https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/some-recent-diy-projects-long Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sun, 05 Apr 2026 17:59:01 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/some-recent-diy-projects-long#post-2409751 Sun, 05 Apr 2026 17:33:59 +0000 Carla 2409751@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My only quibble with long skirts is the tripping hazard, and that’s personal to&nbsp;<b>me&nbsp;</b>‘cause I have an altered gait. &nbsp;I’m nervous with long dangling scarves, loose belts on coats, and dangling bits on purses/bags. &nbsp;It’s a hold-over from a career working in disability management that I see hazards everywhere! It’s&nbsp;<i>not&nbsp;</i>a poison eye! &nbsp;<div><br /></div><div>Chalk me up as a fan of your creativity and initiative, and a fellow linen lover. &nbsp;</p> <p></div> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/some-recent-diy-projects-long#post-2409746 Sun, 05 Apr 2026 16:12:19 +0000 kellygirl 2409746@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow! You are so clever and creative. Fab modifications and I love these saturated colors. I purchased I white cotton dress several years ago to dye and hope to get around to it one of these days. It was a Brooklyn inspired purchase/project because I love the teal blues you create. I think I got as far as looking at RIT on line. I love all of these but especially the teal skirt. SO FAB! You and Siena are gorgeous! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/some-recent-diy-projects-long#post-2409741 Sun, 05 Apr 2026 15:36:04 +0000 slim cat 2409741@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Fabulously executed project - beautiful new addition to your smart elegant summer collection! Love all the skirts - especially first brown/white printed and dyed purple skirt. All the outfits are so polished and detailed - joy to see and inspiration to follow!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/some-recent-diy-projects-long#post-2409737 Sun, 05 Apr 2026 14:13:14 +0000 Angie 2409737@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>(I am a billion percent with you on sun coverage with clothing!)&nbsp;</p> <p>In short:&nbsp;<i>I have yet to see anyone wear a casual maxi skirt as stylishly and elegantly as you! </i>:)&nbsp;</p> <p>*APPLAUSE*</p> <p>First, Siena is a DARLING!!! What a beautiful girl! First operation down and recovering sooo well! Thank goodness. Best of luck with round #2. What a brave sweetie she is. Sam and Jo send supportive snuggles. Heart melting how much she loves Mama.&nbsp;</p> <p>KILLER to the Power of KILLER all round, Queen DIY! Extremely impressive,<b> Brooklyn</b>!&nbsp;VERY clever and creative!!! AMAZING how well the dress a few sizes up converts into a skirt, and the pockets are in the a good place too! I like the architectural flare at the lower hip. You have an excellent eye!</p> <p>LOVE it all!!! My faves are: #4, 10, 14, 16 and &nbsp;#19, and they were hard to pick! This beachy look works flawlessly in Summer in your setting. (Sydney is a lot like Cape Town and I know it well).&nbsp;</p> <p>You also win the patience award for seeing through these not trivial wardrobe projects &nbsp;;)</p> <p>Glad you can enjoy the fruits of your labour!</p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/some-recent-diy-projects-long#post-2409736 Sun, 05 Apr 2026 14:02:42 +0000 bella 2409736@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow, this is truly amazing! I love how you don't let the clothes sold at retail boss you around. Instead, you bend them to your will! I can see how you invest a significant amount of time in each and every garment, but this makes them extra special! Moreover, you end up with something that is 100% to your specifications. Truly inspirational!&nbsp; </p> <p>And yes, I agree with Lisa. Your long skirts absolutely love you back! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/some-recent-diy-projects-long#post-2409734 Sun, 05 Apr 2026 13:23:18 +0000 LJP 2409734@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>These are ALL outstanding! &nbsp;And yes, while the long skirt look may not be popular on the forum , I think there are several reasons for that that have nothing to do with not liking it. &nbsp;I agree that it *is* an elegant and chic look and I'd love to dress like that, but I don't have the body type nor the lifestyle to make it work as well as you do. &nbsp;</p> <p>Anyways, the restyling of the Target dresses is a genius idea, and your creativity and persistence in searching out what you want clearly pays off. &nbsp;The teal skirt is my favourite because it's a slightly different take on the look - and the colour is so saturated and beautiful . </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/some-recent-diy-projects-long#post-2409733 Sun, 05 Apr 2026 13:19:45 +0000 Star (Lise) 2409733@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow you are so clever! Super creative. I love that you customise ready pieces. Siena is so loving, you are clearly best friends. