Florals? For Spring? …Groundbreaking.
“Florals? For Spring? …Groundbreaking.”
Take a look at these beauties! They are Floral with a capital F. They are also 100% silk.
I got them in the Save the Children shop in Whitby a really long time ago, but the swing tag is missing, so I can’t remember how much I paid. It was less than £5.
Inspiration for this project came from Stella McCartney Spring (“Resort?!”) 2013, also seen on Kirsten Dunst. It’s an interesting look – and it takes a brave person to wear matching florals – but it’s so fashion forward I just couldn’t resist. The top and shorts can always be worn separately.
I began cutting, really hoping there was enough for the shorts and the top.
For the shorts, once they were cut to a roughly correct length, there was still the problem of taking them in. Not a straightforward dilemma. Especially since they are lined.
There is a zip up one side meaning it would have been complicated to take these in at the sides.
The simplest solution was therefore to take them in at the front and back at the crotch seam. You can see above that I pinned out quite a lot at the back and a reasonable amount at the front.
I then sewed a new crotch seam based on the position of the pins. (See below, this is one leg tucked into the other to show the crotch seam).
Then I cut off the excess and finished the seams with the overlocker, treating the lining as an underlining, and made a narrow hem on each leg.
The top was more straightforward. I had the offcuts from the trousers which were essentially two tapered tubes. I opened up the inside leg seam on both pieces:
I selected the piece with the most pleasing section of print for the front and sewed shoulder and side seams with the pieces right side together. Not forgetting to leave armholes and a neckhole! I actually left a small (2″) slit at the bottom of each side seam so that I could get it on and off. Here it is, one of the simplest things I’ve made so far.
Here is how the two pieces look together. Pretty smart! Although I have to confess that I have not worn the two pieces together since these pictures were taken… though I wore the shorts lots on my trip (you’ve already had a sneak preview here).
Charity Shop Chic 
Utterly ingenious, as ever! I didn’t believe you would get a top out of those trouser legs but that makes an amazing outfit for the brave. You look great in it BTW.
Thanks very much — you are right though, you have to be really brave to wear this. In truth the shorts got lots of wear on the trip but the top was only worn for these pictures!
I actually really love this outfit (worn together, but I’m sure as separates too) even though I was unsure when I first saw the trousers! How you managed to get a top squeezed out of them too is beyond me…bravo!!! And how come you always have the best photo backdrops, being nosy I’d love to know how you get to travel so often ;o)
Haha thanks, Marie! Yep, the trousers were pretty nauseating, but I like to think my version is an improvement! I am sure I can wear the top with a black skirt or something to make it a bit less crazy.
I know I am lucky to travel so often… I travel often for both work and holiday purposes. It’s got to the point where I can’t sew enough to keep up with all the trips… I know – poor me!
Your version is more then an improvement, your version is lovely! Lucky you indeed on the travel front and I admire your sewing productivity considering how often you must be away from your sewing machine!
:-)
I would have never thought that you could make a top out of pants. How you come up with these beautiful changes is amazing.
Thank you Foster, there was not much left of the trousers but happily it was just enough!
Goodness me well done, that looks really good!! I too didn’t think you would have enough fabric for the top but you wrangled it – superb !
Cheers
Lori
coolgreendays.blogspot.com
Thanks! There almost wasn’t enough material… it helps that the trousers sit high on the waist so the top didn’t have to be as long :)
This is amazing. Your version looks better than the Stella McCartney. I don’t know whether it was intentional but the slight upward swoop of the top hem and the downward curve of the shorts hem (toward the center) is super elegant.
Thank you so much, Gwen. I liked the slight upwards curve on the top too, but it’s completely unintentional — the top is literally just the off cuts of the trousers sewn together. The downward curve on the shorts is created by cutting them off close to the crotch at right angles to the inside leg. I daresay it would have taken more skill to cut these so the lines were all horizontal. Thanks for noticing :)
So gorgeous! Amazing refashion once again!
Thank you so much!
I wouldn’t have the gall to wear them together either. I especially love the shorts though, they would be perfect with a simple tank on a hot summer day, and the top would look great with a pencil skirt I bet!
Also: the new layout is really nice! Keep up the awesome work! :)
Haha I know! I am going to try the top with something black, and the shorts work with the yellow shirt from a few posts ago. Really glad you like the new layout too. It was time for an update :)
It never would have occurred to me to try to get a top out of the trouser off-cuts–if it were me, I’d have made a matching clutch or something. Now I’m regretting (a little) a pair of lovely but huge pants I passed up on my last trip to the thrift store!
Run back and get those trousers! Now you know what to do with them :)
Great save,fresh and youthful.
Thank you Sheila!
Once again an awesome refashion! This looks so lux resortwear. I always look at what you are working with and think, “how is she going to have enough fabric?” You have outdone yourself this time–this one’s going into the favorites category. Great job.
Thank you Shelley! I was definitely going for ‘lux resortwear’ — and the pool backdrop really helps ;-)
There was barely a scrap of fabric left from these trousers, but I did cheat a bit by buying trousers that were a bit big to start with.
Thanks for reading!
Cute, and flattering! You did a lovely job!
Thanks, Heather!
I raised an eyebrow in the opening comments that you would get a top and shorts out of it and, whad-dya-know, you did it. Very sharp looking refashion, looks great on you and seems quite perfect for spring.
Never underestimate a refashionista ;-)
Thanks for reading lialou!
That has to be the most amazing use of off-cuts I’ve ever seen. I doubted that you could get a wearable top out of the remnants without pairing them with some other fabric, but you managed to do it nicely – well done!
Thanks! It’s a pretty basic top, and is only just long enough, but it works!
Amazing! Great job!
Thanks!
I think your version is so much nicer than Stella McCartney’s and poor Kirsten Dunst looks like she has just got out of bed.
Thanks for the kind comment, Vonnie. I think Kirsten Dunst always looks like that… I had to chop her ugly shoes off the bottom of the picture ;-)
Oh I love this! Printed florals are one of my favourite looks and I can’t believe you managed to get a top out of the trousers, as well as the shorts!
Thanks! It’s a very ‘directional’ look but I love it! Just need to muster the courage to wear it now!
Awesome!!!!
Thanks :)
Very clever refashion!!! I’m amazed at how you made a top out of the legs!!!
Thanks Pam! There was only just enough material – luckily!
What an amazing transformation. Fantastic work, yet again.
Thank you :)
Just like to say that I really enjoy reading your blog! It’s been a while since I last checked in but I always leave incredibly inspired and wanting to start up a project of my own. Amazed at the level of work and skill you put into all your refashions!
Thank you very much for commenting, Maria. I am so glad you are enjoying reading. :)
Looks like an expensive outfit. You look great in it!
Thank you very much! :)
Lady…you make me look like a total slackass. ;) GORGEOUS. STEALING!!!
HAHAHA by all means, steal away! :-D
Glad you liked it… but I doubt anyone could make you look like a slackass – you refashion on a daily basis!! I can barely get round to once a week!
Oh my gosh. Amazing. So inspiring
Thank you so much!