Meg: I dye

I am SO excited to share my most recent DIY with you beautiful Fitnessista readers! The other day I was thrifting with two of my best friends, when I found this darling white dress. The only problem was the color. Me and the color white…we don’t quite get along. I am the ultimate spiller and I end up wearing half of the food I eat. My friend Caitlyn suggested I dye the dress a safer, fun color.

Pre-dye:

Dress

Off to Walmart the fiancé and I went! 1 bucket, 1 bottle of dye, and $10 later I began the process.

Dress2

Following the dye bottle’s directions: I filled the bucket with 3 gallons (or so) of water, and added half of the dye.

Dress3

I soaked my dress in warm water so it was damp and dunked it in the bucket. Per the bottles suggestion, I gave the dress a stir here and there for about 45 minutes.

Dress4

Dress5

You’d think this process would be tedious, but the time flew by! I rinsed the dress under some warm water until it rang out fairly clear.

Dress6

I tossed the dress into the washing machine with some detergent (by itself so it wouldn’t bleed on other items) and hung it up to dry when the cycle was finished.

Dress7

You’ll have to pardon the drastic color difference! I shot my dye process in the evening, which makes for poor lighting, so when I photographed the dress during the day, the bubble gum pink really seemed much brighter. Needless to say…I’m in LOVE with my new dress!

Dress8

Dress9

Xo- Meg

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40 Comments

  1. Ashley @ Sweat for Sweets on July 23, 2012 at 4:12 pm

    Amazing and so creative!

  2. Stephanie @ Legally Blinde on July 23, 2012 at 4:15 pm

    Wow, that looks awesome! Great idea – it turned out really well! I have a light blue cardigan that got bleached in the wash, so I’ve been meaning to dye it another color for awhile. You’ve inspired me to actually do it!

  3. Kat on July 23, 2012 at 4:17 pm

    omg awesome idea! my mom used to fix bleach stains by redying our clothes when i was young…she bleached our clothes alot.

  4. Erica { EricaDHouse.com } on July 23, 2012 at 4:17 pm

    Why am I just know realizing you can dye your own clothes?!?!

    A new world of possibilities has just opened up for me! That dress is just *so* adorable!

  5. Alex @ Brain, Body, Because on July 23, 2012 at 4:17 pm

    Adorable! I’m also a food-spiller and have dyed many of my clothes 🙂

  6. Allie J on July 23, 2012 at 4:25 pm

    That is ADORABLE!! Great idea 🙂

  7. Kristy's Health Revolution on July 23, 2012 at 4:28 pm

    Wow! I always was afraid to dye clothes, I don’t know why, but that turned out perfect! Love it!

  8. Jessica @ Busy Living Healthy on July 23, 2012 at 4:39 pm

    That is super cute!! 🙂 I’m definitely going to try this sometime!

  9. Brittany on July 23, 2012 at 4:40 pm

    what kind of dye did you use? Did you soak the dress before you put it in the bucket of dye?

    • Meg on July 23, 2012 at 5:58 pm

      I used RIT dye and made sure the dress was fully soaked before dying it. <3

  10. Nicole on July 23, 2012 at 4:41 pm

    SOO cute! I have never thought of dying my own clothes before – brilliant!

  11. Azka on July 23, 2012 at 4:45 pm

    SO cute! I didn’t know it was so simple to dye clothes…I’m definitely going to try doing this!

  12. Katie on July 23, 2012 at 4:51 pm

    that is a genius idea. how did you decide what color to do??

  13. Natalie S on July 23, 2012 at 4:56 pm

    Oh, wow, perfect timing!! I just bought a white dress on clearance the other day but was thinking I wouldn’t wear it very much because it was white, and thought about dying it. Your dress turned out great!! I think I’ll try it!

  14. Lauren @ Sassy Molassy on July 23, 2012 at 4:58 pm

    Love the new color! You’re such a thinker, Meg. Amazing what a new color can do to a garmet.

  15. Michelle @ Eat Move Balance on July 23, 2012 at 4:58 pm

    I love the new color. And the color will really stay now? It won’t bleed anymore? That’s what I’d be worried about.

