Thursday 15 September 2011

The Refashioners Challenge Plus Giveaway!!!

A couple of months ago, fellow Essex-girl and refashioning genius Miss P had an awesome idea to encourage would-be refashioners and spread some inspiration. Her plan was to invite a clutch of sewing bloggers (any idea of the correct collective noun?!) to tackle a mystery secondhand garment selected and sent by Miss P herself. The refashioners were to remake their item, document the process and write a report. I was lucky enough to have been asked, along with some other talented sewer/bloggers Tilly, Casey, Karen, Dixie and Miss P herself. Well, I kind of roped Miss P in actually. I didn't think it was fair that she should be left out of all the sewing fun simply because she wasn't able to send herself a mystery package!

Well, when my garment arrived I was more than a little shocked to find a kilt! A ladies kilt-style skirt to be precise. It was a seriously hefty garment, with seams that were almost impossible to unpick. It took me quite a while to figure out how to approach the garment to turn into something more attractive and wearable. I felt a little pressure as I knew my refashion was going to be plastered across Miss P's lovely blog, plus I knew the point of this project was to provide inspiration for refashioners, not leave them questioning if remaking garments is worth the hassle.

So as you can see, the original garment was a fairly unflattering below-knee buckle fastened skirt. You can read a full description of the process this garment went through here. The final result:

I wanted to stamp a little of my personal style on the garment, which was an extra challenge as this garment isn't something I would be drawn to in a charity shop. My natural reaction was to make something with a bit of a vintage feel. I'm a big fan of wiggle-inducing pencil skirts, so I thought it'd be fun to aim for that but to encorporate the pleats into a fish tail effect which fans out in a cheeky way when the wearer walks. It's easy to forget that garments are actually often worn on a moving body rather than by someone only standing still, so it's nice to make something which is enhanced by movement.

Now, when I started this refashion I had a few reservations about how it would turn out. But I feel happier with the result that I could have hoped for. It's still recognisable as a kilt-style skirt, but it's received an injection of sexy sassiness that'll make it so much more fun to wear. I just don't think I'm the one to wear it. I have totally bonded with this garment, despite our initial unfamiliarity. Our 'journey' has brought us close, but I just don't have the lifestyle where I could see myself getting hardly any use from it. As I have stated before, I have enough skirts already that aren't getting worn. Also, I live in a little one bed flat with my boyfriend and I really need to keep my quantity of possessions in check because we are already somewhat engulfed. Plus I don't want to see my hard work gather dust.

The logical move is to offer it up in a giveaway! I'm not really sure what size you would say it is, but it fits me well and I'm a 30" waist and 40" hips. So if you've got the junk to fit this trunk and can promise me it will see the light of day with vague regularity, then I suggest you leave me a comment telling me why you should own this skirt. This giveaway will close at midnight GMT on Sunday 18th September, after which I will choose a winner and email them for their address and post it to them. REMEMBER: if you are going to make the effort to enter this giveaway, then leave an email address for me to contact you. I do not have the time or inclination to hunt through cyber-space trying to track down someone's contact deets. GOOD LUCK!!!!

24 comments:

Ivy Black said...

Flippin' brilliant job...it looks gorgeous. And what a difference. I'm so up for this giveaway, if I won it would be the skirt I wear all autumn and winter. And when anyone asked me about it I would tell them exactly how it came to be and show off your talents on your behalf. I love it!
xx

Anonymous said...

I seriously LOVE this, especially the detail in the back.

Kat said...

This skirt is amazing! I really need some more interesting clothes for work and I think this skirt would be perfect.

Unknown said...

This skirt is amazing!!! Would look awesome with the autumnal colours were starting to see in Essex!!

House of Pinheiro said...

Great refashion... Oh I wish I could had done the challenge too...

Coastalharp said...

It's my birthday (on the 19th) and I'm Scottish. And I'm an activities director for senior citizens....they would love this skirt...and I love the skirt! but if it fits you...I don't think it will fit me. :(

Anjomo said...

I absolutely love this skirt! The fishtail effect you created is beautiful and I love the bright blue. Why I should own this skirt? Because I'm in desperate need of a skirt which I can wear in autumn and/ or winter. And those are really long where I live. Last year we had six months with snow.. so a warm colorful skirt would really be appreciated.

