Confessions of a Refashionista

What do you do when you find an amazing vintage frock that’s simply too short to wear?

Lengthen it in a flash with my simple step-by-step!

Discover how to easily make a dress longer and step out in groovy new-to-you vintage style in minutes!

I managed to add 8 whole centimetres to that fab frock, hooray!

How fabulous is that Star Trek phaser patch!

  

 

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Drew Barrymore & I definitely share a similar style which is why I’ve already featured her looks using bits I already had in my closet here, here and here. When I spotted this fabulously bright ensemble on her instagram I just knew I could recreate it from preloved items for A LOT less than the original $6595 designer price tag:

Grab the preloved outfit info behind my $4 recreation + check out the original & copycat outfit cost breakdown for this #ThriftyThursday Copycat: Drew Barrymore (again)! Be sure to join my Gone Thrifting group too and share your own ecofashion & let me know who you’d like me to copycat next!

Blouse (thrifted & refashioned – tute coming soon) $2 – Vintage Scarf (had for years) $0 – Vintage Trousers (thrifted) $2 – Rainbow Handbag (swapped) $0 – Refashionista Attitude (had for years)

Total outfit cost: $4

I adore my version of that outfit and am absolutely in love with my DIY interpretation of that $1800 Marc Jacobs blouse! (stay tuned for the full tutorial!)

What do YOU think?

Got a celeb outfit you’d like to me copy? Let me know in a comment below + leave a link to the outfit photo too!

Snag loads of thrifty inspiration (+ join up & share your love of second hand) over on my Gone Thrifting facebook group!

  

 

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I’ve created loads of upsizing tutorials and I love finding creative ways to increase the size of just-too-small garments!

I recently shared how to upsize a blouse without sewing a stitch and was asked if it was possible to give sleeves a bit more room too. Yup!

Find out how to make sleeves wider using scraps from your stash and make those too tight shirts comfy in minutes!

Grab the tight top + a length of scrap lace, trim or fabric.

Chop straight through the seam that runs from the sleeve cuff up to the underarm area, down the side of the blouse & through the bottom hem.

Snag the lace & chop it to the length of the sleeve hem to the blouse hem.

Stitch each side of the lace to the chopped edges of the blouse with right sides facing.

And repeat the whole process on the other side of the blouse.

Loosened up sleeves and a fab fitting blouse, yay!

Want me to continue sharing more fab free tutorials & thrifty fashion inspiration?

Check out just how easy it is to support my Confessions of a Refashionista and help me take my affordable sustainable style message to the next level & then continue your passion for upcycling and refashion with my Confessions of a Refashionista e-book series for less then a latte – also makes a fab thrifty gifty for anyone interested in sustainability and DIY!

 LET’S CONNECT: 

  

 

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Did you miss my Earth Month radio interview?

Fear not! You can listen to me chat about zero waste & refashioning with Brady & Tara on CHYM FM and grab all of the links mentioned in the video below too!

 Feel free to take a leisurely scroll through my hundreds of DIY tutorials (conveniently organized by category and project type), snag some thrifty style inspiration, go behind the scenes, check out my sustainable lifestyle tips & tricks + discover how to shop ethically too!

Want me to continue sharing more fab free tutorials & thrifty fashion inspiration?

Check out just how easy it is to support my Confessions of a Refashionista and help me take my affordable sustainable style message to the next level & then continue your passion for upcycling and refashion with my Confessions of a Refashionista e-book series for less then a latte – also makes a fab thrifty gifty for anyone interested in sustainability and DIY!

 LET’S CONNECT: 

  

 

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Who doesn’t love the fabulous music, husky voice & unique style of Stevie Nicks?

Although I wasn’t born when her amazing career first began I do have fond memories of bopping to Fleetwood Mac tunes as a tot and became a firm fan of her solo albums in my teens.

Haven’t we all felt like Stevie Nicks in this photo?

Check out the preloved outfit info, refashion tutorials + take a peek behind the scenes of this #ThriftyThursday Copycat: 70’s Stevie Nicks then join my Gone Thrifting group to share your own ecofashion & be sure to let me know who you’d like me to copycat next too!

Blouse (swapped & refashioned) $0 – Scarves (swapped) $0 – Maxiskirt (free market) $0  – Vintage Jewellery (inherited & swapped) $0 – Refashionista Attitude (had for years)

Total outfit cost: $0

How awesome was my hair for this copycat shoot?

