I’m not sure what it is about dresses, but they seem to be super popular for refashions! My guess would be because they’re easy to fit, often come with cute prints, and fun to wear. I thought I’d round up some thrift store dress refashion tutorials to get you inspired this spring – go dig around to find something dated and give it a refresher.
If you love refashioning, check out these other posts too!
- 24+ Men’s button down shirt refashion ideas
- Five Tips for Thrift Shopping to Upcycle & Refashion
- 10 refashioning tips for successful sewing
- 13+ ways to refashion a plain t-shirt
- All of my refashion sewing tutorials are listed here
- Modern books on refashioning
Pin this list of thrift store dress refashion tutorials for later, using this link or collage image below. Please click through to the original websites to pin individual photos!
Thrift store dress refashion tutorials
Ready to get inspired! Let me know if I’ve missed any of your favorite refashion blogs!
An adorable way to keep the style of a dress but update it with a new silhouette! Dress to romper refashion from Trish Stitched.
Dye and sewing all in one! This is a vintage dress refashion with tutorial by yours truly.
A surprising 80’s striped dress makeover at Pearls & Scissors, the belt is the perfect touch!
My friend Heather shares 2 techniques for how to add sleeves to a dress, with a quick refashion turning sleeveless & spaghetti strap dresses into sleeved ones.
Simple but effective, I have a dress to skirt refashion that earned me a super cheap skirt made of beautiful material!
This is unique, Carissa Knits switched a baggy wrap bodice dress into a cool, button-up shirt dress.
Working in a color that I normally avoid, I refashioned this baggy dress into a chic top, see more details about this dress to blouse refashion here!
A different take on the dress to skirt refashion, with a fun waistline, over at Five Marigolds.
A super easy sewing refashion tutorial, and I’m happy to help if you get stuck! See more details on how I made this skirt out of a dress.
So all 4 of these maternity refashion tutorials involve dresses and I thought I’d include them! Even if you aren’t pregnant, you can use the same ideas for regular refashions as well.
Fun ruffle dress refashion from Our Life Is Beautiful – video above or photo tutorial here.
I’ll be honest, this is my least favorite refashion on the blog. BUT I’m including it because I think it might spark some creativity for someone else! I like the idea, just not the finished project. See my folded dress refashion tutorial here.
My wedding guest dress refashion; see how to alter a dress that is too big!
Check out how I took a dated denim dress into modern times with some dye and a little sewing, with a tutorial here!
Subtle but fun update, check out how she swapped a dress into a strappy peplum shirt over at Pearls and Scissors.
(not pictured)
I love this prairie dress turned into a sweet babydoll, with a refashion by Ladygirl Vintage.
Something fun and unusual, a dated floral dress into a fun floral romper at Trevor Loves Mommy.
Trish Stitched
Friday 5th of April 2019
Thanks for sharing my refashion! I think dress refashions are some of my favorites to do! It can be such a big transformation!
Stephanie - Swoodson Says
Sunday 11th of August 2019
You're welcome, I love sharing other peoples' work :D