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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! [2024 edit – this website seems to be shut down but leaving it up for visual inspiration]

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. [2024 edit – this post seems to be deleted but leaving it up for visual inspiration]

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.

Can you believe what a difference a big chop made? I love this simple refashion by Therese Marie, she let me share it after I saw it in the Fabric Upcycling facebook group, find her on instagram here!

I love the shape of this dated floral dress refashion that Nissa shared in the Upcycle Sewing group. Check out some of her upcycled jewelry and salvage leather pieces in her boutique.

I love the creative sleeves on this drapey dress refashion from @theekissoflife!

A fun, velour dress refashion from @carissabrowning, what a different vibe  between these two!

I love the inset cut-outs in this caftan refashion by @____riapi____!

Not pictured:

• I love this prairie dress turned into a sweet babydoll, with a refashion by Ladygirl Vintage.
• This dated dress refashion into a modern skirt is fresh and fun, from @acteevism

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