a mama's easter outfit

Since I've had kids, I feel like I'm now past the stage where I get a new Easter outfit every year. Maybe that's not the case for you, but I just get so into planning for the kids outfits that I don't even think about mine until the week of. And honestly, there's just not usually a whole lot of extra money for me to spending on a brand new outfit for myself every year. Plus, when would I even have time to shop!?

But I still do want to wear something cute and new, and bright and colorful on a Easter Sunday.
So that moment the week of Easter that it hits me that I need something to wear too, I start racking my brain for ideas of:  things I could make + things I already own + things I could buy cheaply.

And when I put all three of those things together, it usually comes out a newly assembled outfit for me that's a mixture of freshly handmade, purchased at the store and scrounged up from my closet!

Easter 2010- I wore the same outfit from the previous Easter (the last Easter outfit I bought brand new and at full price :) )
Nothing homemade that year, because I was just starting to sew.

Easter 2011- Made Titus' outfit (vest, pants & bowtie) and decided at the eleventh hour (literally!) to make myself a skirt.
My outfit- homemade simple skirt, already owned top, and previously handmade pom pom necklace hanging in my closet.

Easter 2012- Made the kids outfits (Again, made Titus a vest, pants & tie). It was my first Easter with a GIRL! So I made Norah a pillowcase dress, diaper cover, headband and booties. Then I decided (early enough!) to make myself an outfit to match the kids!
My outfit- homemade pillowcase top, already owned skirt, and purchased a light sweater

This year I didn't bother so much with us all matching each other, but we coordinated well enough. {Read about the kids' outfits here}
As in usual fashion, I didn't plan anything for myself. I probably would've just pulled some "old thing" from the closet and not felt springy or fresh and new all day :/

So one naptime during the week of, I got an idea in my brain, and spent the next hour putting ideas together in my brain, and running to my craft room then to my closet and back to my craft room. I stared at all my fabric for minutes on end, and waited for a huge inspiration. I put fabrics together and matched them up with clothing, and finally formulated an outfit that I wasn't even brave enough to wear at first. But after trying it on for my husband, having a few days to mull it over in my head, and my husband encouraging me to wear it.... I DID! :)

Here's what I came up with: {sorry its not a full body shot- its the only picture of just me from the day!}

I purchased this Target brand dress a couple weeks ago from a local grocery store that also sells closeout deals. Wanna guess how much I paid for it? ..... $2.99

At the same store, I found some red ballet flats (also Target!) for .... $1.99

I paired the dress with the same cream colored sweater I purchase for my Easter outfit last year

I added a brown belt that I bought last fall.

Added some red dangles made by a friend

And the final accessory I needed to add was a scarf... but I was being pretty particular about the style, color, etc it needed to be... I wanted a lightweight, navy scarf...

I searched my fabrics and mulled over lots of options to make one... I had decided I was probably going to have to go to Joann's to find something...
But before I did, I remembered my Goodwill box that's just been sitting around. I wondered if I had anything in there that I could re-purpose (this thought was kind of separated from my scarf dilemma). I pulled out all kinds of clothes I had thrown out that I now thought I could re-fashion into something for Norah... As I walked away from my new pile of ex-Goodwill clothes, I noticed something Navy-colored sticking out... I pulled out a skirt that I'd bought like 12 years ago. It was a good quality, brand name skirt, but the elastic was all stretched out. It really was a shame to throw this out just because of some worn out elastic. It was still good fabric- light weight with great movement. And it was the perfect color, Navy with tiny red and yellow flowers that went perfectly with the other colors in my outfit...

So I cut the elastic + 4 inches off the skirt.... And came away with an infinity scarf!

Would you ever guess that was once a skirt? :)

I love that I can breathe new life into a n old piece of clothing that I've loved a long time!

 

So there you have it!
A mama's Easter outfit that cost a total of $4.98 and included a re-purposed skirt-turned-scarf!

had to throw in a pic of the shoes!

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