When it comes to my wardrobe I believe in using every piece to its full potential. I dress vintage not just because I love the fashion but because I like to live as ethically as I possibly can. Vintage is not only easier for me to wear fit wise but it also helps save the environment so it doesn't get any better than that. As a college student, I can't buy every piece I see or want as much as I would like to. No, my collection is ever-growing and evolving over the course of time. It's something I've built steadily and slowly, which is important to remember. We have to work with what we can afford and make due until we can change that. It's been four years since I first started dressing this way so I've learned a lot of tricks along the way and I'd like to share my favorite one with all of you today. How to wear a dress two completely different ways, to create unique looks and get more than one wear out of it. Dresses can seem limiting because unlike skirts you can't wear a different top without layering. However, my trick will have you convinced otherwise. Keep scrolling to see the magic unfold!
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
Transformation station
Now I do not take credit for this trick at all, in fact, I learned it from one of my favorite bloggers of all time. She deserves all the credit and praise for revolutionizing our lives and wardrobes. I am just sharing it with you, as it's something I use to this day. Thank you Miss Victory Violet for the amazing tutorial! If you need step by step instructions click here! It's the guide I follow and you can't go wrong.
I am just showing you how I use this trick and ways to really make them look like two separate pieces. My tips are as follows :
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
1. Look for pieces with a back zipper as those are a lot easier to convert into a skirt. Side zippers can be a bit more complicated although not impossible.
2. Look for pieces without boning this will allow a smoother more seamless folding of the bodice, plus it will be more comfortable.
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
3. Look for pieces that don't have long sleeves. if you use a piece with sleeves they'll have to be tied so they don't stick out of your skirt.
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
4. A belt and petticoat allow for a smooth and undetectable transformation but aren't necessary! You just have to play with it a little to get everything to lay flat and smooth.
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
5. Accessories will truly help you transform any look and offer the most versatility out of any piece! No accessory or detail is too small.
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
6. The most important tip of all, practice makes perfect! Don't get discouraged if the first time doesn't work, no one ever gets it right on the first try. The more you do it the better you'll become so just have fun with it!
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
Wear it both ways
To create two looks out of one dress I decided to put an emphasis on accessories. Both looks are simple basic outfits that can easily be dressed up or down. By adding accessories like a headscarf or hat you can truly transform a look. Doing this makes it seem like you're wearing two separate pieces instead of a dress worn as a skirt. I decided to change the details from my makeup to gloves. I wanted to show that with a little creativity and imagination you can get more out of your wardrobe than you ever dreamed of!
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
Look 1: The little yellow dress
As this was the base look I wanted to create an outfit that would allow the dress to shine. I used small yet noticeable accessories that popped against the yellow to stylize it. I didn't want anything that would cover the dress so you could see what it looked like before it got converted into a skirt. It should be noted that I opted for a sundress as the weather was hot and the straps wouldn't show when the bodice was folded. This dress also has a side zipper, which took a bit of finesse but once I figured it out, it worked very well. I was definitely channeling Jane from Tarzan in this color combination and I am not mad about it. Once a Disney bounder always a Disney bounder eh? From the over-sized sunhat to the lavender gloves every individual detail helps to shape the look. The accessories also help to set it apart from the second look so it seems like you did a complete outfit change. I'm a master of illusions y'all.
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
Look 2: Separates are a girl's best friend!
For the second look, I wanted to change the silhouette and styling completely. I decided to channel an old Hollywood starlet on vacation. Cue the identity hiding headscarf and sunglasses. The perfect disguise right? For this outfit, I decided to really play up the vacation look and kept the accessories to a minimum. I wanted this to be a more casual easy to wear yet chic outfit. I was focused on showing the versatility of one dress. I wanted to demonstrate that even with just a few simple changes you can completely transform a look. By focusing on gold and yellow as accessory colors the dress easily transitions to a skirt. No one would ever know they're the same piece unless told otherwise.
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
All about the outfits
Outfit details: 1950's yellow pleated sundress-vintage/ gold ballet flats-amazon/ 1950's wide brim sun hat-vintage/ Purple rhombus earrings-insomniac creations/1950's violet pin-vintage/1950's purple floral scarf-vintage/1950's lavender gloves-vintage
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
Makeup details: Brows, Lashes & Liner: Black cake Mascara - Besame Cosmetics/ Eyes: Air Palette-NYXcosmetics/ Cheeks: Rose delicate rogue-Besame Cosmetics/ Lips: American beauty -Besame cosmetics
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
Outfit details: white sleeveless blouse-thrifted/ 1950's yellow dress worn as skirt-vintage/gold ballet flats-amazon/1950's yelow gloves-vintage/1950's yellow headscarf-vintage/ white cat eye sunglasses-amazon/1950's yellow hoops-vintage
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
Makeup details: Brows, Lashes & Liner: Black cake Mascara - Besame Cosmetics/ Eyes: Air Palette-NYXcosmetics/ Cheeks: Rose delicate rogue-Besame Cosmetics/ Lips: Red hot red -Besame cosmetics
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
I hope you enjoyed reading about my favorite wardrobe trick and are feeling inspired to try it too. This has been my most highly requested post and I'm so excited to be able to share this tip with all of you. Whether you're trying to expand your wardrobe, or have a limited budget this is a great way to get the most out of your dresses. If you try this trick I would love it! Please be sure to tag me and let me know. Now go off and revolutionize the world,you've got the power to do so!
Thank you Erick Paul Photography for taking these amazing photos.
If you have any comments, questions or even suggestions on who you'd like to see me dress up as next, feel free to comment below and I'll do my best to reply in a timely manner.
As always thanks for reading, may your days be filled with pretty dresses, dapper clothes & a lot of happiness.
Paola xx aka "thehepburnmovement"
No comments