As soon as I saw the Brenda Shirt in Wakefield check by Sézane in my Pinterest feed, I knew I'd make a dupe.

I had thrifted a men's plaid shirt years ago for probably $6 at my local thrift store and had never done anything with it. I think I might even have listed it on Poshmark...

Well, I'm glad it didn't sell because it was the perfect candidate for this DIY! I started working on it on a whim and ordered velvet ribbon before going on a trip.

Once I returned, I put the final touches on my new festive winter top.

Supplies

• Oversized thrifted men's plaid shit
• Velvet ribbon

Process

My mom and I made our fair share of tie-tops in the spring. They're so easy to make!

I did not take pictures of the process, but I did document it in my Highlights. Also, here's a wonderfully detailed YouTube tutorial.

I decided to use some extra ribbon as bias tape for the neckline.

I debated removing the pocket but was afraid it would be too noticeable... I like the idea of keeping it though, so there's no question about whether this is an upcycling project!

I looked at how to tie a perfect bow (I must have watched this video 100 times and trimmed the ends accordingly (one tie is going to be longer than the other one when untied, that's normal).

And that's it for this quick DIY! If I had more motivation, I would have tailored the width and the sleeves, but that would have been a whole reconstruction project. I can always tackle this project later, but honestly, I'm satisfied with it for now (and I can wear a thermal tee underneath).

What do you think, isn't it the perfect top for the end of the year festivities in a mountain town in the high desert?