Creative color-blocking: goldenrod and fuchsia

dress/t-strap leather clogs/tights

You know it's a good outfit when your husband begs you not to curse his family for not carrying your old little frail self up a mountain...(if you haven't seen the movie Holes or read the book of the same name, I apologize for you missing the reference to the fabulous Madame Zeroni)

similar headband/similar earrings

 This color combination is one that was initially a huge step out of my comfort zone. I love goldenrod yellow, but I would never have thought to pair it with fuchsia (even though they're complementary colors so IDK why I never thought about it before???). I was in a huge rush to get ready today so this whole look was kind of a gamble. Having to teach on Sundays for 9 AM church is a brutal learning curve I am adjusting to, but I *think* I made it work, and managed to come out with my rat's nest hair being well hidden by the Madame Zeroni-esque velvet turban headband. 

Now that I am seeing how this dress photographed I realize that I should probably (who am I kidding...definitely) iron it if I ever plan to get it photographed again hahaha. Today was a beautiful respite from some of the cooler temperatures we have been experiencing in the DFW area. Which means I was able to wear my beloved Lotta clogs (linked above) and this whole ensemble without having ice-cubes for eyeballs and frostbite all over. 

What are some color combinations that you would like to see featured or that you've tried and were surprised that you liked? I'd love to hear from you guys!

prevent pinching without wearing extremes

I'm not going to mince my words...I hate how most holidays are over-commercialized and celebrated here in the U.S. Up there at the top of my list of most cringe-worthy holidays is St. Patrick's Day. I am neither Irish, a drinker, nor do I believe in touching (let alone pinching) people for something stupid like not wearing green...ugh...

similar dress (mine is from H&M's spring 2017 line) /clogs/similar necklace/backpack

I know bright green is also a tough hue for a lot of people to pull off, and I really have to be in the mood to wear it. Overall I tend to gravitate toward muted colors and more earthy tones. So I present you with two options; one dressy and one a little more casual, that will keep pinch happy friends at bay while not looking like a leprechaun threw up on you. 

(I think I was smiling so hard because I absolutely have loved my Valentine's Day gift from Musashi, these amazing Lotta clogs, they're comfy enough for a day of walking around at the Magnolia Market!)

I was so excited about all the pretty floral arrangements and photo backgrounds for my first time at the Magnolia Market at the silos in Waco. I went with a group of friends for the spring festival at the silos and it was a beautiful day and a wonderful time was had by all. My dress worked well in the windy weather with its vintage cut and color, it didn't blow up and scare children, it was comfy and practical and mint green is a universally flattering color in my opinion. 

shirt/pants/similar cardigan

I recently bought this backpack purse and it is LIFE CHANGING!!! It is functional but still looks good with a variety of outfits and would suit a lot of styles. It also doesn't get in the way and hurt my shoulders the way other purses I've used do. Go get yourselves one at target. I <3 target

That's where the shirt is from as well in my casual minty green look.

shoes

H&M has been killing the inexpensive shoe game for quite some time but last spring and this spring they've done exceptionally well. These are comfy, stylish, unique and fun. The idea of wearing green on just your accessories if you really don't want to wear it on your outfit is not a new one but definitely worth revisiting to protect yourself from over-zealous pinchy fingers. 

convertible backpack purse

If people still give you a hard time for not wearing the bright kelly green shades you can just jump on a log and run away...no one needs that kind on insanity and negativity in their lives. This will be easy to do in these super comfy linen pants from Simply Sunday Market. Get your pair (or anything on their site) 10% off using the code HEIDI10. I will be doing a full review of some of their products and my thoughts on my haul from them in the coming week.

With all that said, best of luck on this my least favorite of holidays ;) 

Subtly sweet outfit for Valentine's Day

I seriously could NOT think of a better post title. I am so very tired and have a lot of stuff on my plate right now. I am going to keep it brief and just let the outfit shine. It is sort of Valentines-ish without being over the top; burgundy lace and florals go with the season without being saccharine (or so I think). 

skirt/similar cardigan/belt/similar booties/similar shirt

This is kind of like a "uniform" for me lately. I'll pull on a solid colored skirt with a patterned top OR a patterned skirt with a solid top then layer a cardigan in a coordinating shade. It has been perfect for the chilly morning, warmer afternoon weather we have been experiencing. Most of the items are thrifted/second hand but the skirt was a gift from my wonderful husband. 

