Get This Tutorial As a PDF
This tutorial has been updated, and is now available as a full step-by-step with photos in my new book 7 DIY Men’s Shirt Makeovers, part of the DIY Men’s Shirt Makeovers System. Download this tutorial for free, below.
OR 2 Days to Make the DIY Dress from a Shirt; 4 Weeks to Write the Tutorial…
Isn’t that how it always is, for goodness’ sakes??
I found a men’s striped Dockers work shirt to play with – which gave me some great raw material for this project. If you have a guy in your life who’s parting with any of his button-down shirts (or you feel like thrifting one for cheap at the local Goodwill), you can DIY your own dress from a men’s shirt easily!
Note 5/2020: This tutorial has needed a major overhaul since I’d originally posted it way back in 2009. I’ve refined making this dress in the years since, so the step-by-step is much quicker, easier, and results in a perfect dress that will stand the test of time (and multiple washings in the washing machine!) You can now get this dress for free (no obligation) in PDF format by clicking below. Thanks!
Get This Tutorial As a PDF
This tutorial has been updated, and is now available as a full step-by-step with photos in my new book 7 DIY Men’s Shirt Makeovers, part of the DIY Men’s Shirt Makeovers System. Download this tutorial for free, below.
Plus, I made some accessories from the leftover shirt fabric, but that’s definitely, definitely another post! Hope you have as much fun making your dress as I did!
Enjoy your summer!
xo
Carly
That is really cute. How tall are you? cuz idk how you made that shirt to be that long haha.
Would be cute to wear with jeans too and just cut it a little shorter.
Wow, there is no way I could attempt this. But am I amazed by the way it turned out and your awesome tutorial!
Oh yea, didnt think bout tucking it in… could make another one with thick shoulder straps too! Man I wish I knew how to sow lol
Great idea! (I'm 5'6″…the shirt got to be mid-thigh length because of the added fabric for the bodice, which was salvaged from the sleeves:-)
I've been wearing it with jeans, and I sort of tuck the bottom under and pouf it out so it looks like a little bubble-tunic. I'll have to post the piccy.
Thanks for your comment!
xoxo
Carly
THATS SOOO CUTE!
LAST MONTH I DID A COUPLE OF DIY WITH MENSHIRT TOO, BUT WITHOUT SEWING..AM A LIL BIT LAZY.. ANYHOE UR DRESS IS AMAZING!
ONE LOVE,
JOWY
http://WWW.ISEEJANEMARY.BLOGSPOT.COM
I really like the dress. I need to try and make it myself. hmmm…. Now to steal one of the SO's shirt. 🙂
Wow, that looks great!
I sleep with loads of men, so i've got loads of shirts that i've taken the morning after at home! I've been looking for something to do with them. Thanks
I think the posting is hysterical… hope you are practicing safe sex.
This dress is great!!!!!! I made a red sateen one from a shirt I found at thrift store–just in time for valentine’s day! 🙂
Wow, this is too cute! I only wish my husbands shirts were wide enough to fit around my hips… But, I may have to pick up a used shirt and give it a try! Thanks.
Jennie
This is a wonderful tutorial! I am gonna try this one. Love the shirt that you chose to refashion. That dress turned out so beautiful.
This will be featured on my blog
http://jenellsrevenge.blogspot.com
on the 17th.
Thanks,
Jen
Hi, thanks for a great and inspiring article.
I am currently featuring some tutorials on my website and would like to link to yours if that's ok? Let me know if you have problems with me using one of your photos.
Thanks!
Jeni
http://www.miss-brightside.com
OK, I just made the dress following your tutorial. Check out my version on my blog:
parkave-sweatshop.blogspot.com
Thank you so much, I love it!
it's funny, just two days ago I also turned a men's shirt into a dress, but it looks quite different 🙂
wonderful idea! thanks for the pattern! i'm going to sew a dress for me right now 🙂
thanks,
ayca
Hey again!
I finally got round to posting up my features on DIY tutorials. It should be the first post on my website (it has a new layout too yay!).
Hope you like it 🙂
jeni
http://www.miss-brightside.com
this is such a cute dress i'm sweing it now
i finished the bottom part and the back of the brodice and im starting the fromt
I'm starting to get confused
also i just noticed this will barely cover my crotch
I'm 5'8 darn i guess i need XXL
I love this dress and am so glad you posted it. I will be trying this with my dads dress shirts. Thank you!
