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Woman Modifies Old Thrift Store Clothes To Create New Outfits And Here Are 25 Of Her Best Works (New Pics)
Interview
Thrift stores are full to the brim with treasures beyond your wildest dreams. Though sometimes, you might need a bit of imagination, creativity, and, well, thriftiness, to alter the tired clothes you find and help their inner vintage beauty shine bright like a diamond.
Caitlin Trantham, known online as Cait Conquers and ‘that dress lady from TikTok,’ is a seamstress who transforms tired thrift store finds into marvelous and stunning new outfits. She’s incredibly talented and her skills with needle-and-thread are obvious for everyone to see. Scroll down to see some of Caitlin’s best new dress redesigns and the before-and-after photos.
I got in touch with Caitlin and she was kind enough to answer a few of my questions. She opened up about how she's been doing this past year. "Since last year, we moved to Hawaii. My husband is a Marine and got stationed here! The thrift shopping on O’ahu is amazing," she shared with Bored Panda.
Make sure to upvote the photos you liked the most and let us know which upcycled designs you enjoyed the most, Pandas. When you’re done with this list, you should definitely check out some of Caitlin’s previous designs, as featured on Bored Panda earlier, right over here.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
same dress. this upcycle is such a big difference, people on tiktok thought my video was either a lie or a joke this is an amazing example of what i love about refashioning dresses- creative problem solving! i started by taking off the sleeves/ bolero situation. then i dyed it using the same @ritdye synthetic that i used for the big wedding dress. the fabric is a cream damask brocade (raised texture) that was printed with flowers. after the dye bath, the front looked kind of like an oil slick. the pink and green still came through. but, the back of the fabric it looked like some amazing haunted mansion wallpaper. sooooo... i took apart every single seam and re-sewed it inside out in the process i did some restructuring in the neckline and tada! new dress!
Miss Frankfurter 4 years ago
That's simply inside out? Who in their wrong minds printed all those flowers onto that beautiful material in the first place?
"Other than the move, and the amazing new thrift stores, my following on TikTok and IG has grown immensely. I went from about 10k on IG this time last year to 116k and from 100k to 850k on TikTok! It has been an amazing ride my and has opened up some great opportunities. I’m just trying to keep inspiring people to thrift and upcycle!" Caitlin detailed to Bored Panda exactly how much her following has increased in just a year's time.
I was curious to find out whether the Covid-19 pandemic makes it more difficult to go thrifting. Thankfully, things are looking up in Hawaii!
"Hawaii has really stringent Covid policies, so shopping is still the same as it has been. The biggest issue is that none of our dressing rooms have reopened!" the dress designer said.
RELATED:
#2
One of my favorite transformations to date! i got this dress from @rentadress.rad in the spring and didn’t quite know what to do with it. with halloween coming up, i was suddenly inspired to dye it dark and see what would happen the stars were actually a follower suggestion that i ran with!i used rit dyemore in graphite for the dress. it is made for synthetic fabrics! after reading reviews, and helpful pictures on amazon, i knew it wouldn’t dye the entire dress pure black. i was still definitely taking my chances with the outcome though! the satin bodice turned a gorgeous silver and the tulle and underskirt picked up the black perfectly.i repaired all the beading by hand! it took 10+ hours, but honestly i love passive crafts i can do on the couch. the stars are from amazon!they only structural changes i made were taking up the straps and putting a simple ribbon corset in the back!
Miriam L 4 years ago
Does anyone else see the dress as silvery blue and navy, rather than silver and pure black? I thought it was intentional until I read the post - I love that blue!
Donna Turner 4 years ago
Beautiful dress 👗 and I love upcycling anything. My town has a tiny clothing section at goodwill and we have no thrift stores. Even the bigger town over has only a small goodwill and a Salvation Army clothes and small appliances store. They are covid closed. You are a beautiful way to start today in your talents! Blessed be your family and be safe.
Stephanie Dodd 4 years ago
Wow this ones great and due to the cost of similar dresses probably worth the effort and custom! I love this one!
Caitlin also shared some advice for all of you Pandas who might want to follow in her footsteps. "Advice as far as social media: find your niche and stick with it! You never know what will resonate with people," she said.
