I started the transformation by seam ripping basically the whole dress apart. I took off the lace sleeves, detached the skirt to take out some of the gathers and shorten it, and opened up the sides of the bodice. Then it was time to fit it and put it back together. On the bodice I took off the flowers, flattened out the lace by putting in a dart, cut away some of the lace at the shoulders and finished the raw edges with lace binding from the sleeves I took off. Before reattaching the skirt I cut off some of the length (from the top so I could use the existing hem and finished edge of the lace), took out some of the gathered fullness and added sideseams and pockets.
I am very happy with how this dress turned out! So glad I could take something old and unwearable and turn it into something new and wearable again! I even had enough lace leftover to make a clip in hair flower.