to work. The Thai dress from my uncle was kind of huge on me, so eventually I decided to cut it and keep the skirt from it. One thing I like about this type of upcycling is that when the top wears out (which it inevitably will before the bottom does, since it is thinner fabric, and lighter in color), I can replace it with another top. So upcycling can really extend the life of used garments, and create the chance to upcycle them again down the road. That really reduces reproduction energy and effort from the chain of production in mass manufacturing. When I was a really young single parent I used to think of this as the extend-a-life-program. I had lots of items in that program. Now with upcycling being so common we have a new word for it!!

Well I hope you enjoyed this post. I am working on sewing another dress. That one is from a pattern though. I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving. I did, plus I tried out a new recipe for gluten-free stuffing that I might share soon in a reduced-packaging post. I always like to try to cook as many things as I can that don’t require buying prepackaged mixes, or boxes. I cooked at home then went out later in the day to a friend’s apartment and spent time with her family. That was great fun.

I will have some street art from the Grove Street stop in Jersey City coming up. Sorry I have fallen behind here on postings. It is quite frustrating how much time and effort it takes to find work so I have been juggling these things. I am grateful for what I do have and hopefully the work piece will fall into place soon!! Meanwhile my walking and my right foot are doing much better since I have been going to physical therapy. I have been able to walk around a lot and hope to get lots of Christmas window photos for you this year.

By clothestalking on Etsy

All photos by Marilyn Lavender.  All written material by Marilyn Lavender. © Marilyn Lavender, 2015. All rights reserved.

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