The Stevie Nicks backdrop & set = a plain duvet cover + bedsheet, stool & lace curtain

Here’s a peek behind the scenes for those curious about just how long it takes to create & share my celeb copycat looks:

– Moving furniture, gathering supplies & setting up my studio area takes about 1 hour (depending on the original photo)

– Getting myself ready (hair, make-up, outfit) takes about an hour

– Shooting the actual photos (with tripod & camera timer) takes about an hour

– Selecting & editing the best photos takes 2+ hours

– Creating & writing the celeb copycat blog post takes about an hour

– Publishing the post online & across my social media takes about an hour.

= approximately 7 hours of unpaid work

(Researching a celeb look & sourcing/creating the outfit ingredients adds anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks to the time above.)

Check out my other refashioned Stevie Nicks look here:

What’s your favourite Stevie Nicks song?

Got a celeb outfit you’d like to me copy?

Let me know in a comment below + leave a link to the outfit photo too!

Snag loads of thrifty inspiration (+ join up & share your love of second hand) over on my Gone Thrifting facebook group!

  

 

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I am slightly obsessed with pussy bow blouses and am always on the hunt for more of those pretty preloved neck tie tops!

Unfortunately they’re a rare find in thrift shops and swaps, fortunately there’s a quick & easy way to transform any blouse into some 60’s inspired style:

Raid your wardrobe and create your own stellar combinations with my Instant No Sew Pussy Bow Blouse tutorial!

Grab a button-up blouse + a long scarf.

Step 1: Put on the blouse & button it all the way up.

Step 2: Pop up the collar.

Step 3: Put the scarf around your neck & line up the ends.

Step 4: Tie the scarf in a lovely bow & pop the collar down.

Awesome!

Experiment with pattern mixing to create truly unique looks!

Make a statement with an extra long scarf!

Create your own pussy bow blouses with my easy tutorials below:

Want me to continue sharing more fab free tutorials & thrifty fashion inspiration?

Check out just how easy it is to support my Confessions of a Refashionista and help me take my affordable sustainable style message to the next level & then continue your passion for upcycling and refashion with my Confessions of a Refashionista e-book series for less then a latte – also makes a fab thrifty gifty for anyone interested in sustainability and DIY!

 LET’S CONNECT: 

  

 

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The online DIY fashion community is massive and so chock full of talented creators that it’s impossible to know about all of them which is why I absolutely love it when my fellow digital makers get in touch with me!

Such was the case with That Sewing Blab, a crafty live interview show hosted by Dawn & Maria, two masterful sewing bloggers who reached out to ask if I would be a guest on their Shirt Refashioning episode!

I accepted, of course, and thought I’d introduce my fabulous audience to their groovy work too! Discover the show, how it all began and why I’m Totally Smitten With That Sewing Blab!

I’m Dawn Pengelly and I started That Sewing Blab to connect with other fabulous sewists. I had no idea how much fun it would be, or how much I would learn from our guests each week. When not lining up our next fantastic guest for the show I am working on sewing things for my YouTube channel and Duelling Designs blog.

Maria, creator of Velo Sews, is my co-host on That Sewing Blab, she’s also involved with the planning of the show as well as each Sew Blabtastic This Week Segment.

Each week viewers can watch and participate in our crafty live show that aims to educate and entertain. Tune in Tuesday nights at 7:30 pm EST for an hour of DIY fashion and style interviews and Q&A discussions too! (Viewers may even get the chance to be on camera!)

We have lots of exciting guests planned for the future. In addition to interviews, we dedicate monthly shows to worldwide events within the real-life and online sewing communities. Join us to see the creative garments they make.

That Sewing Blab also holds 2 two main types of creative competitions. The first is the Pin It Sew It Event in which sewists use inspiration from Pinterest or Instagram to help them create garments. The second event is a multi-show sewing competition called So You Think You Can Sew. In which contestants go head-to-head creating garments with the mystery items we send them. Viewers can watch the action and vote for their favourite designs live on the show. Check out our upcoming events and contests here.

A huge hug to Dawn & Maria for having me on the show and sharing That Sewing Blab’s story too!

Head on over & visit That Sewing Blab and be sure to follow the show on youtube, facebook, instagram & twitter!

Are you an eco-fashion warrior, thrifty style guru, upcycling star or refashionista? Get in touch, introduce yourself and be featured in an upcoming Totally Smitten With!

  

 

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My fab floral jacket turned out so well I just had to create a bag too!

