Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Reduce, Reuse, UPCYCLE! My Latest Project: 2 Old Men's Shirts = 1 New Shirt Dress

2 Old Men's Shirts = 1 New Shirtdress

Greetings!

I can't believe it's almost August already! It's definitely hot here in NYC and I have been living in comfy and cool dresses. I normally gravitate towards flow-y bold prints and color with my materials, but when my husband handed over some old shirts he was discarding, I was inspired to do an upcycling project for myself with a little more polish.

The Project:

I don't currently own tailored shirtdress, so I decided to create one!

I had a blue shirt and a white one, so I decided to go with a color blocked design. Keeping blue on the bottom, I was thinking it might be a little more flattering and would wear over time better than the white would. I sewed the pieces together with French seams, which give the overall dress some structure for a clean and crisp look!

The Result:

I'm really happy with the result! It's such a sleek and versatile piece; a blank canvas to change up with so many different accessories. Here I've photographed it with one of my best vintage clutch finds and a staple in my wardrobe for this summer- It's leather, made in Italy, and only cost me $15 :)

TIP: If you want to invest in some high quality accessories, but don't have a lot to spend, try some vintage shopping! For me, I love the thrill of the treasure hunt, the quality in which things were made in the past, and having a unique item that's not hanging in every department store in the country. If you're intimidated by a thrift store or a vintage shop, check out eBay online - I've found some great pieces on there.

You don't have to be an expert seamstress for a project like this, so it's a great beginner sewing project idea. Also, something like this would be a great way to preserve memories by using old shirts from a loved one! I hope I've added a little DIY inspiration to your week!

Cheers,

Erin

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Friday, July 10, 2015

Totes Ya'll!

Totes Ya'll!

Congrats, you've made it until Friday! I hope you all had a great week!

If you happened to read my last post, you'll recall that creatively I got a little burned out on clothing construction. To keep my mind and skills fresh, I switched gears to try something new. My friend Sarah (shout out to Sarah) recently sent me a box of super luscious leather scraps from her interior design world and that became my source of inspiration. I also had a couple of fabrics, mostly given to me (shout out to Jessica too!) or rescued by me, that I had set aside thinking they'd work well in some type of accessory.

Here in NYC, I feel like good tote bags are such an intricate part of most daily activities. Most of us don't have cars to throw all our stuff in throughout the day, so your tote bag becomes a catch all. I've wanted to experiment with some simple tote patterns, and then the project seemed to all come together. I'm excited about the the results so far. I love that they are super simple and practical in structure, but also become the canvases for these beautiful print and woven fabrics.

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Blue Floral Jessica Tote

I received this beautiful floral vintage fabric in one of many thoughtful packages from my old friend Jessica. I will be bummed when I run out of it entirely. I'm hanging on to every last scrap! This tote also includes leather details, making it extra sturdy.

SHOP!

Silk & Leather Sarah Tote

I call this one the Sarah Tote! In addition to the leather pieces Sarah sent me, she also included an old skirt. The fabric was a woven silk, with this modern leafy print. To toughen up the silk, I lined it in this thick, cotton/silk brocade fabric in the perfect shade of champagne. The added leather details make it as practical as it is beautiful!

SHOP

Brown Border Print Reversible Tote

Bold reds and pinks make the perfect compliment to the brown ground in this beautiful print! Can you believe someone was just about to throw this fabric out? Luckily I was around a quickly swooped it up! In my past life in the mass production fashion world, so much fabric goes to waste. It really echoes the disposable attitude in the clothing industry these days. The border print was perfect for the shape of the tote. I also love that this print is a little bit neutral, and a little bit bold. For some added structure, the tote is lined in this champagne colored cotton/silk brocade fabric and is also completely reversible! It's all topped off with these comfy leather straps.

SHOP & See the Reverse Side!

Pink Flamingo Reversible Print Tote

Okay, so there are no pink flamingos in this print, but doesn't it just make you think of them? This vintage fabric makes me happy- it's a bit of a statement while still being chic. The lining is an equally beautiful and vivid print and this tote is completely reversible.

SHOP and See the Reverse Side!

Bold Blues Reversible Print Tote

Yes, this beautiful floral print again...This tote is a little bit larger than the others, with extra long straps. If you're not one to wear a bold print like this, just add a little splash with your carryall.

The print of the vintage fabric on the reverse side is just as beautiful as the other. I also love the look of the contrasting straps.

Get more detailed info and shop all of these totes in my ErinElsie Etsy Shop by clicking here!

I'm going to push my "Weekend Wrap Up" segment to Monday this time for a very special post. Stay tuned friends and have a "tote-ally" awesome weekend!

xo,

Erin

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Friday, July 3, 2015

Weekend Wrap Up! A few good things...

Happy Friday friends!

My apartment/home studio has been a one-women factory this week! I got a little burned out on clothing construction so I switched gears to try something new. My friend Sarah recently sent me a box of super luscious leather scraps from her interior design world and that became my source of inspiration.

I'm incorporating a couple of other beautiful vintage fabrics with the leather.

Stay tuned for the results!

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A little Fourth of July inspiration...

My Parents!
Today they celebrate their 44th Wedding Anniversary - pretty amazing. They are inspiring to me in so many ways and I feel grateful to have them in my life. Shout out to you Mom and Dad! Love You!

Made in the U.S.A.

In the past, I would only see "Made in the USA" tags in my vintage clothes. Now I'm so thrilled to see more tags like this in new purchases! I hope this manufacturing trend, even in small batches, continues to happen here in the US and I want to be part of it.

Don't forget to tune in to support the USA Women's Soccer team in the World Cup finals Sunday! Girl Power :)

Have a great Fourth of July weekend friends! Thanks for following along!

(My fave red, white, and blue upcycling project from last year... I might be breaking it out again this weekend weather permitting!)

xo,

Erin

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Wednesday, July 1, 2015

My Fearless and Feminine Five Dollar Find

My Fearless and Feminine Five Dollar Find

Much like a go to LBD (Little Black Dress), for the summer I have my go to colorful dresses. I'm attracted to ones that can take me from day to night, or occasion to occasion. On a recent trip home to hot Louisiana, I threw some dresses in a carry-on backpack and I was good to go!

My favorites, and the ones I get the most compliments on, are all thrift store finds. Most of them weren't more than 5 dollars! In many cases, I'll do some slight alterations in size or just to better accommodate my body shape. The dresses then feel even more unique.

If you know me, you've probably seen me in this dress. It's one of my favorite $5 finds. I wear it from Spring, all the way into Fall. For super hot weather, I love that it keeps me cool and comfortable. For cooler weather it makes a lovely layer under a sweater or jacket.

I tend to gravitate towards deeper, more saturated color, and this pink print is spot on. I also love that this dress has a little cap sleeve that adds to it's versatility.

I can throw it over a swimsuit, then take it into nighttime with dressier heels or sandals.

Sometimes I add on booties and my bomber jacker to change it up and add a little bit of edge. (I got this jacket when I was 16 and I still love it!)

I altered the hem a little bit and it made the slouchiness of this dress more flattering for my body.

For me, confidence is key. I'm not always the most comfortable in shorts. If I ever start feeling a little anxious when getting ready, I throw on one of my favorite vintage dresses. I instantly feel more confidant and unique, and that's the power of wearing clothes that you love.

If you feel like you're in a dress rut (or a clothing rut for that matter) and on a budget- hit some thrift stores and explore the possibilities!

Thanks for following along friends!

xo,

Erin

Follow along the journey of ErinElsie and *Textile*Repurposed*Style.* Subscribe by email in the sidebar of my blog or sign up for Bloglovin!