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/some-recent-diy-projects-long#post-2409732 Sun, 05 Apr 2026 11:40:58 +0000 Brooklyn 2409732@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I wear a long skirt virtually everyday during summer and frequently in spring and autumn. I know maxi skirts have few friends here but I think they are casually elegant for summer. And I like the sun coverage. I hate having to slather my legs with sunblock. </p> <p>I prefer a full or a-line skirt for summer. For 3 or 4 years now, my go to everyday skirt has been a basque waist (or drop waist) skirt in linen from Australian retailer Seed. This style of skirt works for me because it is fitted at the hips. The fullness or flare of the skirt doesn’t start until the lower hip. I find it much more flattering than the style of skirt where the fullness starts at the natural waist.</p> <p>Anyhow, I have a few. They are starting to look a little tired (even with re-dyeing) and a bit worn, especially around the seams. I’ve been looking for replacements.</p> <p>I found what I needed at budget retailer Target. They had some smocked bodice dresses on clearance for $30-$40 (about 20-25 USD). 100% linen. I much prefer linen to any other fabric on my bottom half in our hot and humid summer. I love the way it softens with wear. I am at peace with the creasing.</p> <p>I saw the potential for the dresses to be turned into skirts. The smocking can be pushed down onto the hips to create the drop waist. I sized up a couple of sizes so that the smocking could slide easily over my hips. (It’s important with this style that it doesn’t cut into the hips.) I cut off the shoulder straps and inserted an elastic waist at the top of the smocked bodice. Some I also dyed. </p> <p>They came out really well! The smocking gives a nice texture and is a variation from the Seed skirts. The heathered effect of the dyed versions (see below) is pleasing. Easy to wear because of the stretchy, pull on style. They are also longer, which is my current preference, and they have pockets! For me, this has been much easier (and cheaper) than making the skirts from scratch.</p> <p>Pic 1: This is the Seed skirt I’m replacing. I wear mine lower on the hips than the model.</p> <p>Project #1 (pics 2-4). New batik print skirt. This was my first attempt at the new version. Worn in pic 4 with Frankie4 sandals (thanks for the recommendation Angie).</p> <p>Project #2-4 (pics 5-10). Dyed versions. I started with a wine coloured dress. The dress has a wine coloured thread interwoven with a white thread. When dyed, the 2 threads take up the colour differently. That leads to a lovely 2 tone, heathered effect. I made 3 different versions: dusty wine, deep aubergine (not shown) and dusty purple. The dusty purple version is my favourite. I’m thinking of making another one in copper brown.</p> <p>Project #5 (pics 11-16). Blue version. I hadn’t planned on adding a blue skirt to my wardrobe but the others worked out so well I decided to give it a try. It’s a change for me. Worn in pic 14 with a silk shibori scarf from the V&amp;A Museum in London.</p> <p>Project #6 (pics 17-21). Teal skirt. I wanted a new teal skirt but couldn’t find one in a suitable style. I was so pleased with the other skirts I tried another approach. This time I converted a linen sack dress (again, on clearance) into a skirt. I dyed it teal. It’s a different style from the others. Not a drop waist, not as full. I am pleased with how it turned out, even though the style is not as versatile for me. It is light and breezy. It has side slits which, on the original dress, were from the knee to mid calf. Because I turned it into a skirt, they now go from the mid calf to ankle. Good for walking.</p> <p>Pics 22-25: Some of the new skirts getting the Siena treatment. She is hard on my clothes but I wouldn’t have it any other way. She is having her second TPLO surgery next week. Wish us luck </p>