// #thriftstylethursday // Anthro-Inspired Color Pop

Thanks to Kristi of Delightfully Kristi this week for our theme: Color Pop! I've been itching to do a refashion, and in keeping with my resolutions for this year, I wanted to shop my refashion closet/pile for just the right piece! Weeeeell, let's just say I found something ;). Here's what I pulled out:

This is a MAJOR mistake, right? Stripes and floral all in one but not in a good way. It felt like a clown shirt...boxy and poofy armed. Yuck! But it's also the perfect piece for a transformation because who else would be crazy enough to pick this out at the thrift store? Amiright? I used this Anthro Cloth & Stone top (check the back view) as my inspiration for this piece.

First I removed the sleeves, cut off the cuffs, then opened them up along the seam and laid flat and ironed.

Next, I cut straight up the middle of the back, and unpicked the center 5-6 inches of gathered fabric along the top back below the collar...you know the section, it has a name I'm sure! I trimmed up one of the sleeves into a 6 inch strip long enough to reach from where I unpicked at the top all the way to the shirt hem. I had to stitch two pieces together to get a long enough section. Then I sewed the panel into the opening I'd made in the back, finished off all of my raw edges with zigzag stitches, pressed all of the seams and folded the top portion over on itself before topstitching it back into place.

Next, I took in the sides, cut off the excess and finished off the edges. I also finished off the hem to match where I inserted the panel, finished off the sleeves with two lines of topstitching and this back view shows the folded over section in the back of the top. Anything like the original inspiration?

It turned out to be the perfect top to throw on with my favorite (and only) distressed denim, and a pair of cobalt flats for around the house...I'm home with a sick little boy today, and this is comfortable but cute enough that I don't feel like a slob ;).

Can't wait to wear this out with leggings and flats come spring! Or with skinnies and booties for work...and maybe a belt when I feel like changing up the look of it. It's still floral and stripes all over, but way toned down and with a modern style, it totally works for me. Hope you like it as much as I do.

Felt good to be back with a refashion, and now I'm looking forward to seeing what all the other ladies came up with for Color Pop! Head on over with me :)

Peace,
Andrea