Cross-posting this here, because holy crap I need help with designing this!

[lafarat]

So at work, we get a bunch of antiques coming through, and I picked up this hand-made apron and dress set there. I want to turn it into my halloween coord; 'Mother Hen', that can be dressed down for daily wear (I.E Hang up that apron and bounce around in the OP only). My friends all call me Mama Hen anyway, might as well run with the inside joke

Comments

[pirateonthebay]

Any chance you might post a photo of the actual items to be salvaged? Just thinking it might be easier to imagine what to do with them that way

[lafarat]

The egg basket thing sounds like it would take the coord from believable, if borderline lolita straight out into costume territory. Anyhow, here's some pictures. Mind you, the apron has not been cleaned, or repaired. The dress itself hasn't been shortened either, only given a thorough hand-wash and dye bath in deep, chocolate brown. It was stained as well, and the lace around the sleeves and the peter-pan collar were really faded, but hand-washing and the dye bath took care of that and revitalized the color

[pirateonthebay]

Oh, I think my fashion sense in all styles is always borderline what other people consider "costumey," so I suppose I may completely lack that filter (unless it's triggered by cheap Halloween-store-quality fabric or horrible fit, etc.). I'm sure everyone who has read the Babysitter's Club books would be terribly shocked to know Claudia was one of my favorite characters. ;) And the idea of wearing it for Halloween probably made me think OTT, where it seems like if wearing a cake on one's head is fine, a basket with eggs is fairly tame

[lafarat]

...To be completely fair, you're absolutely right about the timing of it. You can, and in some cases are supposed to, go completely OTT on Halloween. o____o I sounded like a jack-ass for that comment, my apologies.

A deep rusty orange might work well for the apron itself. What do you think about wine red or burgundy? Trimmings?

[ptpenguino]

Oil stains can sometimes be reduced with salt.
Make a little mound of salt over the stain, let it sit overnight.