One of the things I wish I could do better is sewing . I have to admit I suck at it. I mean, I can sew on a button, but that’s about it.
So I’m always amazed when I see people transform old clothing into something new and spectacular. This one lady is a master at that, and the way she upcycles clothes will blow your mind.
In addition to being a military wife and a mother of three, Caitlin Trantham is a seamstress extraordinaire.
So when the pandemic hit and she had lots of time on her hands, she decided to channel all her energy into another passion of hers.
You see, Caitlin also loves vintage fashion.
However, over the years buying such items has become too expensive for her. So she decided to tackle this problem with a different approach — she started remaking thrift store finds to suit her style.
Caitlin began her sewing journey with quilting about eight years ago.
But once the pandemic hit, she started experimenting with clothing. And now that she’s into it, she can’t stop. Can you blame her when the clothes she transforms look this good?
She was always an avid thrifter, but now she takes things up a notch.
What she loves about it is the thrill of the hunt. I can definitely relate to that. Whenever I find an awesome outfit, I feel so satisfied.
Caitlin actually limits herself when it comes to paying for thrift store items.
Guess how much she spends on an average per piece? It’s only about $10. Wow! Isn’t that amazing? I love that she can upcycle stuff like this and create fun outfits from it.
I really wish I could just get Caitlin to come shopping with me.
And then put her at her sewing machine to create a fabulous outfit for me, hehe. Do you feel the same way too? I don’t blame you if you do.
This dress is one of Caitlin’s favorite projects.
The original bodice was actually so well constructed that it took several hours to dismantle all the seams. Oh my! But this lady is no quitter, so she obviously did an amazing job here.
Caitlin typically shops at the Goodwill in Jacksonville, North Carolina.
There she can find evening dresses for about $6. However, the Salvation Army prices are a bit higher, so that’s why she set her budget to a total of $10.
I find that so fascinating.
I can’t believe Caitlin can do so much with such affordable upcycled clothing. I have a hard time restyling an old item in my closet. Caitlin, it’s pretty clear to me that I need your help hehe.
Some of her flips are pretty easy to do.
To update this dress into our current time, she cut out the ’80s style V-waist. And then she took out the back ties and connected them to make a belt. She also changed up the buttons. Nice!
Caitlin loved this original dress but wanted to challenge herself.
She thought this would be the perfect outfit to make into a two-piece set. I think it came out quite well. What do you think of this cool transformation here?
I bet this would have been a great prom dress for her grandma, hehe.
But Caitlin isn’t one to shy away from a project. So she clearly updated the look to fit today’s style. I can see somebody wearing this at prom in this day and age.
And speaking of great transformations, this floral number deserves some praise.
I’m not typically into flowers, but I do enjoy this updated dress here. I would consider wearing it to a summer picnic or a backyard BBQ. It’s quite pretty, isn’t it?
How do you feel about this little number here?
I absolutely love it. And I would wear it in a heartbeat. The original dress looked quite matronly, but the new dress is fun and flowing. What a difference this makeover made, huh?
Can you believe this is the same dress here?
I admit I had to do a double-take. She started by taking off the sleeves or the bolero. Then she dyed it. The fabric is a cream damask brocade (raised texture) printed with flowers. Wow, just wow!
Check out how she transformed this white dress here.
Oh my goodness. It would be a perfect idea for a wedding dress, no? I’ve seen this type of dress, and I have to admit I’m totally in love with this trend.
To say that I’m impressed with this lady’s sewing skills would be an understatement.
I can hardly believe she only started upcycling clothing this past year. Doesn’t she look like a seasoned pro or what? Which one of her makeovers is your favorite so far?
