Vintage Pleated Dress Upcycle + 3 Ways to Style It

Hey fashion lovers! In today’s post, I’m sharing how I took a classic pleated vintage dress and gave it a fresh, modern twist by transforming it into a chic two-piece set. And wait till you see how I incorporated the original belt buckle into the redesign and made it the focal point of the whole look! I’ll walk you through the steps I took to transform it, plus show you 3 fabulous ways to style it.

I posted a little teaser on my socials called “Guess That Remake” and asked my followers to guess how I’d refashion the dress. Well, here’s the reveal! Let’s break down how this vintage dress makeover came to life. Before diving into the makeover, let me give you a quick rundown of what I started with. This vintage gem had a button front bodice, knife pleated skirt, an elastic waist and a matching fabric belt with a gold buckle.

I knew I wanted to upcycle this vintage dress into a two-piece set (a top and a skirt), but the real challenge was figuring out how to incorporate the belt buckle in a way that was stylish and intentional. The final design actually centers around the buckle.

Since it has an open end, I used it to attach the two pieces which basically converts the outfit back into a dress. Gravity does most of the work to keep it in place. It’s both functional and a standout detail. Bonus? Since the buckle isn’t sewn in permanently, I can easily remove it when it’s time to wash the pieces.

materials used:

Watch the Full Tutorial Here

Ready to see the full transformation in action? Watch the tutorial video below and see how I upcycled this vintage pleated dress from start to finish, including three fabulous ways to style the final look! Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more DIY fashion makeovers.

↓  Make sure to watch in 4K, for the best viewing experience  ↓

Ready to Try It?

If you’ve got a pleated vintage dress hiding in your closet or find one while thrifting, this upcycle project is a fun way to give it new life. With just a few tweaks, you can take something dated and turn it into something on trend.

Got questions? Drop them below or tag me in your own upcycle projects. I’d love to see what you create!

If you loved this upcycle and found it helpful, share it with someone you know who’d appreciate it too. Let’s inspire more people to give their old clothes a second life!

Until next time! 💚

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