shopping for a gown

June 1999.  That was the last time I shopped for a gown.  And, the last time I wore one.  It was my nephew Michael’s Bar Mitvah.  I ended up having a dress made.  It was beautiful.  I haven’t worn it since, and I’m sure never will.

So now I need to get a dress for Michael’s brother’s wedding in late October.  Again, this is a dress I will likely never wear again.  But it has to be a dress I feel good in and one that will pass the critical eye of my sister, mother of the groom.  It also has to be long.

I arrange to meet at the showroom of two designers, both of whom have couture lines and non-couture lines.  While the couture lines are certainly more beautiful, I have to remember, I will wear this dress only once.

I arrive at the first designer’s showroom and see several dresses that look beautiful.  The first one I try on is a long, straight, glittering green dress.  I put it on and look like a big tree.

The second dress I try on is navy.  Very chic.  It looks simple off the hanger but is impossible to get on.   It is zipperless and requires me and two others to get it over my head.  Forget it.  I would have to sleep in it the night before the wedding to insure I had enough time to put it on the next day. And then how would I get it off with no one at home to help?

The person helping us at the showroom says, “Wait.  I think I have the dress for you.”  He goes off somewhere and comes back with an elegant red dress. I try it on. The sample sized four is too tight and too long, but the six should be perfect.  

There is no need to visit the second showroom, but we go, just in case.  I fall in love with a dress there but it is out of my price range.

We return to the first showroom and I order the dress in black.  If I can look half as good as this model, I'll be very happy.