Upcycle a Top and Palazzo into a Dress

My new upcycled dress is made from 2 old garments. One is an empire line top and second is a pair of palazzo pants.

Garment 1: Empire Line Top

Empire line tops made rounds in all stores a few years ago. Empire line silhouettes are those that have a fitted bodice and clinch right below the bust. They highlight the upper waist area.

We’ve all had our experiences and opinions about these. I for one quite liked them in 2009 I think, never after!

So my sister had one that she had used enough and was discarding it.

I am usually not a fan of elastic clinching tops or dresses and have got rid of elastics before.

So to upcycle this into a wearable piece, I mended it and coupled it with another garment.

Why did I upcycle this?

Although the style of this top was dated, the print was neutral and worked even now. It never was a statement fashion piece but more the kind that would last seasons.

The V neck where the button is saw a couple of tears. My sister had used pins there to ensure the flimsy button doesn’t give way for it to pop open. A classic wear and tear situation.

The fabric of the top had also faded a little and when worn with denims you could see that more obviously.

Garment 2: Palazzo Pants

My sister had a co-ord set that comprised of a crop shirt and palazzo pants.

Palazzo pants are loose, wide-legged trousers and in itself this one has the look of a pajama bottom because of the print and fabric.

I wanted a contrasting print to upcycle the empire line top so I decided to cut the bottom flare and hem the rest to turn it into a pair of knee length shorts.

I also used the crop top for a different upcycling project.

Why did I upcycle this?

This co-ord set was custom-made for my sister but didn’t have the right fit for her. She wore it twice but did not feel comfortable in it. She also tried wearing them separately but it was not very flattering.

How did I upcycle an empire waist top and palazzo pants?

I took the empire waist top.

First I darned a couple of holes below the neck line (it is so easy to get away with that if the fabric is a dark colour or print!).

Second, I removed the elastic from the waist.

Third, I took the flared bottom of the palazzo pants and opened its inner joint. I attached the material from both legs together to make it a skirt.

Lastly, I stitched the skirt to the waist of the top. The top is like an overlay to a contrasting skirt print.

And voila! We now have an overlay dress!

The dress falls straight and ends above the knee. The top flaps open and the print on the skirt stands out.

It is stylish and very comfortable for a casual evening out.

Fun Fact: $500 billion of value is lost every year due to clothing underutilisation and lack of recycling |Source: UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion |