I have been out trying on dresses a couple of times - by myself because my friends are all spread out across no less than 5 states, none in the sunny state of Arizona. I didn't really think that it was much of an issue until my mother informed me that I really needed to be taking someone with me so that I don't get a dress that looks odd from an angle that I am unaware of.
Thanks Mom.
So in my different excursions, I had tried on roughly 20 dresses and nothing really stuck with me. No big deal, I don't even have a venue or a date. I am really just trying to have fun at this point, I am in no rush.
One of my friends from work offered to come check out dresses with me one day, which was pretty neat of her. She has impeccable style and the same sort of romantic, vintage, minimalistic approach that I do (if this is even possible?). I was stoked to have the company, as well. She is a very funny girl.
We went to one store that she recommended and I tried on 5 dresses that were all somewhat 'vanilla' to me. I tried on one wonderful pleated/ruffled number from Watters in a champagne color. It was very pretty and about 90% what I would have loved. I will deem this dress the 'Carmel' among all the 'Vanillas' that I had tried on. I still was not ready to commit to a dress, so we ran around to two other stores.
We ended up in Scottsdale at a very trendy, yet expensive boutique. I almost didn't go upstairs because I knew how expensive the dresses were, but I was insistent about trying on a Priscilla of Boston or a Melissa Sweet dress and they were located upstairs. So up we went.
After 15-20 minutes of perusing, we ended up going back to the dressing room area where... surprise, there was more dresses. :) We found a few dresses that were floor models and so of course we had to poke around and laugh at a few that were terrible, one that was awesome and HAD POCKETS!! and then I randomly grabbed one that had this wonderful silk fabric, neat silk bows and bunches of ruffles, but no appliques, no sequins, no beads: no bling. It could be cool.
I spent some close minutes with the sales-lady zipping up and unzipping more 'Vanillas' and in the middle of another un-zip session, she mentioned that the next dress I should try on should be the Carolina Herrera dress I had taken a liking to. She said that people don't usually have such a strong response to dresses on hangers (really? they don't? I was thinking. Because I really feel like I like the dresses on the hanger more than on me.)
Be Still My Heart.
I just about stopped breathing. Why you ask? Because I love the attention to detail that Carolina Herrera has. I love the ruffles. I love the pleats. I love the fabrics, the ribbons all of it. BUT most of all I love that there is no sequins. No appliques. No beads. YES! Sure it's ivory, but then my skin would look less pale, let's do this!
As soon as I put on the size 10, I knew it just felt good. As Linda started pinning the dress around my body to make it a size 4, I almost cried. Sara did cry and I could see myself in my wedding pictures with Mike. I had found my Strawberry flavor hidden amongst all the Vanillas. No, it's not pink, but I really like strawberry.
I found my dress. It is beautiful and I cannot wait until I get to wear it!!
Thanks for listening guys!! I'm really, unbelievably, annoyingly excited about this! I really didn't think that I could find a dress that was 100% me and not 'Vanilla'.
