We are all pink inside

{DISCLAIMER:  I love pink, in any and every form that our good Lord created it.  It is the universal color, it is pure perfection, no other color could come close to the pure magic and wonderment that is "PINK."}

(now here comes the *but*.....)

I found this skirt at the thrift store last week, and I couldn't seem to put it down.  I tried it on, and it was a great fit.  Good lines, flattering on me, well made, and dirt cheap.  What's the problem then?  I can't believe I'm saying this, but it was too pink.  Or rather, too much of the wrong kind of pink, for me.  It just didn't mesh with my skin tone, and I wasn't' sure if I had, or if there even were, many tops that would successfully pair with it.  I bought it anyway, of course, (you can only argue with yourself for so long over a $2 purchase without feeling stupid) and I had the notion that it could be fixed somehow, and the 'how' part came to me later in the form of a good bleach-soaking.  I have used this technique a few times in the past with mixed results.  Sometimes the bleach reduces the fabric to shreds, sometimes the color change is ghastly, sometimes nothing happens at all.  But this time, happily, the bleach was a success, and the skirt went from a garment that probably would have haunted the back of my closet, to a pretty, faded, much better (still pink) skirt that will get lots more use.  I actually remembered to take a before shot, but it's a little out of focus.

So, it does not look that bad in the picture, but trust me.  It was really PINK. 

Now, here is the *AFTER*

Sooooo, much more me.  It is very reminiscent of a faded, vintage sheet, don't you think?  And now it will go with so many of my light, summery tops (especially the white, lacy kind.)  And the bleaching also gave the slight stiff fabric a much softer and more wearable feel.  I'm so happy that one of my experiment actually turned out for the better, I've been needing that reassurance lately.  I will add this pic to my Summer Wardrobe Thrift Along set (please feel free to join me!)  Oh, and I can also add this top I found lately, too.

The tag says "sleepwear", but I say "Nay!  What can be worn in the night is also right for the day!"

(Wow, I'm a poet and I don't even know it.  I think the bleach fumes went to my head.)

Comments

[Kat]

The "after" is lovely, definitely you!

[Sarah]

The after is much better.

Are you doing that bleaching thing the martha way? Using chlorine neutralizer and all that?

I always wondered if it worked, lol.

[Wylie]

So glad your bleach experiment turned out so well! I bought a shirt at a yard sale for .50 the other day, and it said dry clean only, and I thought, what the heck, and tossed it in the wash, and it came out small enough to fit a four-year-old child! I was disappointed, but glad I hadn't spent more on it!

I love you blog, by the way.

[amy]

such a cute skirt and shirt! lucky you! so how do you bleach-soak something?

[Eren]

Now why didn't I ever think of this...love the effect. I've tried tea staining items, but never bleaching them out...unless you count my acid washed mini from 8th grade *wink*.

[Tiffany]

I have not tried the bleaching, but I have used a little bit of black dye (light gray) to mute fabric colors before. (Or a little bit of brown dye would be similar to tea staining)

My mom gave me a hot pink hoodie once (and I'm not even a 'pink' person). With the dye it because a lovely country rose shade, I stencilled across the front and now I wear it all the time.

[Amber]

Never would have even thought of that! Awesome job.

[Nice-Etc]

oh i think it turned out so nice! very delicate and pretty. great job!

[jerusalem]

Great idea! I love it!

[Laurel]

Nice work. It's def the total vintage sheet skirt now. Also love your pajama top find. Rock them proud.

[Dominique]

Hi ,
I received the good luck birdy , it is lovely thank you very much indeed and thank you for the badges & the little rabbit too it was very sweet of you. It is hanging on my little dresser in my lounge.
I love the pink skirt it is so lovely
x Dom

[Cathy]

I love the before and the after. I've always wondered about bleaching but been too scared to try. I'm about to try my hand at using dye for the first time - hope my results come out as good as your bleaching experiment!
Cathy

[suzy]

Excellent, great redo! I love the faded look of it now. xo, suzy

[Missy]

That skirt is a great find!
Missy

[deirdre]

that skirt is so lovely now! what a great idea.

[moki]

those are the cutest pieces! I've discovered I have pink days ;)