Thankful & Blessed Frankenstein Dress for Thanksgiving Day
Happy Thanksgiving to all of my American friends! I am wishing you all a day filled with love, laughter, and lots of gratitude. Today, I am grateful for very many things. You know, the traditional gratitude things…my family, my friends, my health, my home, my security. And my sewing machine! Because my sewing machine has helped me to save so many things from Destination Landfill. A pile of graphic tee shirts that I never reach for and a heap of maxi skirts that don’t fit have been turned into a unique collection of adorable dresses that I love to wear.
Do you remember my DIY Frankenstein dress from late summer? I have made six of these dresses so far including the Vintage Soul one that I wore for my Holly Hobbie Style Imitating Art challenge. This is the third one that I am sharing, so I need to get to work posting the other three. I also have three other skirts and tee shirts set aside to become Frankenstein dresses as well.
In case you are wondering what the heck a Frankenstein dress is, my elder son coined the term when I made my first dress. A Frankenstein dress is simply one which is made by combining parts of other clothing to make something new in a manner similar to the way Dr. Frankenstein combined parts of dead people to create his monster. It’s not a very appealing term for a super cute dress, but I like it anyway so I will forever use it!
So let me tell you about this particular Frankenstein dress. This one is crafted from a graphic tee that I received three years ago as part of a brand collaboration and a really old skirt that I bought on super duper clearance about eight years ago.
I like the tee shirt well enough but I just don’t wear graphic tees all that frequently anymore. I once had an over the top obsession with graphic tees, amassing a huge collection of them (no surprise there). As a result, I now have a large bin filled with tops donning inspirational sayings and interesting graphics that are being transitioned from tee shirts I wear to things I will upcycle. The whole concept of upcycling is very Frankenstein-ish, isn’t it?
I have always loved this skirt with its bold color palette, handkerchief hem, and bohemian print, but it never really fit me properly. I think I bought it a size too large and then I lost quite a bit of weight which ultimately made the skirt seem even larger. But I could never purge the thing because it is just so darn pretty!
For all of my other Frankenstein dresses, I had to cut the waistband off the skirt first, but this one was large enough for the waistband to fit over my shoulders so I was able to leave it in tact. I think it gives it a really nice clean finished look compared to my other Frankenstein dresses.
In keeping with the color scheme of shades of red and blue, I layered on a combination of a plaid duster and one of my favorite scarves ever and added my red cowgirl boots, my red and turquoise Panama hat, and handmade copper earrings painted in red and turquoise.
I think this might be my favorite Thanksgiving outfit ever! However, I won’t be wearing it today because we are skipping Thanksgiving and doing some fall cleaning in the house instead. We will be celebrating tomorrow, however, with a grand sushi dinner! I suppose I will put this dress on for the occasion.
If you have skirts and tees that you no longer wear and want to turn them into one- of-a-kind wearable dresses, I followed this tutorial by Orly of The DIY Designer. She has lots of really fabulous upcycle ideas on her YouTube channel. So stay tuned for more Frankenstein dresses and other upcycle projects from me. And have a beautifully blessed day whether you celebrate Thanksgiving or not!
Keeping it on the edge,
Shelbee
Joining these Fabulous Link Parties.
Outfit Details: Dress-Upcycled by me from a Tee Shirt (Bellelily) and Skirt (Cato) / Duster-Torrid / Boots-Country Outfitter / Hat-Wona Trading / Earrings-A Local Jewelry Artist / Necklace-Moodtide Arts / Scarf- Rosegal
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.
14 Comments
Anne M Bray
Between the Franken-dresses and the Raggery curtains, you wear the Upcycling Crown!
When I first glanced at the photos, I thought All The Things were in the one dress. Haha.
It’s a wonderful combination. Brings joy to my pattern-max heart.
Happy T-day to you and fam. We’re flying east today – Severo has a gig in Asbury Park NJ tomorrow. Then 3 days of NYC! Whooee!
xo
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Gahhhhh, thanks so much, my friend! Now I need to make myself an Upcycling Crown out of rags! I did not think this Frankendress was going to turn out as well as it did. As it was hanging with the others in my closet, it was probably my least favorite of them. But after I wore it and took the photos, it might have moved to my most favorite spot! But I haven’t shared them all yet. There’s another Frankendress that I shared today.
I hope you and Severo had an easy day of travel yesterday. And I wish you an amazing time in NYC this weekend, you brave souls! Happy Thanksgiving to you all as well. I am very grateful for our friendship!
xoxo
Shelbee
Emma Peach
Such a gorgeous outfit, I love the colours! You did a fantastic job with this dress! Happy Thanksgiving!
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you so much, Emma! These colors really made me feel joyful! I hope you have a most wonderful weekend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Marsha Banks
You are creating the best Frankenstein dresses, Shelbee! This one may be my favorite of the ones you’ve shared. I love it with this plaid duster! And, that hat is fabulous!!!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving whenever you end up celebrating it!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Aww, thanks so much, Marsha! I think this is my favorite Frankenstein dress, too! But I do kind of love them all. They are so comfy and make me so happy because I made them myself. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, my friend.
xoxo
Shelbee
Nancy
Sushi dinner? I’ll be coming over!
What a great looking dress! And how good of you to make it so pretty. The colours are also perfect together. I really love this dress, especially with the gorgeous boots. Enjoy your festivities today!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Nancy! I made pasta with meatballs for Thanksgiving dinner last night but I am super excited for sushi today! I also found two vegan dessert recipes that I tried and both were so delicious. I can eat desserts now! Yay!
xoxo
Shelbee
Suzy Turner
Shelbee, I think I love this one even more than the other one I just commented on!! These colours together are simply DIVINE!! Happy Thanksgiving, my friend!
Hugs
Suzy xx
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Awww, thanks so much, Suzy! I absolutely adore this color combination, too! This Frankendress was not my favorite at first, but it has moved its way up the list! I am very grateful for you and our friendship this Thanksgiving!
xoxo
Shelbee
Michelle
I am totally loving this “Frankenstein” dress and the concept itself. Comseqently, I am amassing a pile for upcycling myself. It remains just a pile at the moment. My mom had hip issues and ultimately a hip replacement and that has taken my attention as of late. But she is doing well and on the mend. Your Frankenstein dresses have turned out so beautifully, I hope my do too. Can’t wait to get started.
xoxo
Michelle
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Oh, I am so excited that you are upcycling some old things into Frankendresses, too! I can’t wait to see them! I am sorry that your mom was having some issues but super happy to hear that she is on the mend and recovering well. I hope you have a wonderful weekend, my friend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Michelle
Thanks so much! And my apologies for the typos. Gah!
Michelle
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Hahaha. Typos shmypos. Who cares?! I knew what you were saying!
xoxo
Shelbee