oversized *ugly* shirt & dress pants-->glam halter & corset skirt *lots of pics*

[katherine83]

So, I started off with this *huge* shirt and dress pants that both had potential from the Salvation Army. I really liked the red/gold floral design on the shirt and decided it must come home with me. The dress pants weren't too bad to begin with (really nice fabric with a bit of a sheen) but the waist was a tad tight and the legs tapered *shudders just thinking of them.*

Before:

Huge shirt:
Tight waist and tapered legs:
Pants have bit of sheen:

After:

(Kitties love the dangling lacing...drives me crazy!)

First I made the skirt by ripping open the inseam of both legs. I then opened the "bum" seam and cut off the legs of the pants at the length I wanted my skirt. I inserted a panel of fabric where the open "bum" seam was up the back of the skirt in the appropriate width so the waist wouldn't be so tight on my hips. Before I sewed in the panel, I added ribbon loops. I was inspired by lisatrix's corset t-shirt (http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=38788.0) and used the same method for my skirt. After reinforcing the ribbon loops, I finished the front seam and hemmed, added the long ribbon to create a (purely decorative) lacing detail...

Lacing detail:



I was inspired by a halter top that belongs to my sister and came up with this...



I can't quite explain how I managed to make this except that the dress form is my new best friend and she helped alot!!  I really just wanted to make something pretty and sexy out of a shirt that was neither pretty nor sexy when I found it in the S.A. I think I was pretty successful.

Overall I spent, eeep, $11.50 Canadian...I figured with the exchange rate, I could possibly get away with going over by $1.50. (If I'm disqualified, that's okay...I had a blast making this outfitt anyways!!!) The ribbon for the skirt and the cord for the top were items I had at home.

P.S. If you look closely at the skirt you'll notice that I have one of the pocket flaps tucked into the pocket. I'm still trying to decided if I want to keep the pocket flaps on the skirt or make it more streamline and remove the flaps and buttons... Let me know what you think. Thanks for looking! 

[PinkMafia]

That is  a Hot outfit.

[SuzukiBeane33]

Wow- I love the way the feathery part on the shirt hangs down a little more.  The halter part looks great too, and I'm not a big fan of halters!  You made the skirt seem really easy to do as well, thanks for the inspiration!  As for the pockets, I would cut off the flaps to made it more streamlined, but I like the button details.  Seriously, I usually get too discouraged to sew, but you made it seem easy!

[junquette]

what a fabulous job you did! I am so impressed with your changes!  It's a wonderful outfit all put together like you did, and where it came from makes it even more impressive! BIG KUDOS to you!

[depphead]

Now that is just COOL........!  Excellent job!!

[elmonerd]

Wow that's so GREAT! I love it. Especially the shirt transformation it looks so much better now, sexier!

I think you should remove the pocket flap.
good job!

[grannystylee]

Wow, great job, great idea, great attention to detail.  I think you should leave the pocket flaps on. Looks much better!

[LivinEasy]

Any chance we could see YOU model the outfit? The skirt is my favorite.

[Clever]

 ;)This is HOT!!!!

[supastarrr110]

I loooooooooooooooooo ve this outfit