My DIY Refashionista Costume

Even though Halloween as I know it is not at all celebrated in Germany my refashionista brain still insists on coming up with loads of awesome costume ideas. Throughout the years I’ve managed to suppress my urge to put together a groovy get up that will never be worn but the other day inspiration whacked my head hard and I just had to create and share my quirky last minute costume idea:

A before and after refashionista tutorial!

DIY before and after Refashioinista costume tutorial

Here’s how to easily make your own diy diva salute:

vintage dress for before and after costume

Snag a long-sleeved maxidress.

I scored that glittering vintage beauty above for only €1, wheee!

Refashionista costume before and after tutorial

Decide and mark which side you’d like for your “after” and carefully remove the sleeve.

Seriously, pay attention and clearly mark whichever side you’ll be refashioning, I didn’t and foolishly ended up refashioning the wrong side thus ensuring that my refashionista sewing themed tattoos would be covered up on the “before” side, pffft!

Refashionista costume before and after tutorial

Fold over and hem up the raw edge of the armhole (or bind it).

Refashionista costume before and after tutorial

Grab a short dress, lay it on top of the maxidress with the shoulder seams lined up and use it as guide to mark your desired length for the refashioned side of the costume.

Refashionista costume before and after tutorial

Chop out the side of the skirt to be refashioned.

Fortunately my groovy vintage maxi had a center seam up the front and back of the dress that I could easily unpick and then chop to my marked length.

Refashionista costume before and after tutorial

Hem the raw edges.

Refashionista costume before and after tutorial

If your dress has a lining cut it a bit shorter than the refashioned side of the maxi.

Refashionista costume before and after tutorial

Hem it up.

Refashionista costume before and after tutorial

To make my “before” side a wee bit more Halloween-y (+ cover a couple of unsightly stains), I hand stitched on a few plastic spiders!

Refashionista costume before and after makeup & hair

The final touch to this before and after refashionista costume is to simply part your hair in the middle then only meticulously style and makeup your “after” side…

DIY before and after Refashioinista costume

Create a “before and after” sign and you’ll be the belle of the Halloween ball! 

Once your through Halloweening simply refashion the before side to match the after side and add it your regular wardrobe!

*This would also work brilliantly with a long-sleeved blouse & trousers or maxiskirt + a cut-and-wear no sew version is a snap to create from non-fraying fabrics like jersey or polyester*

Once Halloween is over simply finish off the refashion and enjoy your new to you dress!

Vintage Dress refashion after

and just for fun, here’s a peek into this refashionista’s DIY Halloween costume past:

A young refashionista's DIY costumes

If you need some munchkin costume inspiration check out my DIY stegosaurus & upcycled fairy tale heroine tutes:

diy dinosaur and fairy tale costumes

What are you DIY Halloweening as this year?

Grab all of my spooktacular tutorials in my Halloween index right here!

Pssst! My awesome e-courses are right over here!

Transform your entire wardrobe for pennies with my groovy CoaR tutorial collections right here:

2 Comments

  1. Claudia says:

    Like it – especially the spiders!

    1. When I re-refashion it I plan on stitching a few more spiders to the bodice…I love the look of ’em! 😀

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