Then, because I am short, I will pull it together with some kind of a comfortable heel and a waist-defining apparatus. The belt is one of my favorites and I have it in black too, if they sold it in other colors I probably would own them too because they are seriously awesome. 

What are some of your "uniform" outfits lately? 

Vintage Style Sunday: Olive green fall look

similar dress/similar shoes/similar hat/similar tights

It's been a really long time since I blogged. I am going to be honest, I really just wanted to quit. My husband has had two major surgeries for a torn Achilles tendon (with another surgery scheduled for a couple weeks from now). He tore his Achilles about a week after our disaster-riddled move to the Dallas area. That and both of us starting new jobs...it's just been one thing after another lately, but this blog is one of my ways of releasing some of that stress so I decided to jump back in and drag my poor husband out wearing his boot and toting the camera...he's a saint. 

similar dress/similar shoes/similar hat/similar tights

I will be starting a series where I feature vintage items from my wardrobe once a month with inspiration on how to incorporate pieces in a modern wardrobe. I fell in love with this olive green 1940s wool dress last year, I bought it, then remembered I lived in Houston; where there are literally no days in the year where it is comfortable to wear wool clothing. 

Today it was a beautiful fall day in Dallas, with a little chill and some wind. So I took this dress out for a spin for the first time!!! Some details I love are the flared skirt, slightly puffed sleeves, and the cute collar (concealed by my hair...ugh). 

similar dress/similar shoes/similar hat/similar tights 

 I paired it with some black oxford heels, which I believe should be a staple in every closet, they go with almost everything and add a touch of whimsy and class to any outfit. I also paired it with some fun polka dot tights and my vintage 1940s hat which I have featured on the blog before. My awesome sister-in-law got me the cute clock necklace at a maker fair in Oregon, it is pretty unique and this was the closest thing I could find that might be similar to it.

similar dress/similar shoes/similar hat/similar tights

The biggest thing I have learned when purchasing vintage is knowing your measurements and how you fit certain other clothes. I browsed many other olive green vintage dresses before coming across one that had measurements that would fit me comfortably. Some things to keep in mind is that slightly larger items can be easily tailored and/or might end up being more comfortable because they allow for movement, while items too small for you just won't do. Err on the side of slightly too big when you are making that judgment call. Don't purchase anything without knowing its measurements!!!

similar dress/similar shoes/similar hat/similar tights

I hope you all feel inspired to start delving into the world of vintage, it is a great way to add uniqueness to your wardrobe and be ecologically friendly as well. I will be providing more tips and tricks which I have discovered along the way as I continue this series. Do you have any vintage items in your wardrobe? If so, where did you get them? Let me know in the comments and have a great day :)

changes---changements

ikat chambray shirt/ sequin skirt/ heels

maxi dress (similar)/sandals 

I've heard that the only constant in life is change...

J' ai entendu dire que la seule constante dans la vie c' est le changement...

Change has most notably been in my life in the form of moving. I've never lived in any one place longer than 4 years. This is something about me that I both love and hate about my life. I have seen so many different places and met so many people, but I have never felt at home or settled down.

Le changement s' est présenté dans ma vie sous la forme du déménagement. Je n'ai jamais vécu dans une même ville pour plus de 4 ans. Ceci est quelque chose qu'à la fois j'adore et que je déteste, j'adore voir de nouveaux lieux et rencontrer de nouvelles personnes, je déteste devoir tout recommencer et me sentir comme si je n'ai pas de "chez moi". 

My husband has been looking for a job for awhile now. He wanted to get out of the oil and gas industry; his company and many others experienced a lot of layoffs, oil and gas is not his passion, and ethically it doesn't really agree with us. Musashi's interests are in the aerospace and aeronautic field. He has been working toward his pilot's license and he is very close to being done with that, and he also just got a job offer. Two of his big goals have been achieved. 

Mon mari cherche un travail depuis un certain temps. Il voulait quitter son poste dans l'industrie du pétrol; son entreprise et beaucoup d'autres ont souffertes avec la crise de pétrol, Musashi n'est pas passioné du pétrol, et le pétrol ne s'aligne pas avec nos éthiques. Les intêrets de mon mari sont plutôt l'aerospatial et l'aeronautique. Depuis quelques années il travail sur sa licence de pilote privé, et maintenant il a reçu une nouvelle offre d'emploi. Deux de ses grands buts sont presque atteints. 

