thrifted style, upcycled scarf wrap, summer style, neons, tie dye tee shirt dress, preloved fashion, Shelbee on the Edge

The Thrifty Six: The Long and Short of It

May 15, 2023 / 12 Comments
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thrifted style, upcycled scarf wrap, summer style, neons, tie dye tee shirt dress, preloved fashion, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, upcycled scarf wrap, summer style, neons, tie dye tee shirt dress, preloved fashion, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, upcycled scarf wrap, summer style, neons, tie dye tee shirt dress, preloved fashion, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, upcycled scarf wrap, summer style, neons, tie dye tee shirt dress, preloved fashion, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, upcycled scarf wrap, summer style, neons, tie dye tee shirt dress, preloved fashion, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, upcycled scarf wrap, summer style, neons, tie dye tee shirt dress, preloved fashion, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, upcycled scarf wrap, summer style, neons, tie dye tee shirt dress, preloved fashion, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, upcycled scarf wrap, summer style, neons, tie dye tee shirt dress, preloved fashion, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, upcycled scarf wrap, summer style, neons, tie dye tee shirt dress, preloved fashion, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, upcycled scarf wrap, summer style, neons, tie dye tee shirt dress, preloved fashion, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, upcycled scarf wrap, summer style, neons, tie dye tee shirt dress, preloved fashion, Shelbee on the Edge

The long and short of it. It’s a phrase that I never use but when it came my turn to choose a theme for our next Thrifty Six style challenge, this 6 word string randomly kept popping into my head. I wasn’t even sure what it meant by definition, but it seemed great for a fashion prompt because it could be interpreted in so many different ways.

What does it mean exactly? According to Merriam-Webster, it is a phrase we use “when making a statement that is brief and that tells someone only the most important parts of something.” It basically refers to giving the gist of something without sharing all of the mundane details. The phrase has been dated to around 1500 when it was originally stated as the short and long of it. The short and long were transposed by the end of the 1600s leaving us with this current phrase that I doubt is in frequent use today. Like I said, it’s a phrase I never use, but maybe I will now that it has been brought to the forefront of my mind!

I am going to challenge myself beyond just styling a thrifty outfit and I am going to try stick to the long and short of it when sharing the details of my outfit in this post. I will likely fail, however, since I am a very wordy girl. And the long and short of it is that despite my attempts to be as concise as possible, I like words and I use a lot of them!

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thrifted style, upcycled scarf wrap, summer style, neons, tie dye tee shirt dress, preloved fashion, Shelbee on the Edge
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thrifted style, upcycled scarf wrap, summer style, neons, tie dye tee shirt dress, preloved fashion, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, upcycled scarf wrap, summer style, neons, tie dye tee shirt dress, preloved fashion, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, upcycled scarf wrap, summer style, neons, tie dye tee shirt dress, preloved fashion, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, upcycled scarf wrap, summer style, neons, tie dye tee shirt dress, preloved fashion, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, upcycled scarf wrap, summer style, neons, tie dye tee shirt dress, preloved fashion, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, upcycled scarf wrap, summer style, neons, tie dye tee shirt dress, preloved fashion, Shelbee on the Edge

The long and short of it is my mind has been swirling with creative ideas that required a sewing machine. So two weeks ago, I treated myself to a new Singer machine and I have been sewing stuff like crazy. Isn’t she pretty? She’s plain and super easy to use for a novice like myself. Since I brought her home, I have let down the hem in my living room lace curtains, I have made 3 different wraps from upcycled things, and I have turned 2 very unflattering dresses into gorgeous dusters that I am super excited to share in upcoming posts. So stay tuned for my creative craziness coming soon!

One result of my creative crazies is my new neon butterfly wrap which was my first sewing machine project. A few days before purchasing my new sewing machine, I stopped by the Thrifty Shopper for a quick browse looking for nothing in particular, except possibly a sewing machine! They did have one for a mere $15 but it didn’t look like it had all the stuff I needed. Being a beginner, I need all the help I can get including an owner’s manual! So I bypassed the old machine but I found these super bright neon scarves for 50 cents each and I thought they would make a super fun summer wrap.

The scarves are two different sizes with one being slightly wider and shorter than the other. I contemplated cutting them to the same size before sewing them together, but I was afraid to cut the delicate fabric which I am certain would fray like mad if I did. And then I would have had to hem all around the cut edges and I was not up for that challenge yet. The long and short of it is that I can’t sew a straight seam even if my life were dependent upon straight seams. My sewing skills are supremely limited but with practice I will improve! So for now, my creations will likely be all sorts of crooked and asymmetrical. But I am okay with that because I am a little crooked and asymmetrical, too!

