It’s been the summer of off-the-shoulders in every conceivable way, shape and form.
And we’ve been DIY-ing them over and over, trying to find the perfect method (see here, here, here and here). Recently a pit stop at our local second hand store overflowing with men’s shirts gave up a light bulb moment – this before and after project. Quite simply it’s the easiest DIY version of the off the shoulder possible. You literally just cut the neck and shoulders off a men’s shirt and elasticate the top edge. And you can create a top or a dress depending on how big your shirt is. We loved them so much we made them for all the girls in the studio!
2
Cut along the line so that you cut off the top of the shirt. Measure and cut how much elastic you will need to wrap around your shoulders.
3
Fold the top of your garment inwards to create the gathered neckline and pin it in place.
4
Sew along the bottom of the folded section to create a fabric tunnel. Leave a gap about 5cm at the start/finish that we will use to insert the elastic in later.
5
Take something like a wooden screwer or chopsticks to help insert the elastic into the fabric tunnel you made earlier. Thread it all the way through until the elastic appears on the other side.
And… you’re done!
Thanks for hopping in the pics with me Sarah!
Photos by Bryant Lee.
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Love this! Definitely want to try it before summer arrives.
Avanti
xxx
Avantigarde.wordpress.com
This is a great idea, I’m definitely going to recreate this! Off to my local vintage store I go!
This is the best idea ever!
Thank you for sharing this wonderful idea as I have tons of such shirts from my husband 🙂
xx from Bavaria/Germany, Rena http://www.dressedwithsoul.com
Just so good! ^_^
xx
http://www.fuss.co.in
Great idea! XX
This is cute! Seems really easy too. Now to find a shirt that will be the right length…!
– Kaitlyn | http://www.TheCrownFox.com
This is insanely cute! Thanks so much for sharing! Now my better half need to watch out for his shirts!
xx
Yvonne
http://tellmeyblog.com
Ha, what a fun DIY 🙂
xx
Pls share your Recipes from around the world
Love your Before & After series, Geneva!!!
This is exactly my kind of DIY! I love upcycling old stuff and I do it all the time hehe 🙂
Thanks for sharing!
Why Buy? DIY!
http://dushonok.com
What a fun idea!!
Super cute look. You look amazing and great diy.
http://www.fashionobsessher.blogspot.com
I am definitely going to be doing this! It is so cute and easy!!
http://fineandcasual.blogspot.com
I have found in sewing elastic.bands that a safety pin attached to one end slides thru casing easily with the.other end secured by another pin into fabric.
Oooh, I like! Very cute!
Woow this shirts are so cute! Love this DIY!
xx
SASHA
Nice shirts 🙂
BLOG M&M FASHION BITES : http://mmfashionbites.blogspot.gr/
Maria V.
Beautifully made, love the way you styled it 🙂
x
StephC
http://sstephcc.blogspot.com/
Soooo good! I have to try this!!! I admire your blog. Love your ideas, Geneva!
♡ Ella
Awesome idea!
This is the most perfect diy I’ve seen in such a long time. I’m all for the off the shoulder dresses and currently own one. This is such a cute way to make one and wear your boyfriend’s shirt at the same time. Unfortunately I don’t have a sewing machine but I’ll try something out. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
http://www.lepetitfolie.com
It looks absolutely gorgeous!! xx
https://carlotarules.wordpress.com/
Absolutely love this creative idea 🙂
I’ve been loving off-the-shoulder tops as well, and this is such a cool way to make them from men’s shirts <3
Thank you so much for this amazing post!
xo, elizabeth t.
https://clothestoyouuu.wordpress.com/
Excellent use of a man’s shirt. Very good DIY!
Stacy from http://www.stacyco.com
[…] A Pair + A Spare shows you how to turn a mens shirt into an off-the-shoulder dress. […]
OMG!!!!! LOVE IT! going to try it next week
Nats,
http://www.thekeyitem.com
Absolutely loving this DIY! Going to raid the men’s wardrobes now…
xx
http://diykl.com/
This is awesome!
http://alexinwanderlust.blogspot.com.au
Oh, I LOVE, LOVE this! So creative, chic, and cute.