Meanwhile, if you'd like to learn how to sew, you need to take into account that a lot of the stuff that you'll create at the start might not be up to your standards. "More than half of the things you make when you first start will be hot garbage, and that’s OK. It’s part of the process! Keep choosing projects that will challenge you."
#3
Easy little makeover of this pretty 90s floral! i started by dissembling the dress at the seams. i attempted to use a pattern for the bodice, but ended up modifying it so much that it’s not worth mentioning i had just enough fabric to construct a new bodice, but it was really really close the front panel ended up too wide, so i did a cute little pinch pleat at the top and added a bow. i reused the ruffle on the collar for the straps. my bodice is lined with an old sheet, that has actually lined 4 dresses so far!
Tina Strong 4 years ago
Love this one! Reminds me of the first "grown up" dresses my artist/seamstress mother designed for my sister and me in the mid-sixties. We lived in Miami, and nobody ever asked if they were "homemade." That was a pejorative then, unfortunately. Not now though, blessedly. Thank you for the happy thoughts this evening.
Riley Quinn 4 years ago
I think the fitted result is much prettier than the shapeless original.
Lynne Wilson 4 years ago
I would love to learn how to sew, any idea's on how or where I should start looking for a class? I would appreciate any help you could give me thank you in advance for your time and help 🤗😊
Caitlin is a mom to three kids and a military spouse. She’s always had a penchant for crafts and a passion for vintage clothes.
It was during the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, when pretty much everyone was locked down at home, that she decided to do something new with all the extra time she had on her hands. That’s when she started breathing new life into vintage thrift store clothes. Fabulous? Crafty? Inspired? We think so!
#4
i really think this is going to be my dress for the next marine corps ball! it isn’t the color i originally set out for, but i’m so happy with how it came out. @ritdye rit dyemore came in clutch, and i once again was able to use their formula charts online to create a custom color!
Terri Montgomery Toland 4 years ago
That custom color is beautiful! Seeing all of the creations is REALLY making me regret taking those 6 trash bags full of my old dresses to the Goodwill. I had some beautiful prints that I couldve done SOOOOO much with 😭 Hopefully someone like you will find them, update them, give them new life and love them as much as I use to. Most had only been worn a couple of times. I had just outgrown the style (from age 18 to my 50's now.). I could've done so much with them.
Linda Sayles-Chaney 4 years ago
You will be the fem fatal at the ball! I have such great memories of the Army balls we attended in our day!
Her new project became a roaring success almost instantly. Currently, she has over 116k followers on Instagram, as well as a whopping 857.2k adoring fans on TikTok. That’s nearly a million followers put together! She’s also received a jaw-dropping 17.5 million likes over on TikTok so far. We’ve absolutely no doubt that this number’s only going to go up.
It’s no wonder her (re)designs are getting so much attention online: they’re eye-catching and they’re huge improvements over the base vintage dress models that Caitlin picked up thrifting.
#5
I got this ‘church dress’ at salvation army for only $3. it had moth holes all over the sleeves! i loved the thick velvet appliqués at the cuffs, and knew i could do something awesome with them because i couldn’t use the fabric from the sleeves to help squeeze out enough for the skirt, i opted for frankensteining the lining together. i thought the two toned effect ended up looking really cool! i used simplicity 8330 for the bodice, and once again was disappointed in the sizing. i actually sized down two, and still had to make a ton of adjustments! all in all it was a challenging project, with lots of learning moments.
Stephanie Dodd 4 years ago
Wow!! Much better abd sook creative..again looks more high dollar so worth the effort.
#6
I love who this dress turned out! i feel like puff sleeves are having a moment again, so i decided to keep these. This flip was super easy and i wish they were all this quick and satisfying slightly sad 80s to modern date night
Grumble O'Pug 4 years ago
Nice, but watching Micarah Tewers do it is hilarious and sensational.
Riley Quinn 4 years ago
I hate puff sleeves, esp. the grotesquely large ones, but the result is much more attractive.
A bit over a year ago, my colleague Rokas spoke to Caitlin about her project. At the time, she told Bored Panda that she began sewing 7 years ago (just over 8 years ago if you’re reading this in the Autumn of 2021!) and had started with quilting.
