Refashioning: Oversized Shirt into Separates - Shirt and Skirt (V Shaped Body Type to Pear Shaped Fix)

I got this shirt in Thailand for around $1.60. I just liked the cartoon print of it and knew I could do something with it.

Actually, at this point, I've already taken in the back neckline to bring the shoulders closer together. It used to be a huge scoop neckline. Also, the sleeves were way too big for my arms. Obviously, it was made for someone who had much broader shoulder and thicker arms--maybe a ladyboy? Who knows. Anyways, this sistah is pear shaped, so. . .I thought if I took in the neckline and sleeves, the problem would be fixed, but as you can see, I'm still not gonna wear it!

Another problem is that this shirt was just so far over the top, and what I call "Miami Chic" meaning "cheap and tacky." I feel like I should be wearing a ton of gold chains and hoop earrings with stilettos, and. . .that ain't my style.

Here you can see how I took in the back neckline.

All right, so if I was going to save this shirt, I was going to need to spread the love a little bit. So I cut it in half.

Using some black jersey, I cut out a three inch waist band for the top of the bottom of the shirt. 

It was about to become a skirt.

Then I cut out a 9 inch band of jersey to put on the bottom of the top of the shirt.

Here is the skirt band.

I finally found a bodkin! So...here I am using my bodkin to thread some elastic through the waistband.

Then, I stitched the elastic together and sewed the rest of the waistband seam to close the hole.

Skirt.

Here is the band going on the bottom of the top of the shirt.

Finished.

Okay, so...yes, there is still a lot going on, but at least now I can wear the pieces separately and not look as gross. Even just adding the wide black waist section breaks up the craziness a bit, if I wanted to wear them together. Adding the waistbands has now added shape to an otherwise shapeless garment. I may actually get rid of this entire outfit soon, but I wanted at least to show you how you could salvage and elevate some of those oversized T-shirts you may currently be wearing as pajamas!

The End!

Portlandia Inspired "Put a Bird on it!" Collared Shirt and Sweater

If you are like me and my friend, Luba, then you like "Portlandia." We particularly like one little skit where they were obnoxiously putting birds on things in order to look instantly crafty and hipster. 

That show is hilarious.

Anyways, in my dollar rack perusing, I came across this little number one day:

It is a Jacqueline Smith shirt. I really like the birds, but I hate black and gold. (The buttons are gold.) To me it looks "Miami Chic" (i.e. cheap). It was also too big. (I got a little ahead of myself and had already cut the left arm off before I remembered to take pictures....)

I 

I chopped both arms off and turned it inside out so I could drape the bodice.

I also took the sleeves in.

There. It fits much better, but the buttons are still gold. Bleah.

So...while watching old episodes of "That Girl" on Amazon Prime, I cut off each gold button and replaced it with a white one.

Now it's a shirt I will actually wear!

[Many photos missing so as not to bore you....] I also took in an XL black Old Navy sweater and put the two together.

I can't wait for cold weather!!!

The End