How to Put Your Old Prom Dress to Good Use

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By joni04
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Article Rating: (12 Ratings)

The prom is long behind you and all you have left is that dress hanging in the back of your closet. Even if you cannot sew, you have plenty of ways to use that dress for something else! This also works for those bridesmaid dresses collecting dust as well.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Consider selling it on eBay, Craigslist or at a garage sale. Another option is to donate it to charity. Depending on what condition your dress is in, go to a prom dress swap. This is a great option if you are in need of a new one, bring your clean and stylish dress in to swap for another. Some smaller hair salons like to put on these prom dress swaps to promote their business for prom services.
Step 2

Make a decorative pillow. If the dress is outdated but still in good shape, use the material to cover a pillow. Start by cutting so that there is enough fabric to cover the entire pillow. Lay out the fabric on a flat surface and place the pillow form in the middle. Gather fabric up evenly around all edges, fluffing and arranging for desired look. Take one corner of the fabric and the corner across from that one. Tie these together. Next take the two remaining corners and tie these. If your dress had some decorative jewelry, another idea is to fasten the ends of the fabric in the center with it.
Step 3

Decorate a small window with a window swag or valance. If you cannot sew, simply drape the dress around the curtain rod. If you can sew, you can find a pattern to use with the fabric you have. Maybe you have left-over fabric from other dresses or other projects that you can use. Make sure the colors compliment each other.
Step 4

Let your daughter or little sister wear it for Halloween or a costume party. Add a tiara and shoes and you're set. Girls love to "dress up" even when it's not Halloween, keep you dresses in a dress up box for your girls to use, along with any old purses you may have.

Comments

kimmii said

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on 10/10/2009 Well, The problem of what to do with the not -so-gently used, white tulle Mori Lee prom dress is now solved. Along with the detailed white chiffon bolero and the organdie-layered petticoat, it has now gone.
Courtesy of my son and his 1975 Ford F-Series Pick-Up truck engine rebuild project.
Apparently tulle is the perfect materiel for cleaning and de-greasing a filthy slurry filled 40-year-old engine. The miles of tulle that the dress was made from, (About 5 layers of it) and the 3 layers of organide petticoat were more than enough to clean the years of dirt, sludge and grease from the 40 year old V8 engine. The silk satin underskirts also made excellent oil wipes. The bolero is missing so I expect that was also used in the de-grease.
The only part of the gown that remains is the sparkling bodice. It is now being used as an impromptu drip tray, currently lying on the ground underneat...

FrazzledNanny said

on 3/15/2009 Great tips on uses for your old prom dress. I have several prom dresses that I will never wear again. Now I can at least get some use out of them. 5*

Merriment said

on 3/15/2009 Really good suggestions for recycling old, yet beautiful attire!

langleycornwell said

on 3/13/2009 This is a great article on using old prom dresses. Love the suggestion about using the material to cover a pillow. Excellent. 5*s and a recommend.