"I just started really experimenting with clothing this year! When quarantine hit, I had a ton of time to practice and make a bunch of projects,” she shared with Bored Panda in 2020.
#7
A total redesign, that involved dismantling every seam. I sewed an entirely new bodice, with color blocking and reused almost all the trim.
the fallen soufflé 4 years ago
They are the same color, did you mean collar?
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Catrina Capps-Jordan 4 years ago
Absolutely precious! It reminds me of the sundresses my mother and her friends wore in the late 50s and early 60s!!
Caecilie Howard 4 years ago
You are a very talented seamstress, love all these posts i just came across. Noticed what i believe is a tattoo on your foot, do you mind sharing what it says? Always curious about what they mean to the person that has them. I find them intriguing!
#8
Quick and easy transformation on this maxi dress! the print gave me all the 50s vibes, so i knew i had to do a shorter full skirt. i separated the bodice and the skirt, then took in the bodice slightly at the darts. i got the top off the skirt, and used that extra fabric for pockets then simply gathered the skirt, and reattached it to the bodice! video tutorial will go up on friday (and yes, my $20 amazon wig is getting a ton of use lately )
Vicki Tavana 4 years ago
I also liked before as far as the waist but I don't like the bodice on the first at all!
#9
instead of going to the beaches or bbqing, we were stuck in quarantine jail yesterday so, i made this dress out of an old tablecloth! totally inspired by the one debbie wears in american graffiti. the pattern is gertie’s butterick
Davis the Un-Greatest 4 years ago
Bruh shut up. If you don’t like these don’t comment.
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Thrifting and vintage items have always been near and dear to Caitlin’s heart, for a variety of reasons. “Not only does it obviously save money, but being able to reuse and up-cycle things is great for our environment. Beyond that, I love the thrill of the hunt! I have found some really amazing pieces along the way,” she told Bored Panda.
Caitlins’s always keeping an eye out for unique outfits with transformation-friendly materials when considering her next redesign.
#10
Salty Wild Hair 4 years ago
I recognize this material from when I first lived in Hawaii and lots of things were still being used from the 70's (it was 1986). Very groovy.
#11
Here’s the grid photo of this fun before and after! I love to use Butterick B6453, because it’s a pattern that requires very little fabric for the bodice. That is essential when you have a limited amount to use! It’s also really easy to modify, and I always just cut the skirt however I want or however the available fabrics allows. To add the embroidery back on to the dress I sewed the panels together, then appliquéd then onto the center bodice piece, before sewing it together. It was fairly simple, but I loved problem solving and playing Tetris to make it fit!
Wendy Bryan 4 years ago
There's a reason these items end up in thrift stores. She's so clever and industrious to resuscitate them.
Sherry Allison 4 years ago
Wow!! Nobody can say the before is remotely attractive but the after is adorable.
Jude 4 years ago
I remember those original style dresses when I was small. They were called "house dresses" as women wore them when they were home, cooking and doing housework. My mom had several. I thought they were the ugliest sacks ever so to see her make use of it is something! Id never have thought of using one.
Salty Wild Hair 4 years ago
That very much looks like a housecoat (before)!!! I love the after.
#12
Here’s some pictures of the 4 thrifted Target dresses in to one big fluffy, twirly dress! I was inspired by a $400 Selkie dress, with a few tweaks
Robin Childers 4 years ago
The after is too 'busty'. A more modest neckline would have been more flattering.
Gabrielle B. Marcelo 3 years ago
eh she put it there thats what she likes
Load More Replies... Vicki Tavana 4 years ago
I love the after but don't like the ruffle at the bottom of the dress. Too much!
Sherry Allison 4 years ago
The first is cute as a casual hanging out dress or at home relaxation. The remake however is worthy of going out and showing off. Great job.
"Embroidery, a fun vintage print, embellishments, or anything else that could make a garment special. Then, I analyze the material -- am I going to be able to manipulate this? Is it going to fight me? The last thing I look at is closures: buttons and zippers, all that stuff. I need to make sure they can be moved or altered to fit my ideas,” she explained her thought process while out ‘hunting’ for thrift store treasures.
The seamstress usually sets herself a limit of $10 per item when out thrifting. You might think it would be difficult to find something for that amount, however, thrift store prices are often very customer friendly.