So how does this upcycled scarf wrap meet the long and short theme? Well, like I said one scarf is slightly shorter than the other, making the other scarf slightly longer. Heh. Long and short. But also I layered the long scarf wrap over a short thrifted tie dye tee shirt dress. I absolutely loved the combination of bright green, yellow, and magenta for a vibrant summer outfit.

The only thrifted items in my outfit are my upcycled scarf wrap and my dress. My yellow sandals are old ones from Target and my jewelry is all from last year. I did recently add this adorable flower trimmed straw sun hat to my collection and it was so perfect with this outfit. I am thankful for the beautiful spring weather we have been experiencing these past few weeks. Unfortunately, it looks like it is going to be chilly again until Friday. But that’s okay. I have enough clothes for any and all weather!

thrifted style, upcycled scarf wrap, summer style, neons, tie dye tee shirt dress, preloved fashion, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, upcycled scarf wrap, summer style, neons, tie dye tee shirt dress, preloved fashion, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, upcycled scarf wrap, summer style, neons, tie dye tee shirt dress, preloved fashion, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, upcycled scarf wrap, summer style, neons, tie dye tee shirt dress, preloved fashion, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, upcycled scarf wrap, summer style, neons, tie dye tee shirt dress, preloved fashion, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, upcycled scarf wrap, summer style, neons, tie dye tee shirt dress, preloved fashion, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, upcycled scarf wrap, summer style, neons, tie dye tee shirt dress, preloved fashion, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, upcycled scarf wrap, summer style, neons, tie dye tee shirt dress, preloved fashion, Shelbee on the Edge

What do you think? Do you like my new butterfly wrap? Do you get cases of the creative crazies sometimes, too?

Now let’s see how my thrifty friends interpreted the long and short theme.

The Thrifty Six is a group of international fashion influencers who meet once a month in our little space on the internet to share our thrifty outfits. On the third Monday of every month, we will all share an outfit based on a theme that features preloved wardrobe pieces. Shopping and reselling preloved clothing is so much better for the environment and you can find some of the best fashions in thrift or charity shops. The Thrifty Six are here to inspire you to shop second hand! 

The Thrifters:

Emma of Style Splash
Style Splash
“This month’s theme of ‘The Long and Short of It’ immediately made me think of wearing something long and something short. Seems obvious, right? But then what short and long pieces to pair together? If in doubt start with something vintage. This skirt is part of a set, but I swapped the shirt for a sleeveless top with a gigantic bow. (But that’s not the short of the outfit because it’s not preloved). This cropped jacket however is one of my best preloved bargains; my mum found it in a charity shop for £1! It’s from Marks & Spencer’s Per Una range so it’s excellent quality. I finished off the look with my Vivaia mules and a fun telephone bag.”
-Emma
Grace of Graceful Rags
Graceful Rags
“I wasn’t sure what to make of ‘the long and the short of it’ theme (my dad will tell you I’m famously bad at euphemisms), but Jodie’s long skirt inspired me to finally break out this hand-me-down striped number. I tried styling it a few times over the winter but didn’t love the combinations—the waistline is too big and I didn’t want the skirt to hang awkwardly low on me. I decided to pair it with this new ruffle bodysuit instead, and I absolutely love the color combination! My vintage navy belt did just the trick to hold the skirt in place. Regarding the theme, I figured the skirt is long and my sleeves are short—grasping at straws, I know.”
-Grace
Jane of Preloved-Vintage-Handmade
Preloved-Vintage-Handmade
“Nothing if not literal…
This month’s T6 theme is ‘the long and short of it’.
An interesting turn of phrase that inspires numerous fashion ideas…
…there’s nothing clever here – it’s simple, obvious and completely literal…
Long boots, short shorts, job done!”
-Jane
Jodie of Jodie’s Touch of Style
Jodie’s Touch of Style
“Here’s my Long and Short of it.
I decided to break out this fantastic long skirt from a vintage online site and to make the proportions seem better, I paired it with a shorter jacket (also thrifted). In fact, every single thing is secondhand except my jewelry, glasses, and hair extensions!! I’ve become such a fan of longer skirts and sneakers and it made me smile when the 30-something waitress complimented my outfit.”
-Jodie

