Now that I'm going back to work two to four times per week, I've had to think about clothing again. I'm totally set in the casual outfit department. I have jeans and t shirts to last me through the apocalypse. The closet is a little shabbier in the dressier clothing area. I still have nice skirts and slacks, but a lot of the button up shirts and blouses I wore for professional or dress occasions are worn and tired looking, no longer fit for purpose. And I've taken on new leadership roles that will require more professional dress. Sigh. Time to shop?
All this came to a head a few weeks ago. Through connections made in one of those leadership roles, I was invited to a gala awards dinner. Dress code: cocktail.
No way. I've never owned a dress appropriate for a cocktail-dress event. While the event sounded great, the dress code was enough to scare me away. But I didn't need to RSVP immediately. So out of curiosity, I ran an image internet search for "cocktail dress."
I know it seems like I just started this blog as a 20-something year old, stepping out freshly into life. But while we weren't paying attention, I aged into my mid-forties. I can't wear strappy, sleeveless, backless, tight, short. I was looking for a dress that was sufficiently dressy, but didn't shout "look at me" or expose the lumpy parts.
The internet showed me a few that might work. Price ranging from $200 to $800. Order online. Hope it fits.
I told Tim I wasn't going to go. He suggested a used clothing store near a well-heeled market that we pass regularly on the way to the grocery store, but had never entered. I decided to give it a shot.
So the next Saturday, while Tim and Jonathan went to the grocery store, I peeled off and ducked into the used clothing shop.
Long story short-er-ish: I found four great dresses, each less than $50. One was a little too big, but for only $18, I thought I could make it work. I bought them all. At home, I RSVP-ed yes!
The dress that didn't quite fit was the most "cocktail" dress. Time to try to take in the seams. As I pulled the zipper out of the fine fabric, afraid I would ruin everything, I had to keep reminding myself it only cost $18. I can afford an $18 experiment.
And I no longer own a sewing machine. So I sat on the couch with needle and thread, trying to make short straight stitches that followed the lines of the safety pins I had stuck along the seams to indicate how much fabric was not needed. I felt like an old-English lady doing needlework.
When the pins came out, the dress fit better than ever expected. This was perfect! For fun, I tried it on with my black platform heels and walked into the living room to show the family. Then I told them that although the platform heels looked good, I would have to be able to walk to get to the event, so I showed them the flats I would really be wearing.
"You can't wear those," said Tim.
"You have to wear the other shoes," said Jonathan.
And I guess I agreed. It really is a dress meant to wear with platform heels.
But I will have to be able to walk to get to the event -- even if it's just down two flights of stairs and through the courtyard of our building to catch a taxi. More likely it will be up the street half a block to catch a tram. Or I could even walk 30 minutes to the venue itself -- it's that close. And yet all scenarios require walking, which is pretty impossible in the platform heels.
I could wear the flats outside, then change into the platform shoes when I arrive.
But then I need to be able to carry shoes with me.
The internet says I should take a sparkly clutch to a cocktail party. But I pulled out my black purse to see if I could fit a pair of shoes inside. Definitely not. The purse is too small. No hope for a clutch then.
Now I needed a handbag nice enough to take to a gala event, but large enough to carry shoes inside.
I tried the well-heeled used clothing store across from the market one more time. They had a Prada bag in a glass case that looked possibly perfect. $500. Uh. Probably not.
The charity shop down the road had some options as well, but they all looked too small.
Ruminating on this new challenge, I happened to see a rack of handbags at the outlet center while shopping for clothes for Jonathan. I picked out a black handbag for $40 that will suffice. I do admit, it looks a little more Maternal than Cocktail, but even carrying a handbag makes me feel a little more feminine than usual, since I typically just carry stuff in pockets or a backpack.
So this is it. For $18 + $40 + a few hours hand-sewing on the couch, I have a nice looking dress + shoes + accessories for a gala dinner. And I'm committed to going.
And it's going to be awesome, because even though I didn't want to stand out, with the platform heels I will stand at 6 foot 3 inches tall, and therefore dominate the room. Chin up. Shoulders back. Confidence.
I hope I don't twist an ankle!
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| There is an extra pair of shoes hiding in that hand bag. |
