The competition is getting really tight! If you like my refashion, please help me out and vote for me HERE.
Thanks a million!

Every item of clothing has a story to tell.  This is especially true for thrifted finds.  As I approached the theme for this week, I wanted to do something different.  I wanted to find a way to make it symbolic.  This feeling became especially strong after I researched “Boho Chic.”  I wasn’t quite sure what that meant (Coachella meets Tiffany’s?), but as I researched a little history I learned that the Bohemian look originated from a region called Bohemia that was located in Czechoslovakia.  It was where many artists and writers lived who shared an unconventional way of life.  The “Chic” part came in later when the Bohemian trend became popular again in the US in the mid 2000s.  But it’s basically the same concept of mixing hippie and Bohemian fashions in a modern way.  With all this info in mind, I set off to find my project.

During this time, I ended up at a swap meet  where I found, oddly enough, a bathrobe.

I know that a used bathrobe isn’t something most people are looking for, and I ask you to wait before you write this off.  You see, the fabric of the robe has a beautiful texture.  It immediately caught me eye.  It wasn’t towel-like or absorbent, just a normal woven cotton with an exceptional pattern.  (Because of the intimate nature of robes, I did wash it carefully before wearing it.  I also realized I’d have to work around a few stains.)

The second thing I noticed after the texture was the logo that read, ” Crozer Cancer Center.”  That’s when I realized that this robe had a story to tell too.  Immediately, I began to think of all the people I’ve known who have faced cancer, survived cancer, or have had to struggle with the hardship of watching a loved one go through cancer.

And that’s when I got my idea: I wanted to give this robe–this robe that has probably seen some of life’s darkest moments– a rebirth.  I wanted to take this tattered robe and make it something new, something beautiful, something symbolic.

I knew that the robe would need something to embellish it in order to truly be Boho Chic.  That’s why I decided the beautiful dress below would make a great donor.

I  LOVED this dress.  However, when I tried it on, it got stuck.  Real stuck.  Like, should-I-ask-a-stranger-for-help stuck. It was way too small and I heard seams ripping as I finally managed to dance it’s way over my head.  The damage was done and the dress needed some serious TLC.  Luckily, so did the robe.  So it was a match made in heaven.

**I spent a while researching Indian clothing to be sure I wasn’t altering something sacred or deeply symbolic.  I learned that this dress is actually a tunic called a “kurti” and they can be worn for casual and formal occasions.  Anyone can buy them on Amazon.  And the wiki page even told me they were worn regularly in the 60s and 70s as an “element of hippie fashion.”  Score!**

With these two pieces, I was ready!  So I set to work.

…Which was a bit of a challenge because I couldn’t get both of my kids to nap at the same time.  This is what most of my week looked like:

Somehow, I managed to finish! As usual, I made the framework of the original item do the work for me.

 I also added a kick pleat to the skirt, which is like a slit in that it gives your legs more room to move, but without showing any skin. You can see it in the picture below.

I was over ambitious and wanted to find a leather jacket to refashion into a vest.  However, all the leather jackets at the thrift store were at least $20, and I found the one below for $3!  Plus it’s leather and by the looks of it, authentically vintage.  I decided to add one the the embellishments from the kurti to make it feel more Bohemian.

Finally, I added a gold waistband to the bottom of the original kurti, and used the fabric leftover from the top to make a headband.

And then, I was done!  I’m so happy with it!  I loved that I was able to take the robe from something representing one of life’s challenges, to something symbolizing a new and beautiful beginning.

I also like that it created two Boho Chic outfits, one more on the chic side, and the other more on the Bohemian side.

The competition is getting really tight! If you like my refashion, please help me out and vote for me HERE.
Thanks a million!