Musashi's new job is in avionics, which is definitely in the field he wanted to get into. The company that offered him the job is Safran, a French aerospace and defense conglomerate. The position is in Dallas, Texas. I am both excited and very sad about this new change.

Le nouveau poste de Musashi est dans l'avionique, donc c'est un domaine qui l'nteresse. L'entreprise qui lui a offert le poste c'est Safran, une entreprise de défense et d'aeronautique française. Le poste est à Dallas, dans le Texas. J'ai hâte de pouvoir déménager mais je suis aussi tellement triste de devoir le faire.

Not only is moving stressful and a pain in the butt...I hate having to leave behind all the friendships and connections I feel like I just barely made. We have been in Houston 3 years, but because we have been so busy with work, it has been hard getting to know people and making friends. I always end up becoming close to people only right as I am about to leave.

I find that all too often I get written off and forgotten once I move, and while it is very hurtful it's also understandable; when you're no longer a part of someone's day-to-day it just happens. As a social person one of my biggest fears is that I will never really have a true friend, one that I can turn to no matter what (besides my husband), there have been friends like that in the cities I have lived in but once I move it is never quite the same afterward. 

Non seulement le déménagement est-il stressant et pénible...je déteste devoir quitter les amis que j'ai l'impression d'avoir à peine rencontrer. Nous vivons à Houston depuis 3 ans, mais puique nous avons été préoccupé par le travail nous n'avons pas eu l'occasion de sortir souvent et de former des amitiés. J'ai la mauvaise habitude de me rapprocher des gens juste avant de devoir déménager. 

J'ai constaté que l'on oublie rapidement ceux qui partent, ça me blesse mais c'est comprehensible; quand tu n'es plus dans la vie quotidienne des gens c'est une conséquence naturelle. En tant qu'une personne sociable j'ai peur de ne jamais pouvoir trouvé une amie à qui tout confier (à part mon marie), j'ai eu des amis proches dans les différentes villes où j'ai vécu mais une fois que je pars les choses ne sont jamais vraiment les mêmes. 

One thing I hope to continue in my new city is to mentor young people. The lovely lady pictured with me is one of MANY young people whom I have grown to cherish and I hope that I will continue to be able to teach and inspire them through my work as a teacher and my church responsibilities.

 Until I move, I will make the most of the little time I have left in Houston. This was a fine city to experience "real" adulthood in, now I guess I'm an old wizened woman moving up north just a few hours ;)

Quelque chose que j'espère pouvoir continuer dans ma nouvelle ville c'est guider et inspirer les jeunes personnes. La jolie petite demoiselle dans les photos avec moi n'est qu'une de plusieurs jeunes personnes avec qui j'ai eu le privilège de servir. A travers mon travail en tant que prof et en tant que dirigeante de jeunes à l'église j'espère que je continurais à être une conseillère et une enseignante pour elles. 

 Mais bon, jusqu'au jour du déménagement je vair profiter de mon temps à Houston. Houston a été une ville sympa pour notre première experience de travaul, et maintenant il est bientôt temps pour cette vieille harpie de partir quelques heures au nord ;)

style across generations---le style à travers les générations

I wore this outfit on the day that the U.S. celebrated Mother's Day. I got to thinking about how my mom and her mom have inspired and continue to inspire me. 

My mom learned from her mom that you can be stylish and maintain your personal convictions and comfort zones with regard to modesty. I am thankful to my mom for then passing down this lesson, and helping me come to that conclusion on my own as I grew older and more independent.

My mother and grandmother are shining beacons of class, beauty, inner strength and light. I want to make them proud and find myself thinking of what they might say when I dress myself.

Neither my mom nor my grandma are slaves to trends. They have their own style, they are thrifty and wise with their purchases. I continue to try and consider the versatility of my purchases, if they are true to my style and if they are financially reasonable.

My grandma let me have some of her clothes when I last went to visit her; they are timeless and beautiful and I will cherish them forever. My mom and I constantly trade and wear one another's things as well. 

Most of all, they both have taught me that while what you present on the outside can help you feel confident and help you express yourself it is what is on the inside that truly matters. I love these women and love the influence they have had on my life, and for so much more than their style! 

Mamie (grandma) in the blue cutout dress on the far right, maman (mom) in the middle in the teal midi dress circa the 1980s

Maman a few years ago with my brother, all dressed up and looking lovely

En pensant à la fête des mères je pense à la manière dont maman et mamie m'ont influencé et continuent de m'influencer. 

