How to Turn a Collared Shirt into a Sexy Mini Dress
This virtually no-sew, strapless dress will have you rethinking all those unworn oxfords in your closet.
Up next in Easy Sewing Projects (45 videos)
All you need is a needle, thread, some fabric, and these step by step instructions to start sewing.
You Will Need
- Large women's oxford shirt
- Friend
- Pen or pencil
- Scissors
- Needle and thread
- 4 buttons
- Short-sleeved shirt (optional)
- Sewing machine (optional)
Steps
-
Step 1
Choose shirt
Choose a shirt that is long enough to wear as a mini dress when the collar is held just above your bust line.
-
Women's shirts are best, since they have back darts. Shoulder darts, usually found on men's shirts, will hamper the fit of your dress.
-
Step 2
Hold it up
Hold the back of the shirt with the collar over your chest and have a friend fasten the buttons in back. Then wrap the sleeves around your back. This is the basic dress shape.
-
Step 3
Fit
Have your friend overlap and pin the sleeves together in back. Check the front to make sure it stays fitted and neat. If you don't plan to keep the collar in front, cut it off now.
-
If you're using a short-sleeved shirt, there won't be much to cut off.
-
Step 4
Cut sleeves
Mark and cut the sleeves in back, leaving several inches of overlap for buttons, buttonholes, and seams. Then remove the dress, cut the sleeves straight, pin them down half an inch, and hem each one.
-
Step 5
Lay out buttonholes
Lay out the buttons on the bottom sleeve. Draw four slits in a straight line along the edge of the top sleeve to mark buttonholes. Then cut slits just large enough to fit the buttons.
-
Step 6
Sew
Hand-finish the buttonholes by sewing completely around the edge of each slit with doubled thread.
-
Use a sewing machine if you have one.
-
Step 7
Finish
Try on the dress and have your friend overlap the sleeves and mark where the buttons will go for a perfect fit. Mark through each buttonhole, remove the dress, and sew the buttons at each mark.
-
According to one survey, most men said women look sexiest in a casual sundress.
