Marisa Lynch: Rise of a Refashioner

“Refashioning clothes was something that I’d always done, just instinctively,” reminisces Marisa Lynch. “My mom had a sewing machine as I was growing up, and I learned by doing. No formal training at all. I simply loved clothes and styling, loved mixing high-end and everyday items to create a look. But it was just for fun. I never imagined it would become such a big part of my life.”

Then, in June of last year, Marisa found herself at a crossroads. The recession brought an end to her job as an editor at a Los Angeles-based online magazine. “I was getting ready to turn 30. I’d just gotten laid off. My life was in a weird place. I was in a creative funk. And to drown my sorrows one Saturday afternoon, I went to see a movie.”

The movie was “Julie and Julia” — the true story of writer Julie Powell’s reinvention of her life by tackling every recipe in Julia Child’s culinary classic, “Mastering the Art of French Cooking,” and blogging about the experience. “I was completely inspired by the way she was able to reconnect to her creativity by cooking every day,” says Marisa. “I left the movie feeling jealous, desperately wanting a challenge like that for myself. I needed a constant in my life, something I could go to every day.”

Turning Lemons Into Lemonade

To create that challenge, Marisa took the measure of her current straits — and trusted some of her oldest instincts. To quote her online manifesto:

"The thing that makes this girl happiest is finding vintage goodies and making them work on me. I get out my trusty sewing machine to change hems, cut sleeves and tweak to transform a low-budget piece that had its moment back in 1976, and give it another shot today, decades later. Whenever I wear my handmade pieces, I always get complimented, and the best part is that I get to tell everyone that I bought it for $1 and just shortened it, dyed it or cinched it to make it chic and current.

"This year, I will be foregoing trips to Bloomies and Nordstrom for brand new gear. Instead, the only shopping I’ll be able to do is for pieces that have been used and worn already. So long to mall trips and hello to sifting through piles of vintage pieces at flea markets and neighborhood garage sales. Each day for the entire year, I’m going to introduce a new piece into my existing wardrobe that I’ve found from these places. On top of this, I’m giving myself a budget of $1 a day.

"One person’s trash is becoming my treasure this year.

"365 days. 365 items of clothing. 365 dollars.

"And the blogging begins…"

With that rallying cry, the “New Dress A Day” blog was born. And so, it turns out, was Marisa’s new life. Thanks to her writing skill and design talent and extraordinary diligence (“once I start something, there’s really no option of quitting”), the blog has garnered a growing audience, and a wave of attention from the mainstream media. A recent blog post tells the tale best: “I’m currently typing this from my room at the Le Parker Meridien in New York (in my bed, straight up Carrie Bradshawing right now) getting ready for an appearance tomorrow morning on CBS’ The Early Show!! Not sure when the live segment will air during the 7-9 time frame, but keep your eyes peeled or set your DVRs to record. This is a fab b-day present if you ask me!!”

New Life Through Upcycling

Whether mindfully or not, Marisa has tapped into a moment when upcycling — turning potential discards onto useful items with new value — has become part of the cultural zeitgeist. “Sure, it originally came from a place where I literally couldn’t afford to go shopping,” she says, “but upcycling has become such an amazing route to take. There’s a feeling of pure romanticism in the process. That this faded piece I’m holding in my hand — something that once had its heyday, but might have ended up in a trash heap — I get to revisit it and bring it alive again. I love the idea that I’m taking something that’s filled with history, and giving it a fresh chance.”

Throughout her upcycling journey, one of Marisa’s major tools has been Rit Dye. “I’ll find so many pieces in my scavenging that are stained or faded — yet they have absolutely amazing detailing or construction. Using Rit, you give them a new shade of color and it literally changes everything. I had this gorgeous sheer ivory top with beautiful embroidery, but it was stained. I dyed it scarlet and it turned out to be one of my favorite pieces. It’s such an exciting moment when you pull vintage garments out of the dye — and they’re completely transformed, ready for a second life. Often you get the most compliments on things that just require a little bit of Rit and some tender loving care.

Dye Techniques for Today’s Looks

“Lately I’m using techniques like ombré dyeing and tie-dyeing. They’re both trendy right now, and I think it’s amazing that you can so cheaply recreate at home the same looks that are currently on runways and in department stores and boutiques. It’s a great way to add a little dash of creativity to your daily life, and to spare more thought for the environment, because we’ve all become so addicted to constantly consuming things and throwing them away.”

Marisa’s 365 days of dressmaking are nearing an end, but her career as a blogger has just begun. “It’s become second nature,” she smiles. “I can’t imagine not doing it every day. And my readers! People are emailing me all the time, and finding inspiration from what I’m doing. You get encouragement from other people, and ultimately it feeds your own creativity. It’s just insanely fantastic. I never expected this to happen — but it’s been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life.”