Ma mamie a appris a ma mère qu'il est possible d'être chic en restant pudique. Ainsi ma mère m'a enseigner la même leçon, et j'en suis reconnaissante. Ma mère et ma grand-mère sont des femmes fortes, rayonnantes, et classes. Quand je m'habille je pense souvent à elles et j'essaie de faire des choix qui les rendraient fières. 

Ma mère m'a aussi appris qu'il faut choisir ses achats judiciseusement. Ni elle ni ma mamie sont victimes des tendances de mode. Je reste fidèle à mes goûts et mon style personnel car elles m'ont appris à le faire. J'essaie de faire de sages décisions financières même si j'aime beaucoup la mode. Ma mère m'a montrer à maintes reprises qu'il n'y a pas besoin de dépenser beaucoup pour avoir de belles tenues. 

Ma mamie et ma mère m'ont donner de leurs vêtements et je les porte souvent car elles ont un style que j'adore. Elles m'ont montrer qu'un ensemble peut te donner de la confiance et t'aider à t'exprimer. Mais elles m'ont aussi montrer que ce qu'il se trouve à l'interieur est beaucoup plus important que ce que tu portes. Merci à deux femmes magnifiques qui m' ont tant appris par leurs merveilleux exemples. Je vous aime!

Covering the basics with Dainty Jewell's---modest clothing options in a modern world

This lovely dress and the company which created it are some of the very few reasons why I am genuinely smiling this week. I look pretty serene in most of these shots because this was all taken before the poop hit the fan and my week turned catastrophic... anywho, read on for happier thoughts!!! :)

Dainty Jewells approached me awhile back asking if I would be willing to review their products. I agreed but I wanted to remain authentic and neutral so I did end up paying and ordering online to get the true customer experience and give an unbiased review.

Their vast selection of modest and beautiful dresses and skirts has a little something for everyone. They sell their designs usually with options to choose a unique color and print. The prices reflect the high quality product you are paying for and you truly are getting unique yet timeless pieces for your wardrobe. Every item I ordered is flattering, boasts good fabric and construction, and is comfortable. 

I LOVE that they design and create their own items in house, I always want to support small business and this is a great way to do that. I also adore the vintage vibes they infuse into their designs!!! You know me and my vintage style crush.

For younger girls I would definitely recommend them for formal and semi-formal dances as some of their gorgeous designs lend themselves to these types of occasions perfectly and the price point is actually very reasonable for formal wear. 

All of the designs have sleeves (yay!), higher necklines, and many of them come with the option of a knee-length (ends up being closer to midi on us shorties) and floor-length.

Buying and ordering were a breeze and they do offer an appealing customer loyalty program. Do expect shipping to take a little bit longer than a big box online store because they are after all custom designs and a smaller business :)  

While Dainty Jewells remains an exclusively online boutique they occasionally have pop-up shops and if you subscribe to their newsletter you can find out if they are coming near you!

Overall I was very pleased with my experience shopping at Dainty Jewells and will be featuring more outfits with some of their awesome designs in the future. I am so excited I found out about this lovely company, and while their clothes are a little more money than what I would typically spend they are well worth it and are sure to fetch you lots of compliments and get you a lot of wear and joy. I mean they did manage to keep me smiling and comfy through a torturous week, so who knows how one of their dresses could change your life! ;)

They just rolled out their spring line so go check them out! They do a 50% off mystery dress deal on occasion so make sure to subscribe to their newsletter!

Covering the basics with Shop Ruche- modest clothing options in a modern world series

Many of my readers and friends often ask me where I get my clothes from. This is a complicated question to answer for a variety of reasons. There is no one "go to" place that I use. I usually prefer shopping second-hand due to personal ethical convictions. But I understand that on occasion it is nice to buy something new and others might not feel comfortable buying used. I have started a series where I will be highlighting a retailer which provides modest clothing options in order to share some of the places I find my modest clothes. 

Being LDS means my definition of modest apparel might be different than yours. I am not here to judge, just showcase places which happen to have options which are a little more covered in the shoulder/arm and leg areas. 

Shop Ruche has been a long time favorite of mine. It is also a great comeback story and one of small business success. They started out as a tiny online boutique catering to a clientele interested in eclectic and unique styles. I happened upon them by accident, browsing one day for something very specific (I was looking for a bold poppy print, and found this poppy skirt which I wore here). 

