Altering Time

This shirt was once a dress.  Another treasure I procured from the Flea Swap at The Gangway.
The dress looked roomy enough until I tried to put it on.  I could barely zip it up and the bell shape was completely lost. I took out the side seams and went to the maximum safe seam allowance to no avail.  I ended up chopping it in half and using the bottom fabric to inset a box pleat to the back seam where the zipper was to make it into this cute shirt. It worked out really well since it also helped to balance the design since there were already the box pleats in the sleeves of the dress making another one with the larger bow in the back.  I was so in love with the sleeves I couldn't just part with this without trying to make it work.  It's funny because everyone who has seen is so far has asked me if it's vintage.  I'm not sure myself.  Someone else made it I can tell b/c the inside isn't professionally finished and I can see someone else has taken it in and out several times.  Whomever originally sewed this garment together was not an especially experienced sewer but they got the job done and it looked great from the outside.

With it I am wearing my silver little Tomcat locket, Express Re-rock ultra skinny jeans, pearl white globe earrings and my new Gold BCBGeneration shoes.

Flea Swap at the Gangway

Flea Swap - entirely different yet somewhat reminiscent of a flea market.  The idea with this is that everyone brings 10-20 pieces of clothing, shoes, accessories.  Not just thing's they are getting rid of but perhaps things they want to see go to a good home where you have maybe one them once so that someone else can enjoy them and give them new life.  After all the garments are assembled what can be hung is done so and the browsing begins.

 During the browsing it's about an hour or two of look but don't take, touch and try but put it back.  There is an order to what is about to start.  This little session is to get the juices flowing and eyeball those key pieces that you want to get your hands on first.

This is Jen Burton our lovely organizer for the Event. 

After the browsing dies down everyone writes their name on a slip of paper and it goes into the bag.

Each name is pulled out and written into a list which will decide who goes first to pull our their garment or accessory of choice.

We all gathered outside and wait patiently as each person's name is called and they get to select one piece each as they enter back into the room.  You hear a mix of Ohh's Ahh's and congratulations for finding such a great piece!  Everyone is very cordial here and no one boo's or fights over a dress taken before the desired time.  It's a great vibe and very laid back.  As things were sorted through more and more treasures were found and hung up.

In the end after about 5 passes on the list it is a free for all.  No pushing or shoving just a bunch of great gals ideally chatting and picking through the racks again and pointing out to others things they might of missed or that they want someone else to give a great home to.

At the end of the event it's a cool night, with casual chat, drinks and bags full of new bounty! This was so successful they plan on doing this event quarterly to help everyone with their garment change as the seasons change.  Keep your eyes peeled for other exciting things that The Gangway will be having!