The Glamourai: Making Vintage Work for You

Kelly Framel's popular blog, The Glamourai, is a repository for the stylist and designer's fashion inspirations, daily outfits, and DIY projects. Kelly joins Lucky this week as a guest blogger.

On Tuesday, I mentioned my major love of vintage brocade coats. I can't seem to get enough of them! This gem was the latest addition to my collection:

Besides being both floral AND gold (two of my favorite things), it came with a matching shift dress (score!) and conjured up images of those curtain clothes Maria made the von Trapp kids in The Sound of Music (big-time bonus points!):

But the combined boxiness and length of the pair was adding up to something majorly matronly. So I amputated the age off by removing about eight inches from both hems, and reversing the proportions--making the jacket a tad shorter than the dress:

Some vintage purists may prefer the 'before,' but I wanted the look to better reflect my age and lifestyle. I also knew that I could get more wear out of the individual pieces if they were shorter and therefore less formal. I know the jacket will be a more useful layering option (I can even see it over jeans now), and the dress on its own is undeniably more darling:

Although I was able to execute the simple sewing this redo required, a project like this can be totally entrusted to your local dry cleaner/tailor. Don't be afraid to make the change! The result is remarkably rewarding.

I hope my antique alteration will inspire you to reimagine something in your own wardrobe!

More from Luckymag.com:

The Glamourai: Lim For Less

The Glamourai: They Just Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To

The Glamourai: Jade Dynasty