Love this idea!! Super look!!
Hugs,
Love from http://www.trangscorner.com {a lifestyle, fashion, beauty, and food blog}
That is such a great idea! Wish I had a sewing machine now!
Great DIY! I really want to try this now 🙂
Natalie Ann xo // Petal Poppet Blogs ♥
OMG, I am obsessed! Brilliant idea… I am inspired!!!!
Brilliant! I am inspired! Wow!!!
OMG, I absolutely love this idea, I will deffo be trying this in the near future!
Mantenso xx
She’s AbouThat Life
[…] to turn a men’s shirt into an off the shoulder dress. Why did I not think of this?? Off to goodwill it […]
Wonderful idea, the shirts look really comfy. Nice post @AP and AS
wonderful DIY idea. The shirt dress really looks comfy. nice one @AP &AS
What a brilliant idea! Thank you! 🙂
Best wishes!
http://www.julitastefashion.com/
Need a going out ‘dress’ for tomorrow and stumbled on your Pin- trying it to tonight with some tweaks- genius idea!
I don’t think this would look good on me but this has to be one of your best fashion DIY’s. Menswear inspired outfit on a different level. Love it!
[…] 2. How to turn a men’s shirt into an off the shoulder dress via A Pair and A Spare. […]
so easy and cool!! Looks great!
x. Mirjam
http://www.jeneregretterien.ch
I like it!
http://the-renaissance-of-inner-fashion.blogspot.co.uk
This is so cute, I’m definitely going to make this. If my dad doesn’t hide his shirts he’ll end up with none of them.
Julia x
ailujthirteen.blogspot.com.es
I absolutely love this! I’ve been wanting an off the shoulder shirt since Rachel’s in friends a million years ago. The ones around just now are so expensive though. I am certainly going to try this
Lauren
livinginaboxx | bloglovin
The one she wears on her first day back at Ralph Lauren after having Emma!?!?!? Loved that look so much!
I LOVE! it!!! I totally want to do this!!!
That looks absolutely fantastic!
I love the idea and it looks so lush, WOW! Thanks so much for this great idea! I think my husband will shortly miss a shirt :))
Betty | Inspiremeand
[…] zijn aan een ‘experimenteel item’. En wij geloven dat wij deze keer, met grote dank aan A Pair and a Spare, de perfecte DIY hebben […]
love this idea
Great idea. Where is your watch from? I love it!
How perfect, Im getting ready to make one now.
[…] guys, we have to invade your wardrobe again…oops! I came across a DIY tutorial from a pair & a spare and learnt how to turn a men’s shirt into an off-shoulder dress. However, I would like to […]
OMG! I love all your ideas, but this one is just, PERFECT. Kisses from Venezuela <3
Yesssss! Love this kind of DIY, so easy, so chic x
http://www.dulciedulcie.com/
I love all the watches you were! What brand are they? Thanks!
[…] Here’s How: BEFORE & AFTER: MEN’S SHIRT INTO AN OFF THE SHOULDER DRESS […]
This is such a good idea, I’ve never even thought of doing something like this. I usually just wear my boyfriend’s shirts and tuck them in my jeans, but this is a really cool play on that.
http://www.sartreuse.com
Did you wear a pant beneath ?
I love this! Great idea for my husbands shirts that have been hanging in the closet unused for too long (unsure how he’ll feel about that). Time to make me some new dresses. 😉
[…] Bedroom: One Kin Design | Modern Pool: Remodelista | Pinstripe Dress: A Pair & A Spare | Pavlova: The […]
this is so cute! can’t wait to try this and wear it over the summer!!
This is just genius!
Lovely! Does anyone know who made the gorgeous studded messenger bag?!
Thanks!!!
