After rummaging through the dress rack at my local goodwill I found a dress that needed no alterations and one that needed quite a bit of work, so much so that my mom suggested nothing would make it acceptable and I should leave it... so I did. However as soon as I got home I regretted not buying the dress and had to go back for it, the fabric was just so promising. I'll admit the overall style was quite outdated and matronly.
complete with ugly button...
I started by removing the sleeves, this made it easier to figure out where the top needed to be.
next I tried it on and folded the top down and pinned it where it needed to be hemmed. I should have taken more pics, but I was caught up in sewing and missed a few steps, oops! Pressed and sewn in place, it needed some elastic... which I didn't have. I dug around and found and old pair of pantyhose and cut the top band off, it was the perfect fit for the top of the dress. I just attached it like normal elastic. Lastly I added more neutral buttons to tone down the crazy print, it had hidden buttons except for the big gaudy one. I removed the buttons and sewed the top closed to accidental free shows, so the buttons are purely for decoration.
Bonus! With some extra fabric from the sleeves I made my cat a new vest/cape. He likes getting new clothes... this was simple. I just undid the seams and removed the sleeve button. Then I ironed it flat and held it up to my cat, the shape was already almost perfect I just had to shorten the back and curve it a bit. I used more of the old pantyhose to make elastic bands for the front.