Nancy of Nancy’s Fashion Style
Nancy’s Fashion Style
“When I started working as a branch manager at a fashion store, I first received a month’s training in another shop than the one that would be mine. During that month, you weren’t allowed to make any purchases from the store, at least you didn’t get the 50% discount. And just during that month I saw the most beautiful dress! I was totally in love with it! But it was a pretty expensive one and I would get that discount after a few weeks. But I also knew that dress would no longer be there after a month. I think I drooled over the dress many times, because at one point my trainer said she would buy the dress for me with the discount and then I could pay her back. No sooner said than done. And I completely wore out that dress! A few years ago I came across the dress again on Vinted! And immediately bought it of course! The funny thing is that it has a long and a short hemline! So twice the long and short of it, because this story isn’t at the end yet! Read more on my blog.”
-Nancy
And Me!
thrifted style, upcycled scarf wrap, summer style, neons, tie dye tee shirt dress, preloved fashion, Shelbee on the Edge
“The long and short of it is that I went into the thrift store last week looking for nothing in particular when I spotted two neon scarves, one yellow and one green, hanging alone on a jewelry rack. I thought to myself, ‘Wouldn’t these make an awesome summer wrap if I sewed them together?’ The green scarf is longer and more narrow than the yellow scarf and the yellow scarf is shorter and wider than the green scarf…(long and short, short and long, you get the idea). I decided not to cut the scarves to make them even and opted instead for an asymmetrical wrap. It suits me better when it is a little crooked, I think! I layered it over a preloved tie dye tee shirt dress for a vibrant summer style.” 
-Shelbee

How did we do? How would you interpret this style prompt?

Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

Joining these Fabulous Link Parties.

Outfit Details: Scarf Wrap-Thrifted and Upcycled / Dress-Thrifted / Shoes-Target / Hat-Wona Trading / Tassel Necklace-Rainbow Zen (Gift from my kids) / Multi-strand Necklace and Earrings-Torrid

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.

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12 Comments

  • Michelle

    May 15, 2023 at 10:10 am Reply

    Isn’t upcycling fun? I love the whimsy of your new wrap and the neon colors. So smart not to tackle restructuring those seams. While I’ve been sewing (quilting) a long time, that would give me pause. And your wrap does look like a butterfly. So cool. I can’t wait to see your other upcycles!

    Michelle
    https://funkyfashionstyle.com

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      May 16, 2023 at 6:26 am Reply

      Thanks so much, Michelle! I am glad to know that a skilled seamstress would be hesitant to tackle restructuring these scarves. Although, I suppose if I had ruined them in the process, it only cost me $1! But instead of losing a dollar, I gained an awesome new butterfly wrap. Yay! I want to eventually work my way onto making patchwork things which I imagine would lead me straight into quilting at some point, too. I will just keep playing with my new machine and my crazy ideas and practice will get me there!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Marsha Banks

    May 15, 2023 at 8:33 pm Reply

    I love your butterfly shawl! And, I really love it with your tie-dyed dress! It’s supremely spring! I cannot wait to see what you whip up with your sewing machine. I miss having a dedicated sewing space in my house as I’m a very messy sewist! I like to spread everything out and about. I have a couple of projects in mind. I want to make a full slip with a wide lace band at the bottom, but I’m wondering if, in the long run, it wouldn’t be less expensive to just buy one. Because I already sew, I wouldn’t be doing it for the fun of it.

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      May 16, 2023 at 6:21 am Reply

      Thanks so much, Marsha! I am having so much fun sewing things right now. For a brief moment, I thought Jeff might get a little upset with me for spending $150 on a whim. But we both see the benefit already! He wants a Grateful Dead shower curtain when I do the bathroom makeover. So I am going to make one. Although I could probably buy one of those for cheaper, too! And I might if I can’t find fabric that we like. I also plan to make new curtains for our bedroom which I am in the process of painting this week. And a slip cover for a beat up old ottoman in our bedroom. Also, Jeff will be making a palette platform for our bed instead of a bed frame. I am super excited for that!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • jodie filogomo

    May 15, 2023 at 8:48 pm Reply

    Congrats on your sewing machine. I feel like it’s very freeing to be able to sew, whether you want to make your own pieces or alter things. and the best part when it’s just for you is that it doesn’t have to be perfect. But this wrap is perfect and I’m giving you a standing ovation,
    XOOX
    Jodie

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      May 16, 2023 at 5:57 am Reply

      Awww, thanks so much, Jodie! Seriously, the creative ideas are swarming in my head like crazy. I don’t even know where to begin. I am painting my bedroom this week but today is a rest day for my shoulders so I might dig in my closet room for more things to alter or upcycle! It is very liberating to make my visions come to life!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      May 24, 2023 at 9:48 am Reply

      Thanks so much, Emma! I am having so much fun with my sewing machine! I think you can find tutorials on YouTube for most sewing machines. I had completely forgotten how to use one so I had to watch a video to figure how to turn the thing on, thread it, and actually sew with it. Haha.

      xoxo
      Shelbee

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