#13
Thrifted skirt into a cute little dress! I used a pattern from nhpatterns and adore the end result. I love when I find patterns that don’t use too much fabric- it makes them perfect for upcycling when you don’t have a lot to work with.
Sherry Allison 4 years ago
I think the short dress is adorable for a woman your age and you did an excellent job but....I personally love the long skirt too at least for a woman my age.
Ethel Kirkpatrick 3 years ago
Nicely done alteration. Love how you kept the beautiful border of the skirt for your dress and that everything is where it should be pattern-wise. A darned fine dress! Bravo!
Lavita Suttie 4 years ago
Hey mean girls! How about some positivity for a sister. Why don't you put some of your projects on display for everyone to tear apart
#14
I think you can really see the difference in the fabric from the pictures. Stiff and crusty, to the soft rayon it was meant to be! This dress was very likely headed to a landfill... it also had small holes all over the sleeves, and some in the bodice. I’m glad I got a chance to save it and give it a new life as a rad tie dye number
Gabrielle B. Marcelo 3 years ago
i think they bleach it and the bleached parts are the places where the dye will stick or show up
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Ethel Kirkpatrick 3 years ago
My personal feeling... and this is just me... is that I love the first photo. The bright colours added are not to my liking... However, that being said... you did a nice job with the dyeing!
#15
I think it’s time for another tie dye project! I never posted the pictures from this one I did in June
Ethel Kirkpatrick 3 years ago
A fabulous change to the colour here! Very summery and I love that it has pockets! :)
Gabrielle B. Marcelo 3 years ago
i am avoiding homework you use bright dye you get bright colors
For example, Caitlin went into detail about how the dresses at the local Goodwill where she used to live were a mere $4 each. Evening dresses were slightly pricier, at $6 while skirts were just $3. However, prices were slightly higher at The Salvation Army.
After buying the dresses that she wants to transform, she then uses some of her budget on various other materials that she might need. From buttons and thread to zippers and closures. Then, she takes everything home and starts weaving her magic. The result? Stunning before-and-after photos that any seamstress would be proud to show off.
#16
i don’t usually like to call a dress ugly, because everyone has different tastes, and i would hate to make someone feel sad if they liked the before. but.... this one might be an exception it had a collar, lace bodice, puff sleeves with lace sleeves underneath. it was ankle length and had a huge bow in the back. truly... unquie and i’m guessing it was a bridesmaid dress and there were several more like it i decided to remake the bodice, i used the same puff sleeves but i had to put elastic in them so that they fit. the dress as a whole was several sizes to small- so when i added the skirt i had to take a section from further down the length. i picked a short hem to help make the floral pattern feel less ‘old lady curtains’ such a fun transformation!
Robin Childers 4 years ago
You made the dress so short now it look like 'old lady' pillowcase.
Harri Ellis 3 years ago
I had a bridesmaid's dress that was that exact style, but mine was a deep, dark, red velvet. And beautiful, as my sisters dress was white velvet. The style came from the 1968 version of Romeo and Juliet.
Donna Turner 4 years ago
Love your remake! The original reminds me of Laura Ashley’s lace and florals collection from the mid 80’s to early 90’s . I wore flowers for years and never knew until a friend asked me if I had any clothes without flowers 💐 on them. How did I not notice- I was in my teens and early 20’s.
Kimberly M 4 years ago
I LOVE THIS HOT LITTLE NUMBER (#15)!!! I happened upon this page completely by accident. Two thoughts/questions for you, Caitlin: 1) Have you considered designing your own clothing line/label? 2) You should totally design your own clothing line/label!!
#17
i’m not sure how i forgot to post this side by side of the lace dress! this dress was given to me by an awesome follower, who wore it to her prom in 1986. she was clearing things out, and thought of me! she thought i could possibly give it a new life. when i got the dress, i was hesitant to alter it, because it was so pretty! this is why i understand the mixed emotions and opinions that are surrounding this makeover. i wasn’t going to touch it until i envisioned this beautiful blue. i have zero regrets
memyselfandI 4 years ago
I like both of them, but I feel like the after would have been better if it wasn’t quite so bright. It almost looks photoshopped, and doesn’t really work with the lacy flowy design.