Anonymous: If you're having trouble, pls email me and I will do what I can to help! If there isn't enough fabric to cover your crotch, you can (hopefully) create a waistband from leftover fabric in the shirt, and then attach the skirt part. Or wear as a tunic. I'm not quite as tall as you, so I had enough for the skirt (though it is pretty short). You can of course add extra fabric (from something else) as a waistband to add length.
Thanks Jen Ell and Jeni for featuring my li'l ol' tutorial!
xoxo
Carly
I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Susan
http://carusbcharger.com
Megan the Plumber: You are hilarious! ROFL
Deanna: Thanks! How did your version from your Dad's old shirts turn out?
Hi Sarah! Thank you for visiting – hope to hear more from you!
Thank you for your comments!
xoxox
Carly
Really beautiful dress, I love the way you have presented it. keep it up.
This is amazing! I looove how it turned out. I'm going to attempt this, but this a plaid flannel shirt. I'll let you know how it goes! Thanks so much for the tutorial, by the way!
Hey Carly!
Just wanted to say that this look is amazing! I featured you and several of your looks on my blog posting today and hopefully will bring some more traffic to your site! you are an inspiration! keep up the good work!!
-Amanda
http://grishley.wordpress.com
Thank you so much for the pictures for this. I have tried making the folded shirt so many times and it never works out. The photos really help!!
College Term papers
Thanks Amanda & Term Papers…
I still have to get around to featuring your blog, Grishley…but I will! It's one of my new fave reads!
And sorry, Term Papers, for not posting photos – I know that would have been easier to follow, but the thought didn't occur to me until after I was done with all the sewing.
Glad you guys liked it!
xoxox
Carly
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I just made a version of this. Thanks Carly for the tut. Check out my version here: http://www.burdastyle.com/projects/what-s-his-is-mine
I just found your blog today, and I think you're blog is amazing! I wish I knew how to sew…
So nice work!That is amazing!It worth trying!Thanx!
Alright, so I'm working on making this shirt dress right now with an XL men's shirt. Now, the problem that I am having is that my bodice (sew together sleeves) is longer than my skirt and my bodice curves out so that the center front is longer than the center back.
Should I just trim down my bodice so that it is shorter and more rectangular before I attach it to the skirt or sew it on as is?
~Sarah
chickface (at) sbcglobal (dot) net
so beautiful
http://www.christianlouboutincabinet.com
http://www.newinhandbags.com
Love these dresses! Swoon. So often you find the more modern dresses are super expensive,
these… not so much! I recommend: http://www.promdressesol.com
Wow, this is too cute! I only wish my husbands shirts were wide enough to fit around my hips
good idea!
Scarves Scarves
wow, that's an amazing DIY!
I think it is very difficult to make but it's so beautiful!
xx Vivi
PS: Visit my blog! ;P
I finished my dress! 🙂 the hardest part was ruffles (making the strips and hemming them) and my elastic waist is not so great–but I am going to wear it with a cute black leather belt with a large daisy silver buckle. THe whole thing took about 3 hours from start to finish–not bad–and I am a newbie sewer (is that a term?). Thanks so much for this fun tutorial–I am going to try another one!!!
i love this dress! I remember seeing it at UO a while ago:)!
I attempted this tut. once already, and it didn’t really work out… hahaha!
but now that i’m here to try it again, some of the extremely helpful drawings of your’s are not there :(! instead there’s a little question mark! I don’t know if that’s my own computers fault, but I just don’t know what to do :(!
Argh, sorry about that. Migrating from Blogger unlinked about 2000 of my images; I’m slowly getting to fixing them. Should be fixed now!:-)
I just featured this on my blog. I LOVE IT!
http://seaminglysmitten.blogspot.com/2011/06/upcycled-my-new-dress-from-mens-dress.html
Jenny
I’ll be trying this minus the ruffles 🙂 Even though summer’s almost over it would look cute layered with a long-sleeve tee and some flared trousers…maybe with a cropped motorcycle jacket to toughen it up a bit. I found a similar top in Polyvore and made a set around it lol
I want to try it this weekends…Thanks!
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Aw, this was an extremely good post. Taking the time and actual effort to create a very good article_ but what
can I say_ I procrastinate a lot and never seem to get
anything done.
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