Owens recently completed a personal challenge to remake a piece of clothing every day for a year. Jillian Owens
Columbia, S.C.-area clothing stores donate unsellable clothing to Owens -- and she throws in the occasional $1 find from other secondhand stores. Jillian Owens
Owens avoids falling into simple patterns -- shift dresses, cut-off shirts, etc. -- by drawing inspiration from the original piece and what's happening in her everyday life. Here, to prepare for an evening of karaoke, she took inspiration from a … Jillian Owens
Each piece of clothing requires something different -- a snip here, a tub full of wine dye there. She whipped this men's extra-long shirt into shape with a bath of green dye and a whirl under the sewing machine. Jillian Owens
Each piece of clothing serves as a physical memento in a year of triumphs and struggles -- from a canceled wedding to an appearance on The Rachael Ray Show. Says Owens of her refashioned wedding dress, pictured above: "In this … Jillian Owens
Refashionista's DIY approach shifts fashion perspective: Above, a snicker-worthy jumpsuit becomes the perfect dress for lunch with friends. Jillian Owens
Owens finds a piece of clothing's story doesn't end at the secondhand store. Instead of heading to the dump, this blast from the past, complete with attached vest and shirt, turns into a breezy sundress. Jillian Owens
Never doubt the promise of the $1 bin. Behold: Dad's gigantic lawnmowing shirt becomes a chic top. Jillian Owens
Before Owens started the Refashionista project, she rarely wore dresses. The typical size 2 didn't flatter her small frame. It's been empowering to control how her dresses fit, she says, and many skirts and shirts have been refashioned into dresses … Jillian Owens
Not all projects require an expert hand: This muumuu just needed to be narrowed four inches and lopped off at the bottom. Jillian Owens
Owens calls her Refashionista project "more than a little nutty." The concept is ambitious, yes, but it's crazier that she managed to turn this emerald number around at 5 a.m. so she could wear it to her job at the … Jillian Owens

Living

From muumuu to Miu Miu: Turning thrift-store rejects into cute couture (SLIDESHOW)

By Darby Minow Smith on Jul 17, 2012

Jillian Owens dyes, snips, and sews landfill-bound secondhand clothing deemed too ugly or damaged to sell. The envy-worthy results are donated to a charity shop, where the proceeds go to a women’s shelter. Get inspired by her remakes — and head to her blog for a look at the process.