Right off the bat I noticed a lot of their designs met my needs for more coverage, and while they were a little more spendy than what I was used to buying, they have great online coupon deals and sales when you subscribe. They even have filters you can set for longer length skirts and dresses as well as tops with sleeves.

I literally cried last spring when they announced they were going out of business. I had been asking my husband to get my birthday and Christmas gifts there for years, and I would constantly ogle and admire their cute clothes, shoes and decor. What would I do now that they were gone?!?

\

Luckily for me, others felt the same way I did, and a few months later they announced their return after enough investors and former clients had shown an interest in keeping their business alive. I was ecstatic! 

 I mean, who else would be able to fill my pleated airplane print maxi dress, silver stiletto heel dreams?

Every single one of the items I have ordered from there has been nothing short of amazing quality, stunning in presentation and fit beautifully. I adore this company and recommend Shop Ruche to all my friends, family, and readers. They have a variety of styles to suit many tastes, and while their price point might be a little higher than what I am used to paying, I can wait patiently for sales and deals and I know I am getting a one-of-a-kind piece that is worth every penny. 

flannel and velvet vibes---ambiance de velour et de flanelle

My coworkers and I were talking about the fact that it never got cold this winter in Houston. As in, we never got to bust out anything thicker than a cardigan. We are talking, sweating and pitting out in jeans and t-shirts at recess in February. Feeling not just warm, but HOT in winter is an oddity for me.

Mes collègues et moi étiont en train de discuter à propos du temps et comme quoi il n'y a pas vraiment eu de rafraichissment des températures cette année. Genre, on a pas eu l'occasion de porter plus qu'un petit pull. Style, on transpire comme des cochons à la récré tous les jours en t-shirts et en jeans. C'est vraiment affreux d'avoir chaud en plein hiver. 

This outfit was worn on one of our "colder" days of the season (I think we had a high in the 50s) and it showcases two of my favorite fabrics that are coming back into style. Flannel and velvet! I think they are great fabrics for cooler weather as well as transitioning from or into cooler seasons (fall and spring).

Cette tenue je l'ai porté lors d'un de nos jours ultra rare où il a fait "frais"  (dans les 10-15 degrés) et je l'aime parce que les matières sont de bons tissus pour quand il fait frais ou froid; le velour et la flanelle.

La jupe est d'occasions et vient des années '90s. C'est une jupe en velour d'un joli marron qui ne se présente pas super bien en photos. Vous pouvez trouvez ceci plus facilement en ligne avec etsy ou ebay. 

The skirt is vintage velvet and is actually a dark chocolatey brown but its gloriousness doesn't photograph quite that well. It was a miraculous Deseret Industries find from several years ago back in Utah, it must have cost me about $3. I love that velvet is coming back, but again, when do you find occasions to wear such a sumptuously warm fabric in Hel...hot places. You can find similar skirts on etsy and ebay, with stuff like this you will have better luck searching places where you can find vintage items. 

I've featured these booties before (I adore them but they are sold out now), here are some similar ones. 

J'ai déja porté ces bottines auparavant, ModCloth ne les vent plus, mais on peut en trouver des semblables ici. 

I picked up this vintage ruffled-collar, plaid top at Deseret Industries for $1 back in Utah, but you can find similar ones here and here. I love the pattern, the warm texture, and the collar detail but don't get to wear it as often as I'd like because of how warm it is.

Il y a des années de ça quand je vivais en Utah j'ai trouvée cette chemise merveilleuse chez Deseret Industries pour un dollar américain. J'adore les couleurs, la matière, et l'encollure. Je n'ai pas l'occasion de la porter aussi souvent que je voudrais car il fait trop chaud. Voici deux exemples ici et ici de chemises qui lui ressemble.

My wool hat is a vintage find from Vinted but you can find a similar one here.

Mon chapeau en laine vient de Vinted mais j'en ai trouver un presque identique ici. 

What are some of your favorite cool weather combinations? Let me know in the comments and make sure to follow me on instagram at chez_heidi!

Quelles sont vos matières préférées pour le temps froids? Dites-moi ce que vous en pensez dans les commentaires et n'oubliez pas de me suivre sur instagram @chez_heidi!

DIY: dyeing an old dress to make it new---BRICOLAGE: teindre une vieille robe pour la rendre neuve

This outfit has me feeling all sorts of holiday vibes...but it wouldn't have used to the way that I originally bought this dress.