#18
The caitconquers cross country tour continues, this time i’m reporting from my high school bedroom in mesa, az taking off the puff sleeves and shoulder pads, and moving up the drop waist made for a quick and simple flip! old lady florals are my jam
Laci Fuller 3 years ago
i kinda like the puffy sleeves, maybe add a belt with the before, and some jewelry?
#19
muumuu to romper! i hacked two different patterns for this one, and really had to work to get the fit right. i’m so happy with how it turned out, and it’s a huge improvement on rompers i’ve attempted in the past! this fabric is so sweet and perfect for spring
Pragyan Sharma 4 years ago
Hi.. do you provide custom stitching services? I absolutely love how you style and have become a fan of yours❤️👌
Marcella Hughes 4 years ago
The first one worn with white trainers is quite trendy now, especially teamed up with a smart jean jacket.
#20
Here’s a grid pic of this lace dress before and after! If you saw the videos, you know this one was just trouble. On to the next!
Lynne Stankard 4 years ago
Was it a night dress before???? Looks horrendous. Love the little pink number xx
#21
happy valentine’s day i decided to do this sweet pink dress this week. its been in my closet for ages! it was a side zip, but i had a lot of room to take it out and move it to the back. i measured out the bodice and hacked of the skirt, and then took in the bodice on every seam. i originally wanted to keep the overlay, but it wasn’t working out how i envisioned! so i tossed that idea and stuck to the beautiful fluffy cream underskirt!
Tina Strong 4 years ago
Your redesign is so cinematic. West Side Story or Dirty Dancing. I feel pretty just looking at it.
#22
Finally feeling like we have a little bit of normal! and then hawaii is locking us down again first muumuu flip and i’m already addicted. the colors and patterns and span of decades you can find in thrifts here is a dream come true! this was a freestyle.. i even made the encased elastic puff sleeves and waist without having to google and i was super proud inspired by the current amazing ‘cottagecore’ aesthetic. brb, going to roam an open field of wild flowers
Celtic Pirate Queen 4 years ago
The before looks like a "Sister Wives" creation. Or a nightgown.
Megan O'Neill 4 years ago
you don't actually need to comment that on every dress. Geez. Just do your homework ;)
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#23
A lot of people have asked to see pictures! I posted them on my stories and shared some behind the scenes, but here they are! The end dress is a Frankenstein of 4 dresses, a lace duster vest and then 8 yards of fabric for the ruffles. I set out to upcycle the entire project, but for the amount of fabric I needed for the ruffles and my time constraints it wasn’t going to happened without yardage. It consists of the main original dress, a black dress cut to add to the train… the lace duster was used as an overlay to cover the maroon fabric in the stripe.. the second red skirt is another dress, and the black peekaboo at the bottom is another dress that I used as a base layer.
I completely restructured the bodice, taking out the back panel and building a new one with thin straps. Built out the train, cut in a high low hem, layered the skirts and spent 10ish hours making ruffles. It was the most challenging thing I’ve done yet. But I wasn’t going to pass up an opportunity to challenge myself!
K. Lange 4 years ago
nothing wrong with the dress on the left! And I really don't like the blue? ruffles on the right.
Leah Williams 4 years ago
I think they're just black not blue, I think it's the lighting
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Lorie Shewbridge 4 years ago
I don't care for the first dress at all. The second one I really like except for the piece across the bodice. It looks a bit like Christmas garland to me.
Robin Childers 4 years ago
The original dress was kinda 'meh' but the end result is gaudy. Overdone.
Gabrielle B. Marcelo 3 years ago
she spent time on this be a little more respectful
Load More Replies... Robin Huff 4 years ago
Just WOW! ❤️ So creative and awesome sewing skills. I couldn’t even imagine a result like this from several dresses & some yardage. I’ve often seen old, beautiful items of gorgeous fabrics and tried to imagine what could be done with them, but reluctantly left them on the rack, knowing I could never pull it off. You are amazing.
#24
My not so favorite dress ever. I mean, she’s cute. In her own way! I dyed her purple, and moved up the skirt. I decided to wear the buttons in the back so that I had a clean space up front. I made the apron from vintage placemats! It’s a little cottage core, a little Sound of Music and a little French country side. All all in a fun experience, despite the outcome.
