Diy Valentines Outfit! (p.s. I made it!)

You guys!!!! I just uploaded my first YouTube video of the year + finished my first design of the year! I am so excited to start creating content again. One because it just love filming and editing content & two because I love entertaining you guys.

I started YouTube 4 years ago and have been on and off since. I have always had a lot going on thinking I could work full time and go to school and have a channel and do the most with such little time (doable but I'd be dead...no really stop smiling). But this time I am determined to try this for at least a year! I have been having such a fun time creating products for my Etsy shop, designing and sharing amazing content with you. I hope this journey is just as fun for you guys as it has been for me.

So lets jump into this fit! - that I made ;)

Click Here to Watch the Video:

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D I Y i n g T h e F i t

This Top I made out of a Thrifted Prom Dress. I don't usually take something that is already cute and well.... make it cuter but I have seen so many prom dresses like this before at thrift stores and beyond and I just thought the material would be perfect for this project I wanted to do for valentine's day.

If you haven't seen my video yet, I made this top using 5 steps:

Step 1. Sketch it out

Whenever I am sketching out a design I like to try and use as much fabric as I can or use the design elements the garment already has in a new way. So, I sketched out some ideas (you can see these in my video). I was actually shocked that my design turned out to match up with my sketches pretty well. Normally that does not happen....surprise, surprise... a lot of these thrifted upcycles, things go wrong & sometimes I have to improvise or change plans which happened here but not too far off and I really loved that!!

Step 2. Garment Deconstruction

This is probably my favorite step. I love the process of ripping the garment to make something new! Yes, I ripped it.....and cut it apart to start the process of piecing it back together. For some reason (im lazy) I decided I wanted to try and drape this top instead of making a pattern or buying a pattern. NORMALLY when you do this you should probably cut the dress in half, lay it out with the pattern and cut the pieces out that you need & THEN start sewing. But I decided to make my life 100000000x harder by draping this top. BUT IT WAS FUN.......*crickets*

Steps 3. Neckline & 4. Bodice

In these steps we are putting the top all together by adding everything I cut, shaping and sewing them together! I originally didn't think I would be adding the bottom to it but I made a mistake when adding the sides (probably because I decided not to use a pattern!) and the top ended up being shorter than I wanted. So I took the very bottom of the dress and added it to the bottom of this top as a ruffle!

5. Details

Lastly, I added the small details like the diamond ring, to the neck, which I ended not liking because it doesn't have the bar in the middle like a belt would. I thought maybe I could tie it somehow but it just was not working :( . If I could redo something I would do two ties on either sided so I can tie it up into a bow. Which would be equally as cute! But I really wanted to make it work so OH WELL. The last thing I needed to do to finish this top was cut off any extra stings and ironed all the creases (which is so satisfying to watch) & the top was done!!!

H o w T o R e s i z e A S k i r t !

At the end of this episode I show you how I resized this beautiful J.Crew pink & red skirt. I actually haven't seen this method done to many times & I am surprised. Everyone makes videos on how to resize skirts to make them smaller but not bigger. So I think this is the perfect hack if you are in love with something but it is too small and its so fashionable & cute if you choose the right fabrics to inert into the sides. I decided to take the extra strips I had from the dress & add it to the sides of this skirt. The skirt did fit me at the waist but it was like an English style corset kind of fit me.....so I wanted it to fit more comfortably and fit around the upper parts of my hips so I also add length by making it bigger. SEEEEE HACKS!!!! WOOW!!

Y O U ' R E N O T R E A D Y

The final Reveal!

I hope you guys love how this fit turned out. I am kinda obsessed with it...I might ask it to be my valentine....

When Styling this look I added a black long sleeve & black leggings with my target rain boots! If I had a heart shaped purse that would have been PERFECT but just imagine my bag is heart shaped.....LOL I wanted to pair this with my black 'I hate Valentines Scrunchie' that you can buy on my Esty so this is a look inspired by that scrunchie!! I think it is adorable & unique & everything.

I mentioned this in the video but I decided to do a halter top because 1. I didn't have enough fabric to make sleeves & 2. You can choose whatever sleeves you want to go under this!! Like another hack!! I am on a roll!

What do you think? I NEED TO KNOW.

BEFORE: AFTER:

WAIT BUT DONT GO YET... I need your help...

Do you have any ideas for our next video? Comment what you think I should do next.

Don't forget we have an Etsy! Check out our Valentines Day Collection by clicking this link: https://www.etsy.com/shop/NicoleeDesignsShop

Click Here to Watch the Video:

Click Me

Thank you guys so much for joining me and sharing your love for fashion with me! Don't forget, you can always message me on my social media platforms, watch my YouTube channel sewing videos and much more just click the links below! Do what you need to do to find joy in your life. I love you all!
God bless you and have a great week! I will see you next time!. CIAO 

X o X o,

Nicolee Designs

LETS BE F R I E N D S ! ALL MY SOCIALS LINKED HERE: https://linktr.ee/nicoleedesigns