Goodbye Valentino

08 May Gilding the LILLY

Posted at 17:06h in Refashioning Clothes by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

If ever there was a dress that did not need to be remade it was this one; a Lilly Pulitzer sundress, circa 2003. I bought this cute dress for my older daughter when she was in high school. I’ve always loved it but she left it behind several years ago. I understand. Twenty-somethings don't want to wear 10- year old dresses, nor did I at that age. The dress isn’t my style or size, but I didn’t want to give it away. I decided a remake was in order, so I picked up my seam ripper and watched Diana Rupp’s Sewing Studio skirt tutorial...

04 May Once a Lilly, Always a Lilly

Posted at 06:52h in Refashioning Clothes by goodbyevalentino 89 Comments

For years I wanted to do something with this Lilly Pulitzer dress.I bought it in 2008 shortly before going on my first cruise. I had no idea what to take, and bought this from Lilly’s Resort collection. This shapeless dress made of heavy broadcloth hardly looks like Resort Wear on me.I suppose I’ve worn it enough to get my money’s worth, but I‘ve always felt dowdy and matronly in it. Within seconds of cutting off nine inches, the garment had a brand new look, much like one of those magical haircuts that bring out one’s best facial features. The project was pretty...

02 May McCalls 3830 + Craftsy Class

Posted at 15:54h in Craftsy, McCall's Sewing Pattern, sewing blog, skirt pattern by goodbyevalentino 21 Comments

Since the last post my sewing took a domestic turn in the form of window treatments for my daughter’s new apartment in Charleston. My husband and I drove down to check out her new home and help her settle in. I sewed, she pressed, he hung; a comical scene since our family isn’t exactly handy. Thirty-six hours later we congratulated ourselves on a job well done and headed for Edisto Beach. Shortly before leaving for Charleston, I decided to enroll in a much-needed sewing course. For months, maybe years, I’ve been looking for the perfect skirt pattern. I finally concluded the only...