From Mom to Wow

I hate the mall.  I mean, the noise, the cat calls, the lines, the dressing rooms, the fact that I find something I love (that's not in my size)...  Can I make this any more clear?

On the other hand, I love a good thrift store.  What makes a good thrift store you ask?  Oh, I don't know, these qualities tend to make my heart smile:

• cheap prices.  When did it become okay to charge $25 for a "vintage" (aka well worn) Kasper blazer?  Now, vintage is worth it - worn out, not so much.
• variety.  I love when there are three racks of skirts and everything is everywhere.
• organized chaos. Strangely, I hate when thrift stores are overly organized.  I love the hunt!
• clean dressing rooms. Rare. Too rare.

Before school got out, I went to the thrift store to pick up the yellow skirt I contemplated purchasing (for a whopping $2) for three weeks and while there came across this teal gem.

 I got a wild hair and decided to totally reshape the skirt.  After seeing all the beautiful pencil skirts out there, I've been tempted to get one.  I always thought I couldn't wear them because of my bodacious booty, but I'm realizing that if Kim Kardashian looks good in one, this rump is sure to stun in one as well.

The first thing I did to alter the skirt was put it on inside out and pin up the sides.  Then, I pinned the hem where I wanted it.

I sewed along my pin lines and cut off the excess fabric.  When I put the skirt on, it had a slight poof at the top due to the elastic waist so I simply add some darts by putting it on inside out again and pinning where I felt they were necessary.  I'm sure there is a much more technical way of doing such things, but I went with the "wing it" motto.

This is what I came up with:

I'm pleased.  Don't mind the boxy yellow shirt - that's a future post.

Moral of the story: 

When purchasing a $2 skirt, don't be afraid of the price tag or the syle - you can work with a whopping $2 and not even catch sight of the mall.  Amen!