Previously this was a boring 80s smock dress, but I thought the blue and white fabric would make a cute 1920s dress, such as this 1920s polka dot house dress. So I took it completely apart.

I changed the neckline and armscyes …

… and added a strip of white cotton fabric at the waist for a 1920s drop waist. I also removed the zipper – it now slips on over the head without closure.

I used white cotton fabric and the original belt of the dress to create the front of the bodice. The striped front is inspired by 1920s house dresses, such as this 1920s printed cotton house dress and this 1920s autochrome photograph of a blue printed and striped house dress.

I like how simple, yet pretty this house dress is.