Fancy up a less than stellar preloved purse with my No Sew DIY Flower Bag + Strap Fix Too!

Snag a preloved bag (hard-sided works best), a few faux flowers, some pretty vintage trim + your trusty glue gun.

Carefully wrap and glue the vintage trim around the strap until it’s completely covered. (my strap was old & cracked & this completely fixed it!)

Chop off any excess plastic from the back of your blooms – they need to lay as flat as possible for stability.

Glue the faux flowers to the front of the outside of the bag.

So much better but not quite finished!

I deconstructed & reconstructed a couple of large faux flowers that I had scored at a recent swap.

And glued it to the front of the large clasp on the bag.

Pretty, pretty!

How fantastic is that bag?!

More proof that it’s super easy to upcycle & repair a preloved item into something stunningly unique and just your style!

Grab my vintage dress refashion below too!

Want me to continue sharing more fab free tutorials & thrifty fashion inspiration?

Check out just how easy it is to support my Confessions of a Refashionista and help me take my affordable sustainable style message to the next level & then continue your passion for upcycling and refashion with my Confessions of a Refashionista e-book series for less then a latte – also makes a fab thrifty gifty for anyone interested in sustainability and DIY!

 LET’S CONNECT: 

  

 

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Are you trying to shop ethical? Not sure whether your fave designers & products are sustainable?

Discover the truth behind high-end labels,  fast fashion brands & more with Rank a Brand!

Rank a Brand is an international community wanting to access and support honestly sustainable and ethically produced products and services. This non-governmental foundation was created to enable consumers to make responsible shopping choices and to put pressure on brands to become more sustainable, socially responsible and transparent. Founded in 2009, Rank a Brand has since become one of Europe’s largest searchable brand-comparison sites on sustainability and corporate social responsibility.

Is it really sustainable? Find out with Rank a Brand!

How it works:

Rankings are based on the answers to lists of very specific, closely targeted questions.

Each brand category has its own list of questions and all are assessed on their climate impact, environmental impact and labour conditions.

Any and all verifiable information, such as certification claims, are researched and checked for accuracy.

Rank a Brand updates their assessment data every two years minimum and, if at all possible annually as well as when new information is received from the public and from the brands themselves.

Each brand receives an online report card with an overall grade score: A for the most sustainable & ethical brands and E for brands that are the least ethical & sustainable:

Rank a Brand has an incredibly diverse & easily searchable database of brands ranking everything from expensive luxury designers to cheap fast fashion as well as body care, electronics and even food & beverages!

Unfortunately many consumers still continue to believe that an expensive, designer label = ethical & sustainable production methods. This is simply untrue and a myth that high end brands wish to continue which is why it’s so important to visit non-profit sites like Rank a Brand before buying to check out what’s actually going on behind the slick, green-washed advertising and media created by the brands, for the brands.

All of the luxury designer brands below have an ‘E’ rating – the lowest grade possible:

Unsurprisingly, most of these brands boast about their sustainability yet have absolutely zero proof to back up their claims. (Check out all of the expensive, designer labels with failing & incredibly low grades here – sadly there’s loads more!).

Stop falling into the trap of consumerism, think about how your clothing and products are made and take a few seconds to research a brand before buying with Rank a Brand.

Disclaimer: I am not at all an expert on the big business of fast fashion however I am a concerned consumer who has chosen to learn & share as much as I can through my own personal experiences & the wealth of resources available online.

My ambition to inform & influence others to step away from unethically (& immorally) produced products is the driving force that motivates me to continue providing fabulous free eco-fashion/accessory/decor tutorials, ethical outfit inspiration and helpful thrifting tips on my Confessions of a Refashionista & Refashion Nation blogs as well as contributing & sharing my creative skills throughout the online maker world.

  

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Have you had a chance to listen to my appearance on the Thrift Therapy podcast yet?

Discover more about yours truly as well as loads of tips & tricks as LaVee and I giggle & chat about Eco-Style, Refashioning & Poop with Thrift Therapy!

Grab all of the articles & DIY links mentioned in the podcast below:

Want more fab free tutorials, articles & thrifty fashion inspiration?

Check out just how easy it is to support my Confessions of a Refashionista and help me take my affordable sustainable style message to the next level & then continue your passion for upcycling and refashion with my Confessions of a Refashionista e-book series for less then a latte – also makes a fab thrifty gifty for anyone interested in sustainability and DIY!

 LET’S CONNECT: 

  

 

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