I am going to add straps because I cannot go strapless. I love the idea
I don’t quite understand step 3? I looked at the steps after it and it looks like the shirt was sewn by only folding the top inward once. I don’t get the whole “fold the top of your shirt towards the line”. Never did DIY so sorry if it’s an obvious question! >.< Can anyone help clarify?
This DIY looks fantastic! Thinking you could also save and (with some finishing on the cut edge) wear the collar of the shirt like a choker to complement the dress, especially if it’s one of those men’s shirts where the collar is a different colour/pattern from the body of the shirt. Or I might see if your skinny silk scarf DIY (or a long men’s tie used as a belt) can go with this dress! Thanks for a great project!
[…] Sources: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / […]
what size shirt did you get? i dont know which size is a good length, love the dress!!
I would love to order this shirt dress. Can someone get in contact with me ASAP!!! Email please…thanks!
I love this idea! ????
[…] / 2 / 3 / […]
[…] | Featured image from here. […]
Omg!! I can’t wait to try this!
Hello ladies,
This is awesome! Oh, all the hubby’s shirt I will be using… Ha!
Also, please do share who makes that A-DO-ra-ble studded crossbody bag. Please, please!
Thank you!
THIS IS THE CUTEST MOST CREATIVE IDEA EVER!!!!! A++++++ it’s so cute !
[…] Crédit et étapes du DIY sur : A pair & a spare […]
[…] https://apairandasparediy.com/2015/08/before-after-mens-shirt-into-an-off-the-shoulder-dress.html […]
Espectacular
[…] The Tinted Purple Outfit PHOTO: Flowy Cut-Out Shirt PHOTO: Trendy Striped Off-The-Shoulder Shirt PHOTO: Off The Bare Shoulder PHOTO: The Abstract Off-The-Shoulder Top PHOTO: White-On-White […]
[…] Images borrowed from 1|2|3|4|5 […]
Hermosos buen consejo
[…] Off-shoulder T-shirt Dress and High Heels via […]
Très bonne idée 🙂
Ou peut on se procurer les sandales à talons camel et noires svp ?
Et la besace ?
Merci beaucoup 🙂
Laura
[…] For example an idea how to make this DIY off shoulder shirt I found in this a pare&a spare tutorial and in my opinion it is one of the greatest and easiest tutorials you can follow this summer. Off […]
LOVE THIS!! Finally got around to trying it out for myself and it turned out awesome. My bf is going to have to hide his dress shirts from me! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg1Cl7mod5A
Hi dear,
Thank you for this genius DIY idea. I followed this tutorial and I simply love the outcome. 🙂
If you want you to see your inspired DIY shirt, than take a look at my blog: http://bit.ly/2bby4n6
Best wishes,
Julita
[…] Photo Source: A Pair and A Space […]
[…] vor die Tür! In dieser Variante würde ich persönlich vielleicht eine enge Jeans drunter ziehen. Apairandaspair ‚Men’s shirt into an Off the shoulder […]
[…] for Fall this year. I gave the blouse a DIY makeover, if you interested in this project here is a tutorial. I have been seeing off the shoulder tops everywhere and wanted to give the trendy look a try. […]
[…] seen that cheap, extra large men’s shirt somewhere in a charity shop, revamp it and make this sleeveless off-the-shoulder dress, try hand-embroidering your jeans or if you’re just starting, make a 70’s inspired […]
Great on my to do list.
Thank you
[…] Fonte: A Pair & A Spare […]
Love this idea! it would be so much awsome.
http://aspiringthought.com/main/services.php
This DIY looks fantastic! it would be great idea.
http://aspiringthought.com/main/services.php
The shoes are terrific! Did you ever find out where are these from? Love them!
I have just tried making this – as really love it, but having a devil’s own job of getting the sleeve area stitched neatly as it puckers and bunches up when sewing it – have you got any helpful hints on that one? I might have to try it on another thrift store shirt as this one might not make it!