A New Twist on an Old Tunic
I bought this tunic last year from Old Navy but I never wore it much because every time I put it on the length and volume overwhelmed my body to the point of complete frumpiness! I really wanted to wear this top though the other day because it was pouring rain and I loved the pattern paired with my pink and black floral rain boots. I thought if I layered it over leggings and added my boots, it would look more like a cute dress. But again, frump-ville. So I started playing with the front of the tunic in an attempt to give it some shape.
First I knotted it at the side, but it is so long that it just looked kind of sloppy. Then I tried to tie a knot right in the middle like you would a button down, but the knot hung just at the wrong place right between my legs. Super awkward and weird.
Then I recalled this adorable little cinching hack that Christy of R Squared demonstrated to prevent a maxi dress from dragging on the ground. She gathered a bunch of fabric from underneath the skirt and cinched it with a hair tie on the underside. So I thought I would try this on the front of my tunic…and it created this adorable little cinched front effect. I did have to knot the two little hanging ends together and tuck them under, but I love the way it turned out! My frumpy tunic has been transformed in a super cute high-low type of shirt with a gathered front and long back!
After adding a pair of black skinny jeans, a bright scarf, and my old and trusty rain boots, I was ready to tackle the rainy day!
Do you have any cinching tricks that transform an otherwise ordinary and unflattering piece of clothing?
Keeping it on the edge,
Shelbee
Linking up with: These Fabulous Link Ups Where I Link Up
Outfit Details: Tunic-Old Navy / Jeans-Target / Boots-Payless / Scarf-Old / Necklace-Gift Shop in Iceland
60 Comments
Laura
I never would have thought to cinch something like that! How fun and I love the result!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Me neither, Laura! And then I remembered reading about it on another blog. After playing around and scrunching my shirt all up, I found this brilliant solution! I am excited to reinvent some other old tunics in my closet now! Thanks for stopping by!
xoxo
Shelbee
Kathrine Eldridge
I love that you knotted the tunic to make it fit your body better. Great styling! I adore those boots too. 🙂
http://www.kathrineeldridge.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Kathrine! I am so glad I went outside the box on this one because I love the way it turned out! Thanks for stopping by!
xoxo
Shelbee
Amanda
Love the knot detailing! It definitely makes the tunic more interesting!
Xoxo,
Amanda
trulyyoursa.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Amanda! I am definitely going to experiment more with my tunics to make them look a bit more interesting!
xoxo
Shelbee
Rena
I love the idea of temporarily or permanently transforming clothes through a little bit of nip and tuck. So much so, I’m thinking a doing a series on it. Your ‘twist’ on it with the tunic looks fabulous. Bravo!
Rena
http://finewhateverblog.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Rena! That sounds like an interesting and fun series! I will be sure to look for it.
xoxo
Shelbee
Amy Arnold
I think tunics are tricky myself. This is a great way to style it.
Amy Ann
Straight A Style
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you, Amy!
xoxo
Shelbee
Sabrina Kwan
Haaa, I see what you did there with the title. Clever way to revive an old piece! Loving that scarf too.
Sincerely,
Sabrina
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you, Sabrina! I thought I was quite clever, too! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
xoxo
Shelbee
Leah
I love re-working items! Such a cute look!
xx Leah / http://www.eatpraywearlove.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you, Leah!
xoxo
Shelbee
Tara
Such a genius idea! It looks great, and I love the print!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Tara! And thank you for stopping by.
xoxo
Shelbee
Ingrid @ Fabulous and Fun Life
What a clever cinching trick! I love it!
Ingrid
http://www.fabulousandfunlife.blogspot.com.au
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you, Ingrid! I am so glad I stumbled upon it at R Squared!
xoxo
Shelbee
Debbie Stinedurf
Omg…Shelbee this is genius!! It looks super cute. I’m going to have to try this on my maxi skirts, since they are all five miles too long on me!
Debbie
http://www.fashionfairydust.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Debbie, I cannot wait to see how this trick looks on your maxi skirts! Thanks for visiting!
xoxo
Shelbee
Johanna Grange
What a fun print! Happy Hump Day!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you, Johanna!
xoxo
Shelbee
jodie filogomo
Fabulous idea—see, another good reason to read blogs!!
jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Jodie! And so true! I get so many fabulous ideas and inspirations from my blogger friends!
xoxo
Shelbee
Erica
Smart idea!! Tunics can really be so hard because they don’t hug the body at all. This solves that dilemma!
