WELCOME

Hello! I'm Suzannah, a serious DIYer and mom of two little ones. Follow along with my DIY fixer upper house renovations, sewing and crafty projects, real food recipes, and de-stressing goals.
I believe you can love your home just the way it is, AND have the power to design and make big changes to make it better.
I'm also the author of DIY Wardrobe Makeovers!

Accordion pleat skirt makeover!

I've been looking for one of these for a while.  Accordion pleats are so fun!  In all different legnths, too.  Especially in neutrals, but also in fun colors!















Anyway, I've been searching for a vintage accordion pleat skirt at thrift stores for a couple months, because so rarely do I feel like paying full price for a new trend. ;)  And I never found the perfect thing, but I did find this:

JC Penney brand, several sizes too big, kind of weird waistband.  But, at half off so $2.49, it was good enough for me!

I cut off the waistband and debated about how to give it a new waist.  Folded over simple self-fabric casing?   Actual waistband, with placket or zipper?  Or, exposed elastic waistband in coordinating color?  Turned out, I was able to just tear all the stitching out (it started as I picked around the zipper, trying to salvage it, and it worked out great!), and re-use the waistband!  Totally recycled!  I just made the waistband much, much smaller and narrower.  Sewed it all back together, cut off the top of the zipper, and voila!  I have an accordion pleat skirt with a natural waistband!

I'm excited to belt it, I think, and wear it with something fun!  How would you wear it?

37 comments

  1. Love it! I think you should wear it with some bright colors :)
    xx

    www.queenoffunkydiy.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oooooh I love this!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Such cute skirts! I love the third one!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I LOVE your glasses, so cute!

    ReplyDelete
  5. i also love this trend. ive hacked up two horrible dresses to salvage the cute accordian patterns. one is a pretty bright yellow that i cant find ANYTHING to match. the other im in love with. its a soft pink/mauve color that i added a big black elastic waist. im always looking for them!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Very cool! Both colors sound great, I love bright yellow, and the soft mauve! Very different outfits with each, I'd imagine!

      Delete
  6. I have seen very similar styles popping up everywhere and I love the look so much! You did a great job reviving yours! Lots of styling possibilities, too! Can't wait to see what you come up with!

    ReplyDelete
  7. So cute!! I would probably pair the grey with something really funky like electric orange or chartreuse...I love ridiculously bright colors. I love your blog..you have so many great ideas. =)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I could really use some more neons... they do sound fun with this!

      Delete
  8. I'm soo happy to see this! I recently bought a skirt from a thrift shop and the waist is too big. I'm in the process f fixing it but it's fitted so I need to take in the hips too. Hopefully it will turn out as good as yours!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cool, that's a great idea! You can always give it a brand new, contrast waistband if reusing the old one doesn't work. Black elastic, even!

      Delete
  9. Great makeover! I think like you about new trends: I don't want to spend a lot of money! You never know how long is it going to be trendy and how long you are going to like it. So I usually go through my mom's, grandma's, or mil's old clothes to find something I can work with. Too bad there aren't thrift stores in my country :(

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a great restyle! The length looks perfect on you.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Just slight modifications and it looks (and I'm sure fits) 100 times better!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Your prettier in your skirt than any of the other pics! But I'm biased. Dad :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Amazing make over of skirts like your work so much.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous3/07/2012

    What an amazing find and refashion! Jealous!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love your blog!!!! You have great ideas.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi - I like your blog and would love to hear more about your raw food diet. I remember these skirts from years ago; they never go out of fashion really. When they aren't sewn down I think they are actually called sunray pleats.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! Sunray pleats, hm, I'll look that up now!

      I did a post about my raw vegan diet here: http://www.adventuresindressmaking.com/2012/01/my-thoughts-on-raw-vegan-diet-if-you.html and may talk about it again in a recipe post sometime... hope that link helps!

      Delete
  17. Oh my goodness, what an awesome find! Seriously, I think I've been looking for a skirt like that for at least a year. Way to make it work for you even if it was a bit off at first. It's perfect now!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Love love love this! I'd wear it with a light pink/mauve blouse and a belt. SUPER CUTE!

    ReplyDelete
  19. cute, great restyle!! boots, tights and a chunky necklace :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! Chunky necklace would be good--I could totally use a new, bright one for spring!

      Delete
  20. love it! i have to say my heart skipped a beat when my photo appeared as i scrolled down! haha

    ReplyDelete
  21. I love it, I just bought one similar at the thrift store in a plum color, and I wasn't sure if I should make it shorter- but I love how yours turned out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Plum sounds fun! Shorter may be more wearable; maybe try out both!

      Delete
  22. I have a skirt very similar to this that I got from a consignment store that is so flowy and I like it... except that its about 3" too long and makes me look kinda frumpy. I've been just pulling it up and putting my shirt over it to hide it. I'd love to be able to shorten it... but with the way the accordions are... should I take the length from the bottom hem and try to iron the pleats back in... or should I do it from the waistband, which is just a super simple fold over elastic waistband...

    HELP...
    ~Tamara

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sounds like it's a great candidate for this kind of thing! I would DEFinitely take the length out of the top and re-do the waistband--way easier than re-hemming all those pleated parts! And you can give it whatever kind of waistband you want!

      Delete

Search

© Create / Enjoy • Theme by Maira G.