Talk about talented and creative! Meet Shey, from Modesty is Pretty This stylish kindergarten teacher from Texas really knows how to rock the refashion world. Visit her blog to see some amazing transformations and read on to be inspired.
1. In your blog, Modesty Is Pretty, you make refashioning look so easy. How did you get started in the refashioning world?
I started very young, as a little girl I would always watch my mom (who is a seamstress) altering her clothes to fit her perfectly. If I wanted a cool denim jacket that we could not afford my mom would take an old jacket of mine and make it into something cool using scraps of fabric. I learned from her but refused to try refashioning for many years, I didn’t start refashioning clothes on my own till I got my first sewing machine 3 years ago.
2. You’ve got a great sense of style. You really know how to put an outfit together. How long have you been refashioning and thrifting clothes? Thank you! I’ve been thrifting for the past 5 years and refashioning for the last 3 years. There’s this blog sewithought.wordpress.com that is wonderful, it’s by a girl that has been refashioning clothes for a long time, and she always inspired me with her refashions, once I got my sewing machine I thought “I can do this too.”
3. What is your favorite refashioned outfit?
My favorite refashioned outfit would have to be the first Laura Ashley dress I refashioned, it was a long flower print dress, it was really ugly, but I made it into a 50’s inspired version. I love that dress because it was one of my first refashioning posts and everyone left such encouraging comments I felt so happy to share it.
4. How do your kindergarten students respond to your outfits? Do they have a favorite?
My kids compliment me every day and often ask me do a cat walk with a twirl (embarrassing but they like it and it makes them giggle), they are really sweet. They always find something they like about my outfits, big confidence booster! They like that I take the time to dress nice for them.
5. You really have an amazing eye for picking out things from the thrift store that others would most likely pass by. Then you recreate them into something fabulous. Do you have any tips for figuring out which pieces will be good to refashion?
I look at magazines for inspiration. I pay attention at how clothes are made and the types of fabrics used, little details like that. I always make sure I pay attention to quality fabrics, colorful prints and patterns, once you get the eye for it, they are very easy to spy. Many times people are discouraged by the smell or the lack or organization at thrift stores, not me! I like finding things that are broken or torn because I’ll get them for cheaper and I can repair them. I also try to imagine garments not as they are but as what they will look like once I’m done refashioning them.
6. Which refashioned outfits were the most challenging for you and how did you overcome the challenges?
One of the most challenging ones was a black Laura Anshley dress I refashioned not long ago, it had big shoulder pads and it fit all wrong in the shoulders and sleeves, sleeves intimidate me a bit because I’m fairly new at sewing, I put it on and it took off so many times for fitting I was glad when was finally done, it looked like a simple refashion but it took me a while. Another alteration that took me a while was a red coat, I went to my mom for advice and help, she’s a professional seamstress, so it’s nice to have her guide me when I’m confused about something.
Thanks to Shey for being the first Refashion Icon of the Month. You can see more of Shey’s amazing transformations at Modesty is Pretty.
The Renegade Seamstress 
Thank you so much for the feature Beth! =)
I love this girl’s style. So creative!
Hi, I love your blog. Is there some thing I can do to obtain updates like a subscription or some thing? I am sorry I am not acquainted with RSS? http://www.ctctradeshows.com
I have been a follower of Shey’s for a long time and it’s so nice to read more about her refashion/sewing background here. I wish I had space for a sewing machine in my house, because I’d definitely give refashion-ing a try. I love to thrift and I spot gems all the time–the problem is taking them home and attempting to tackle the item alone. Maybe someone somewhere will start a video blog that will teach us beginners how to get started or a video blog with step by step instructions!!
Chandra
MoMoMod
That’s such a good idea Chandra! I might just have to do that! Thanks for checking out my blog!