Lavender and Twill said...

~ * ♥ * ~

This gorgeous kilt skirt needs to come home with me because a}. I'm Scottish so naturally it is perfect, and b}. because I love the colors and the styling!

I think you did an absolutely superb job at restyling the kilt and I would love to prance around in this skirt in my high heels in the middle of winter and cheer everyone up with it's pretty colors. Plus, then I can tell everyone how awesome up-cycling is and why I aspire to be able to do it myself someday. :D

xox,
bonita of Depict This!

bonita{at}bdotdepictions.com
~ * ♥ * ~

Social Historian said...

I don't want to enter the giveaway but just wanted to say what an awesome job on the kilt, I especially like what you did with the pleats!

I had a skirt length of tartan in my hand today, found lurking in my children's fabric stash, evidently a bit lost. I considered a skirt and, deciding I wouldn't wear it, am instead using the fabric to make a '50s bolero from a pattern that arrived last week. Felt kinda serendipitous y'know!

jessica said...

Zoe, that is the best refashion I have seen in a LONG ASS time, and I am not one given to hyperbole!

That said, it is unfortunately not my size so I cannot enter myself in the drawing. Actually, when I first saw it on Miss P's blog I was thinking that I hope you whip it out for SSS because it looks AMAZING. But ... I'm sure it will find a good home!

Rosesred said...

I won't fit in to the skirt (well, maybe if I hold my breath), but it's an absolutely lovely creation. The fishtail back is inspired, and I'm going to replicate it on my next pencil skirt.

Macska said...

Gorgeous skirt! And just my size too. :-) (If you don't mind sending it to the other side of the world, that is...?)

Macska at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I LOVED this refashion when I saw it on Miss P's blog - just love how you did the fishtail at the back.

And I would really love to win this skirt - it's completely my style...and bonus - my size!!!

Keeping my fingers crossed :)

Anonymous said...

Ah, if only my post baby waist was smaller. Only my hips would fit! It's an amazing skirt though and I'm on the look out for one so that I can emulate this amazing refashion!

Bella said...

It's great Zo. Really cute & stylish. I'd wear it a lot but I'm not sure it will fit. Whomever wins it will love it, I'm sure. Thanks for sharing.

Meg the Grand said...

I don't know if us international folks are allowed to enter the giveaway, but if so, OMG PLEASE LET ME WIN!!! It's gorgeous, love the fishtail, and those are my measurements too!! The plaid is positively divine, and I have shoes that would be perfect. I am already plotting my Autumn ensembles :) Thanks for sharing this fabulous refashion!!!

Host-It Notes said...

Fun project and fun giveaway! I think I'd even fit it! hostess {at} host-itnotes.com.

prttynpnk said...

Wow- you really brought this up style wise- love it!

sorbetsurprise said...

I love it! Great remake, I wouldn't have thought of doing that. I would like to enter to win as most of my skirts are short summery ones and I love wearing skirts but this is a more autumn/winter style which is great!

seeks said...

This skirt is beautiful and sexy! It's too bad it's not my size. You don't have to include me in the giveaway, but I at least wanted you to know how amazing I think this is. I want to go look for kilts at the thrift store now to make my own!

Nichole said...

I love this!!!! And I'm so glad to hear that we're the same size, because that means it will fit me!

nichole (dot) dovedesigns (at) gmail (dot) com

Katrina said...

The skirt is fantastic. Very va va voom for a kilt. I would love to wiggle into it.

Stephanie said...

I love this skirt and it's such a nice idea to give it away instead of having it gather dust in your closet when you know you are not going to wear it. I should start doing this with my homemade clothes, too. I fit the measurements to a tee so I'd totally be up for this skirt and could wear it in work. So please count me in, my email is stephanieflora AT gmail DOT com.

Zoe said...

Thanks everyone for your comments and your entries. It's lovely to know that this skirt has so many appreciative potential owners. It was very hard to pick one person, but I have done so. Sorry to those who weren't successful.

All the best
Zo xxx

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...