Ethel Kirkpatrick 3 years ago
I'm more of a fan of the dress in the first pic... I love how it hangs and the simplicity of it. I think I would have shortened the hem and bit but not that much. I'm not saying your version of it isn't cute... it is... Just not for me...
Jebediah Chamberland 3 years ago
She has a knack for making everything into 2011 chic. The before is much more "now'.
#25
Before and after, purple/black/grey ice dye!
Rebecca Little 4 years ago
Fabulous! Just love her creative mind and ability to transform these vintage items into still vintage, yet updated styles! Good for her!!!
Dayna *DeVille* Deau 4 years ago
Like any of you being mean and judgy could even sew a button onto a shirt let alone actually "create" something!
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Claire Stanfield 4 years ago
I'm so torn about this. Love the designs, creativity, and reusing existing clothing. Where I feel a little sad is when we buy up 4 dresses to make one, or buy a larger size to make a smaller garment. It's not easy for larger people to find clothes in the first place, especially on a budget. Admittedly many of these 'befores' are not the most fashionable thing in the world, but they could still be worn. When these trends take off, it could very well cause the availability of larger clothes at thrift stores to evaporate.
BoopBoop 4 years ago
They probably could still be worn, but are so ugly, the people that could wear them probably don't want to. It's better if clothing is actually worn. I also highly, highly doubt that enough people have both the sewing skills and time for this to become a trend that "takes off." I don't think we need to shame her for this.
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Sunny Delight 2 years ago
Most of the dresses are hideous. But, I don't understand how dying a garment makes it "up cycled"
Ethel Kirkpatrick 3 years ago
I usually buy extra large things at thrift stores... I've been doing this for about 20 years or so. I do this because, at my age... and the age I was then, I could not find anything that was not for a skinny 14 year old and the length was always too short. Sometimes I luck out and find something just perfect for me at very little price (tho, that seems to be changing - prices are going up) I never worry about colour because I can dye it and I've sometimes bot something that was obviously too small because I liked the fabric or the colour or the feel of it. But, I have to say... making something smaller is way easier than trying to make it bigger. I want good everyday clothes that I can work with. I sew everything by hand and feel this gives me more leeway in what and how I will do it. It's a part of my life now and I love it.
Gabrielle B. Marcelo 3 years ago
for the people that are saying she did terrible its great to have youre own opinion but she spent time on this stuff she worked hard theres no need for this its not like shes gonna change it for you
Claire Stanfield 4 years ago
I'm so torn about this. Love the designs, creativity, and reusing existing clothing. Where I feel a little sad is when we buy up 4 dresses to make one, or buy a larger size to make a smaller garment. It's not easy for larger people to find clothes in the first place, especially on a budget. Admittedly many of these 'befores' are not the most fashionable thing in the world, but they could still be worn. When these trends take off, it could very well cause the availability of larger clothes at thrift stores to evaporate.
BoopBoop 4 years ago
They probably could still be worn, but are so ugly, the people that could wear them probably don't want to. It's better if clothing is actually worn. I also highly, highly doubt that enough people have both the sewing skills and time for this to become a trend that "takes off." I don't think we need to shame her for this.
Load More Replies... Sunny Delight 2 years ago
Most of the dresses are hideous. But, I don't understand how dying a garment makes it "up cycled"
Ethel Kirkpatrick 3 years ago
I usually buy extra large things at thrift stores... I've been doing this for about 20 years or so. I do this because, at my age... and the age I was then, I could not find anything that was not for a skinny 14 year old and the length was always too short. Sometimes I luck out and find something just perfect for me at very little price (tho, that seems to be changing - prices are going up) I never worry about colour because I can dye it and I've sometimes bot something that was obviously too small because I liked the fabric or the colour or the feel of it. But, I have to say... making something smaller is way easier than trying to make it bigger. I want good everyday clothes that I can work with. I sew everything by hand and feel this gives me more leeway in what and how I will do it. It's a part of my life now and I love it.
Gabrielle B. Marcelo 3 years ago
for the people that are saying she did terrible its great to have youre own opinion but she spent time on this stuff she worked hard theres no need for this its not like shes gonna change it for you
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