Erica
http://www.pumpsandpushups.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Erica! I know…problem solved!
xoxo
Shelbee
Shaunacey
I used Christy’s trick with a skirt recently and it was PERFECT!!! Never thought to do it with a shirt!! smart
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
So awesome that you used the same trick! I am really loving the way it looks with a shirt. Thanks for stopping by, Shaunacey!
xoxo
Shelbee
Karen Shannon
Love the way how you restyle it! Nice! 🙂
Stay in Style
Karen @ Lookbook Store Blogspot
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Karen! I’m so glad I was able to figure out a way to revamp this top!
xoxo
Shelbee
Mai
I love this! Thanks for sharing and keep up the fantastic posts!
xx Ohiamiht Blog
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Mai! I’m glad you are enjoying them! Thank you for reading.
xoxo
Shelbee
Mónica Sors
Like your top, dear 😉
xx
Mónica Sors
MES VOYAGES À PARIS
NEW POST: WITH GUERLAIN IN MARRAKECH
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you, Monica!
xoxo
Shelbee
Uzo O
Sometimes i buy stuff and then never get to wear it because of one thing or the other. I love how you combined the tunic with the scarf. So pretty.
http://www.stylenbeautylounge.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
It’s all about thinking outside the box, I think, and finding ways to style pieces that work for you! Thanks for stopping by and thank you for the compliment, Uzo!
xoxo
Shelbee
Hun
You look really lovely and I’m loving your blog! xoxo
http://www.myinfinitystyle.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Hun! That is so sweet! Thank you for stopping by!
xoxo
Shelbee
Terri Gardner
Great idea! And it looks great on you!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Terri!
xoxo
Shelbee
Erica Zar
What a cute and clever idea!! You look great and I just adore the rain boots!!
Wishing you a great day!
xo, Erica
Casually Styled
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Erica! These old boots are definitely keepers! Super comfy and bright…perfect for a rainy day!
Thank you for stopping by!
xoxo
Shelbee
Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom
What a cute and unique idea to add a ‘twist’ to this tunic! Love it! I also love those fun rain boots!!!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Carrie! I literally just cleaned out about 5 pairs of rain boots, and these are one of only two pairs that made the cut!
xoxo
Shelbee
Sarah @ Foxy's Domestic Side
I love that you used Christy’s tip to tie it off 🙂 Looks great, and can I say that I absolutely LOVE your hair, that color, gorgeous!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Sarah! Christy’s tip is amazing! But I am actually contemplating making my hair black again! I had black hair for so long that I still just don’t feel like myself with the red! Thank you for the lovely compliment!
xoxo
Shelbee
Jill
What a genius idea! Love the print of your tunic and your pretty scarf!
Jill
Doused In Pink
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Jill! I can’t wait to try this trick on other tunics!
xoxo
Shelbee
Ashley
Sometimes you have to take a piece into your own hands and make it work for YOU. Kudos, lady!
-Ashley
Le Stylo Rouge
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Ashley! And thank you for stopping by!
xoxo
Shelbee
Lee
Such a unique tying technique! Cool!
Xo
Lee | LegalLee Blonde
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Lee. I am super glad this trick worked out and gave new life to my tunic!
xoxo
Shelbee
Nora Minassian
Cute tunic and it looks great with your scarf.
Nora
http://www.jacketsociety.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you, Nora! And thanks for stopping by!
xoxo
Shelbee
Rina
Loving how you tied your scarf around you next that way! Neck ties are so in right now <3
xoxo
Rina
http://www.andshedressed.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks much, Rina! I love experimenting with new ways of wearing scarves!
xoxo
Shelbee
Jane
What a cool idea! I hadn’t seen that post before, so thanks for sharing :). I love the print on your tunic, and I think you did a great job using the trick to make it work for you in a way that you felt more comfortable in it!
Jane
http://www.unextraordinarilyjane.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you, Jane! I was super happy with how this trick turned out! Thanks for stopping by!
xoxo
Shelbee
Happiness at Mid Life
What a clever way to wear a tunic. I have a tunic that I don’t wear for the same reasons so I have to give this a try.
Thank you for hosting and hope you are having a fab week!
Alice
http://www.happinessatmidlife.com
Hope to see you Thursday for TBT Fashion link up.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Alice, I hope you write a post with your take on the tunic twist! I would love to see it! Thanks for stopping by.
xoxo
Shelbee