I was making a random stop at a neighborhood Goodwill (can't remember the initial purpose of the visit). Then I spotted this very homely looking fabric poking out of the dresses "clearance" rack (the ones that have the colored tag for that day's promotion). I pulled on the potato colored material and out came this cutely shaped handmade vintage dress (I am guessing it is early to mid 1950s). The dress had clearly seen better days, there were parts that had a sort of oil based staining on it, and the seam where the zipper was sewn in needed some reinforcing. I took it to the dressing room and tried it on to make sure it would fit it. I basically fell in love (I mean for a few dollars what wasn't there to love) but immediately started brainstorming ways by which I could make it more wearable.

A packet of raspberry red dye, hot water, and a bathtub later I got a lovely new wardrobe staple!

A great way, in my opinion, to "save" or reuse something older that you might be tempted to overlook or toss out is to dye it. I have some tips on how to go about that below...

Here are some things to keep in mind when dyeing fabrics:

AGE: The age of any fabric will affect how well it takes to dye and how much it is at risk for deterioration. This dress is about 60 years old and the fabric is still in good shape, so I wasn't too concerned about its fragility. I have another dress from the 1920s which I have thought about dying but am still hesitating to do so because I worry about the age of the fabric. If you are looking into dyeing a garment any older than 50-60 years I would take some serious precautions and look into cold water dyes or non-acidic dyes which react a little differently and tend to be gentler on older fabrics. Tulip and RIT which are the two main brands found in the U.S are acidic dyes which should be used with caution on garments which are 70+ years old. You will probably have to go search online or to a specialty fabrics/dyeing store in order to get the appropriate dyes.

MATERIAL: Natural fabrics tend to take to dyes very well, so cottons, linens, hemp, bamboo and silks will usually turn out evenly dyed. Wool and cashmere are tricky because most dyes are heat activated and you will end up shrinking your fabric if you expose it to the temperatures required for most generic dyes. Synthetics are VERY unpredictable. While most synthetics CAN be dyed, you must do your research and make sure you don't set your expectations too high. Now the other thing is you need to be familiar with the look and feel of different materials because chances are, vintage and second-hand items will not have care and composition tags. This dress, as far as I can tell, is a cotton-linen blend. I knew it would be a fairly safe bet in terms of dyeing it to give it new life but I think a lot of it was luck and the fact that I was willing to take a risk because it was so inexpensive to begin with. 

EXISTING COLOR: Naturally, you can't buy a black dress, get a box of light blue RIT and dye it expecting a lovely sky blue result. If you have a dark item you want to take to a lighter shade, you will have to run an additional risk of bleaching the garment first, and then re-dyeing it. Additionally, unless your item is PURE white, do not expect the dye job to come out looking like the box or packet's description.  The theory of color and mixing does apply to dyeing clothing; a light green dress being dyed blue will yield a turquoise shade of sorts. Just be realistic in what your expectations are. The longer you dye the item, and the more dye you use, the higher concentration of pigment in your end result. 

EXISTING PATTERNS: Something a lot of people overlook is whether or not there are designs, pattern, or even stitching in a different color or material. I dyed another dress once and the stitching was a synthetic in pure white, and while it didn't end up being a big deal, the dress ended up being navy and the stitching stayed white. You need to take into account what features your item already has and decide what you are willing to live with in terms of changes to those details. 

EXISTING ISSUES: My dress had oily looking stains on it, this was something that I was hoping would be masked by a darker dye job and it was a risk I took, knowing full well the dye might cling to it and make it look even worse than before. Make sure you launder whatever item it is you plan to dye ahead of time to try and address any existing issues. If there are worn, frayed, areas or missing buttons decide whether or not you want to make the repairs with the existing colors or the ones of the new dye job. While dyeing can salvage a myriad of issues, sun fading and bleached spots are ones that can be unpredictable and difficult to fix. Make sure you understand the provenance of the damage and how they will react to dye. 

EXPERIENCE AND WILLINGNESS TO TAKE A RISK: No matter what, dyeing is a risky business. Keeping in mind I had already dyed quite a few things before attempting to dye this dress, I have repeatedly seen success using dyes in different projects and felt fairly confident I could get a favorable result. I was also very willing to take a risk what with the dress being so inexpensive. I figured if I did end up ruining it during the dyeing process that it would be sad but I could reuse the fabric as rags or something. You should probably pick a low-risk project as your first one to ensure you feel successful. 

Dyeing old clothes to give them new life can be rewarding and so fun! It can even give YOU life ;)