  16. Michaela on July 23, 2012 at 5:08 pm

    LOVE the dress! and the colour 🙂
    My mum used to dye everything when I was younger- clothes, table-clothes, bedding… and people would always comment on the lovely and unique colours!

  17. Katie @ Talk Less, Say More on July 23, 2012 at 5:23 pm

    SO FUN! I’m terrible with the color white (or really any light color) and was super surprised when I didn’t get my white tank top covered in cherry juice while I was cutting them up last night. Dying them is such a good idea!

  18. Mona on July 23, 2012 at 5:29 pm

    wow!! i never would have thought about using a dye, way to go! and what a GREAT color it came out-so cute!

  19. CampingGirl on July 23, 2012 at 5:57 pm

    That is so much easier than I thought it would be!

  20. Bridget B. on July 23, 2012 at 6:03 pm

    What a great change! It fits you perfectly, too. I couldn’t imagine a more successful venture. Nice job. 🙂

  21. Jess on July 23, 2012 at 6:39 pm

    Wow that looks so good. Love that colour! I have also always been a bit scared to dye clothes, sounds crazy! But looks fab and not too difficult!!

  22. Yvette on July 23, 2012 at 7:14 pm

    The only one in the world with that dress — and you are rockin’ it. Perfect color choice.

  23. Kristen on July 23, 2012 at 7:27 pm

    Genius! Why have I never thought of doing this? I’ve passed up several cute tops because they were white….well, not anymore sister! Thanks for sharing this 🙂

  24. Kathleen @ KatsHealthCorner on July 23, 2012 at 8:36 pm

    You look amazing in that dress!!! 🙂

  25. Emily on July 23, 2012 at 8:54 pm

    I had no idea it was that easy to dye clothes! I’ve always avoided it because I thought it would be a tedious process. I’m definitely going to have to experiment with this soon. Thank you!

    The dress is SO adorable!

  26. Marie-Santé on July 23, 2012 at 9:02 pm

    Wow, so feminine, you look like a princess!

    • Fitnessista on July 23, 2012 at 10:19 pm

      right?! that last picture is breathtaking!

  27. RachelG on July 23, 2012 at 9:49 pm

    So sweet! Do you think it would work with white capris? I like my white capris but am a little weight self conscious and think I’d be more comfortable if they were a dark blue.

    • Meg on July 24, 2012 at 2:05 pm

      I think it would be worth a try!

  28. purelymichelle on July 23, 2012 at 10:02 pm

    WOW!! brilliant idea!! Although I am sure I would mess it up somehow

  29. Cassandra on July 23, 2012 at 10:07 pm

    That’s such a great idea! 🙂

  30. Abby @ Change of Pace on July 23, 2012 at 10:22 pm

    That is stunning and such a great idea! The pink looks lovely with your dark hair.

  31. @pluvk on July 23, 2012 at 11:17 pm

    Beautiful color and beautiful dress! I don?t know why I never thought of doing the same… I don’t work well with white, either! I like to say it’s because of my coloring (which is actually true), but I’m a spiller! Me + food + white = super embarrassing moment!!

  32. Sarah on July 24, 2012 at 12:48 am

    I love doing this, so many of my former clothes have been dyed.

  33. Melissa (Better Fit) on July 24, 2012 at 3:43 am

    You look fabulous! I love the colour, and it’s a really pretty cut, with a perfect fit!

  34. Jackie on July 24, 2012 at 6:34 am

    what a fantastic idea. I always thought dyeing was more difficult.

    Also-what an adorable dress that looks great on you!!

  35. theorist on July 24, 2012 at 2:12 pm

    you look fab! loving these posts meg! thanks for the great tip.

  36. Chelsa on July 26, 2012 at 8:20 am

    Your dress is gorgeous!

  37. Kim on July 26, 2012 at 6:28 pm

    Great idea!! I recently scored a great deal on an orange dress, and after seeing this post I am inspired to dye it black!! Thanks a bunch!

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