May 31 Day Blogger's Challenge: Day 16- A Customized Item

A Customized Item

Hello, my name's Louise, and I have absolutely zero customizing skill. (Pauses for a chorus of "Hi, Louise"...)

I'm a creative kind of girl, but I can't use a needle and thread to save my life, and wouldn't know where to start with fabric paints, glue-guns, fabric-dyeing, or jewellery making. Probably as I've never tried. I can just about sew on buttons, but any alterations or repairs are usually landed on my Mum who's a whizz with a sewing machine. You may remember seeing the ASOS Aztec dress she shortened dramatically for me not so long ago...

I thought I was going to have to show you the Aztec dress again for this challenge, but then I remembered this Red Herring shirt dress.

I needed to wear something red for a memorial service a few years ago, which I was very kindly invited to at the last minute. I didn't have any red clothes in my wardrobe at the time, and didn't have enough pennies to buy something new. So, I went to a local haberdashery and bought some red polka dot buttons!  I took the black square buttons off, and sewed these red ones in their place. Evidently, I didn't do a great job as one's fallen off, but along with a red corsage and sparkly red ballet pumps, it did the job for the evening. I really must sew the button back on!

I've had this dress for several years now, and it was always a favourite of mine to wear. It was one of the first dresses I bought for myself when I started to find more confidence in myself. It's lost it's shape over the years, but it still has some life to it. I love the subtle hounds-tooth print, and the green belt it came with, and as it's sheer, always wear it over leggings and a basic tee/vest.

♥ Dress: Red Herring at Debenhams

♥ Fabric Belt: Came with the dress

♥ Vest Top (underneath): Dorothy Perkins

♥ Leggings: New Look

♥ Buttons: Local Haberdashery

What have you customized? Who's going to put me to shame?

P.S. The asymmetric dress I ordered came today, and I may or may not have ordered two flamingo print dresses on my store card...