Hi all

I’ve been doing quite a bit of clothing repurposing and rejuvenating this year. Trying to get more out of my wardrobe. And buy less.

I have a few dresses that are not working out for me for various reasons. I’ve been thinking that they could work better for me as skirts.

I am a big fan of skirts. I find them more versatile than dresses because of the greater mix and match potential. I can also wear patterns and colours in skirts that I don’t necessarily want to wear all over or next to my face.

It’s fairly easy to convert a dress to a skirt. I did it by hand using elastic around the waist. My sewing skills are basic and not very pretty, but it doesn’t matter because I’m not planning to show the waistline.

First cab off the rank: Zara knit dress.

I bought this a few years ago when earthy colours were hard to find and I was missing them. I liked the graphic pattern and I am always a sucker for a knit.

But it was a mistake. I ended up not liking the deep v at the back (my back is not attractive). And the cap sleeves and v back are not great for layering underneath. Plus it was snug all over.

I never wore it. Tags still on. Guilty feelings

After I converted it to a skirt, I wore it the next day. Happy feelings

First wear - on a cold night with black boots and black pleather sleeved jacket. (The jacket is a few years old now but still going strong. I wash it in the machine!)

Second wear - daytime with bronze metallic jumper, DIY bronze boots and definitely not machine-washable leather jacket.

It’s now a more casual piece, which makes it more suited to my lifestyle.

I have 2 more dresses to convert:
* a too short boxy tunic dress that I am going to make into a long enough skirt (by cutting the waistband at the bust)
* a too much pattern maxi dress

What do you think?