As many of you probably know by now, nothing satisfies me more than reworking old, boring pieces from my local secondhand shop into shiny and bright wardrobe essentials that I can not only wear down the street for a coffee, but actually throw on for my christmas party. I saw this white dress in a thrift store and bought it because I supposed that deep down it had some potential, if not only as a blank wall for me to go all Banksy on. Once home, I put it on and asked my boyfriend what he thought I should do with it and he said (with zero pause and much vehemence) ‘burn it!’. As you can imagine, his response was pretty much a red-rag-to-a-bull style challenge for me to see if I could make it into something not bound for a Joan of Arc inspired farewell. With a quick hem chop, a few nips and tucks and the addition of some golden paillette sequins, I think it worked out ok! Read on to see just how I did it.
You need:
- A dress or top with a simple round neckline
- 100 or so gold paillettes
- A needle and thread
How to:
1. The first thing I did to make the dress more party worthy was to cut a few inches off the bottom of it because it was an odd middi length.
2. I used my sewing machine to finish the hem.
3. And then ironed it nice and flat. I also took it in a bit at the back by tightening the little belt tie that went around the back, and folded the sleeves under once and ironed them down. These small changes made the world of difference to the shape and overall look.
4. Then I grabbed a handful of paillettes… So shiny! (eyes light up).
5. I then took some time out on the couch to then handsew the paillettes onto the dress. This might sound super tedious and some of you may want to opt for glue instead, but honestly it didn’t take much longer than an hour (in fact, one episode of homeland – the sewing gave me a great excuse to avert my eyes during the suspenseful bits!), and they have so much more movement and flow when they are sewn on.
6. I left a small gap along the edge so they didn’t scratch my skin.
7. I sewed them all the way around to the shoulder seams, and then repeated with layers underneath.
8. Knot each sequin at the back as I have done here by threading the needle through a loop made by a stitch . This will ensure that if one comes off, they don’t all come off.
9. In the end I did around 4 layers. I mainly tried to make sure the gaps between the sequins were filled and didn’t bother making it too tidy, straight or regimented.
Et voila! I have to say the this is exactly what I needed to satisfy my holiday-party-dress cravings! Can’t wait to wear it this week (can kinda see myself spilling red wine on it already…).
For more Before & After posts head here.
Outfit photos by Luke Casey
Like this easy DIY? Pin it on Pinterest!
Truly the best AP&AS DIY yet! I am about 2x your age and I could see doing this. I think the festive touch is really timeless. Such a smart cookie you are!
How gorgeous is this DIY ! Absolutely love it !
XX Luba
New Year´s Eve look ideas, today on
http://www.well-living-blog.com
Amazing diy idea!! You look marvelous. Love your dress.
xx Mira
http://www.glamdevils.com
That’s so beautiful! Great post!
Great diy !! would definitely do this
http://livelifeamour.blogspot.com
What a fantastic idea: I can’t wait to try this out. It would also look great on the hem of a skirt maybe 🙂 xx
Coquetin
Amazing dress! You have a lot of fantasy! Well done doll 😉
Bisou
Viky
— http://mysecretfashionpoison.wordpress.com
Great idea, love it!
xx
http://www.stylelounge.me
amazing dress, love it!
new look on my blog!!!
http://theartist-mona.blogspot.com.es/2013/12/with-my-poncho.html
U did an excellent job.
OH whoa so pretty!
great job again loves! you definitely don’t need any necklaces for this look 🙂
xoxo, Jules
♥Come Visit My Blog♥
what an easy dress to wear now – no real need for jewelry/accessories! very cute 🙂
Love this diy! It’s amazing how you make gorgeous clothes from old, Boring secondhand clothes. I’m gonna try this by my self, hope that it works so good like yours 🙂
What did your boyfriend say when your dress was ready? Do you still have to burn it?! I hope that he likesit :p
Fantastic idea!!!! I really like it 🙂
New DIY Decor: Christmas Tree
http://todo-list-mpu.blogspot.com.es/2013/12/diy-decor-arbol-de-navidad.html
wow, I wish I could have your talent for re-styling clothes!
Wow, that’s really easy and so beautiful! I should try it :))
This is wayyyy too cute. Love this. So simple, but so chic. And you can always just take them off for your non-holiday looks when you’re done!
http://www.styleinterplay.com
…..
what a beautiful DIY idea – thank you for sharing – that white dress just got fab!
x
dahi
Beautiful!! I love it.
Kisses…
Yo, yo misma y mi armario
These sequins make for an awesome New Year’s Eve look! Love how big they are and of course that they’re gold. xD
http://love-your-ego.blogspot.de
[…] DIY PAILLETTE SEQUIN COLLAR DRESS […]
Wow, it’s amazing, you’re like Cinderella Fairy Godmother!!!!
http://tarragonain.blogspot.com.es
beautiful dress
love
Ewelina
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
chiclifestyleofewelina.blogspot.com
Awesome post!
