Make Cute + Cozy Maxi Dresses for Summer! (THRIFT FLIP) | DIY w/ Orly Shani

You can also get my exact pieces by searching ORLY on their site.

This DIY has been a long time coming. My friend sent me this Free People dress almost a year ago and I loved it!! I knew it would be a perfect #thriftflip because we could mashup a graphic t-shirt or sweatshirt with a printed Maxi Skirt for a fraction of the cost.

this is a great DIY for beginner sewers because there is one single seam with a straight stich.
You can add detailing in the waist with pleats and gathers if you want, but no need! Simple looks amazing.

TIP:
Start by looking for a cool skirt that you think you'd like and THEN hunt for a t-shirt or sweatshirt that complements it.
Maxi skirts are harder to find so you want to let that dictate your design.

If you try my DIYs, make sure to tag me on my socials!

MATERIALS
Maxi skirt or dress
T-shirt or sweatshirt
sewing machine
scissors

#DIY #OrlyShani #freepeople

[reluctant-to-change]

It's fascinating to me how brands like Free People are using the *aesthetic* of DIY (ie the logo on the t-shirt part of the dress made to appear cropped) for a commercial product. I appreciate how you always highlight the *spirit* of DIY, making clothes that are customized to a person's unique body and personal tastes.

[CathyRueterWriter]

Love, love, love this!
As a petite, "fluffy, " busty woman, store-bought dresses often don't fit. Now I know how to make my own! ❤

[teacheraprilrogers]

I love this so much. I just lost 80 pounds and I still have about 60 pounds more to go. I am finally ready to start refashioning and sewing clothes for myself again. My son was just telling me yesterday that I need to sew for myself again. This dress is perfect. I don't normally wear dresses but I love this so much. I have a pair of super wide leg palazzo pants that are now way to big for me and I think they will be perfect to do this with. Maybe even make a jumper version of this. My mind is going a hundred miles a minute coming up with ideas

[krickette]

Last week, when you said you were doing this upcycle, I Literally had a t-shirt and bottom half of an oversized dress in front of me and I was wondering how to make them work. After you announced this video I folded both pieces up and made myself leave them alone all week, waiting to watch this. I'm gonna go feed my chickens and them I'm gonna get to work on my new dress!

[loonybinreject]

Imagine using a skirt with pockets so the dress has pockets. That would be the * *chef's kiss* * version

[cori]

Now imagine being plus size and finally learning how to utilize those short waisted tshirts you've been keeping all this time. I need to go to goodwill. We don't have many thrift stores where I live, so goodwill is our only option

[slywlf]

AWEsome! I am just getting back into sewing after a nearly 40 year "vacation", and this sort of project suits both my cheapskate side and my creative side! In fact I was just going through my collection of thrifted clothes that I had set aside to tinker with, and found a skirt that will work perfectly for this! At 69 and retired I don't give a hoot about anybody's fashion opinions - I just want to be comfortable and a bit funky - just ask my purple and teal hair!!

[barbaraness]

If you have any amount of tummy pleats make it look bigger there. That’s why the pleat(s) in the back are such a great idea!

[jessieb]

I made this dress and I love it!!! It took me 3 hours (I’m a beginner and also had some modifications to my skirt) but it was still really easy. If you know what you’re doing it’ll take no time at all. Highly recommend this DIY.

[cbsdaigle]

Love the sweatshirt/ruffle skirt mash up! Maybe it's just me but you could've taken it one step further and used the cut off sleeves to fashion a couple of great pockets on the skirt. Thanks for showing us just how easy it is to transform items!

[nataliequinton]

Really great instructions. The patchwork skirt goes perfectly with that pink sweatshirt. I’ve made dresses and nightgowns like this for years, usually using lengths of fabric for the skirt. I’ll have to search for fun skirts at the thrift store instead.

[melissahartsell]

wow! I am so glad this is in stlye now! some years ago I was making my own dresses using t-shirts for the top part cause being plus sized I was having trouble finding my own dresses. Now I need to pull those back out and rock them and make some more!! love yours Orly!!

[bleudragon]

Those 2 diy dresses are fabulous! Even better than the inspiration piece. Thanks for sharing.

[karolynlove]

So adorable! I love them and think I'm going to the thrift store to find a sweatshirt and skirt that I can make into a maternity dress for my granddaughter for the fall when she's going to need something larger! Thank you so much for this idea of repurposing these 2 items!! I especially think the Billy Joel style with the angled t-shirt will be the best to accommodate her baby bump for a while!! Love it!!

[tracyvision]

Orly strikes again with something I didn’t know I needed but now must have!

[melz]

This look reminds me of the grunge, granola, tree hugger look that Boulder Colorado had going in the 90’s. Sometimes I miss those days lol

[kwallsmall]

I made one as soon as I watched this! I used a zepp t shirt I accidentally cut and cropped too short.. it worked amazingly! I’m wearing it to work at my high school today! I feel like a total badass!

[bunniesandroses]

You look really good in pink, it is very cute, this type of dress is comfortable, you will probably wear it all the time!

[claudchin]

Love this DIY! I've got my thrifted top and my black and white gingham fabric to do my mashup 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[shelbeeontheedge]

Oh my goodness, these are so adorable! I have a pile of unworn tees and a bunch of maxi skits that I never wear because I always prefer dresses so I am definitively going to make some of these dresses! Thanks for sharing your creative genius with us!

Shelbee