Love the idea and what an amazing end result! xx
http://www.creativityandchocolate.com
Great save of a thrift-store dress.
Great DIY…I love the gold!
Beautiful!
Love it
Kiss kiss.*Jo
http://joandcompanystyle.blogspot.com/
I love this idea! It looks perfect and very festive.
I must give it a go!
x Kirsty
http://geelongfashionista.com
wahhhh love!
Those big sequins look so nice, where do I get them?
happy holidays!
can’t wait for my christmas party, so want to wear something like this!
so pretty
gorgeous
Must make
so lovely!
Wow, I love it! Too cute, and even better, so cheap to make!
I know right?
cute! you are so creative and beautiful.
reckless abandon
THE DRESS IS GREAT! I love the sequins at the neck
….. a great design idea! But, honestly, the length might have been more flattering a few inches longer longer on you. (it’s a bit disproportionately short!) Thanks for the inspiration!
Glad you like the design Judith! In terms of the length I did wonder that when I cut the hem, but I figured why not wear it short while I can 😉 xxx
Love this project!! It’s the perfect look for Christmas Day!!
I’m totally going to be wearing it on Christmas day 🙂
You really very powerful, a simple skirt you get on such a beautiful lot, shiny beads is very attractive, I really admire you
Wow, what a sensational makeover. Brilliant and it looks stunning on you.
Thanks Camilla 🙂
WOW, that looks fab! Really great idea for the party season ahead 😀
Aysha x
outletjunkie.blogspot.co.uk
Thanks love!
So lovely! Really!
Can you dry clean the dress with the paillettes on it?
Hmmm I would actually handwash it and try and to avoid the paillettes – I would worry about them melting….
What a lovely DIY, I am a sparkle addict so definatley ticks the right boxes! I will definitely give this one a go 🙂 x
Glad you like Nikki 🙂
Love how the dress turned out. I think I should try this too 🙂
the shoes!!!
Loving this DIY sequin collar dress! It’s so chic and classic.
xo,
Rank & Style
http://www.rankandstyle.com
Thanks love, I do feel there’s something about gold and white that always works together. x
Geneva…I’m speechless. You’ve outdone yourself with this one! It’s so simple but the class and style you’ve added to that dreadful dress is stunning.
Aww thanks Kahani, that’s so sweet of you. Just goes to show it’s so much easier than it looks isn’t it?
Hi! I’m visiting HK soon and was just wondering which thrift shops you frequent. Also wondering where the shoes are from. I adore your DIYs!
Thanks so much!
Jamie
Hi jamie, I’m going to be doing a little post soon about this, stay tuned 🙂
Wow perfect! Such a cute DIY.
http://www.blondecanvas.blogspot.co.uk
This looks amazing! Your thrift shop before and afters have always been my fav!
Thanks Tanya! They are my personal fave projects too, will be doing lots more in the new year 🙂
You’ve transformed that dress, it’s gorgeous!
Lauren
livinginaboxx
Thanks so much lauren xx
Very creative!
the-renaissance-of-inner-fashion.blogspot.co.uk/
[…] je viens tout juste de trouver comment rendre ma petite robe noire plus festive sur le blog de A Pair and a Spare. A J-5, il est temps que je m’y mette mais va t-il vraiment falloir que je sorte pour aller […]
WOW! I just stumbled on this blog and already have found some really cool things.
You took this plain dress and made it special.
I have to read more!
Glad to hear it Marilyn 🙂
OMG i love what you did with it. very cute.
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¡Me encanta!
Voy a coger la idea para hacerla, espero poder encontrar un vestido así!
Un besito guapa
http://www.bbeaute121.blogspot.com
[…] № 02 | Three Wreaths to Make for the Holidays [ohhappyday.com] № 03 | Gold Leaf Ornaments [oh-sopretty.com] № 04 | Paillette Sequin Collar Dress [apairandasparediy.com] […]
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Wahou ! Really pretty, good job !
[…] № 02 | Three Wreaths to Make for the Holidays [ohhappyday.com] № 03 | Gold Leaf Ornaments [oh-sopretty.com] № 04 | Paillette Sequin Collar Dress [apairandasparediy.com] […]
White is my favorite color for summer! Wearing a short white dress in the summer makes you look like an ice cream to the eye! And the gold plating just accomplishes the dress. Beautiful!
How fantastic the DIY is, I totally love it.
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This definetely is the most beautiful dress i’ve ever seen. I hope, one day i’ll find a dress like you did and make it as cute as this one looks!
very beatiful
[…] Tutorial e imagens: A pair & a spare […]
You are really B e a u t i f u l, maybe you can do an outfit with our dresses
http://www.sposamore.com/it/33-abiti-da-sposa-principessa
[…] THE SEQUIN COLLAR DRESS […]
[…] THE SEQUIN COLLAR DRESS […]
I love this white dress, and it is so beautiful and stunning
[…] Foto: Reprodução / A pair & a spare […]
you have inspired me to do a leather version on a chiffon number I am working on. I’ll be sure to tag you when it’s done!