Sam and I were recently invited to attend the The Leonardo's Opening Gala. (Back in my pre-mommy, arts education administration days, I was somewhat professionally involved with The Leonardo. Also, my sister Lisa has worked with them all long they way.) The gala was a black tie optional event. For days I wondered what on earth I was going to wear. My black-tie-optional wear is slim-pickins. I had resigned myself to being a little under dressed and wearing something I already had. Sam, on the other hand, was very excited to finally have the chance to wear a shirt he's had for ages. I don't know exactly what it's called, but I call it his Dumb and Dumber shirt. I knew the quirky, artsy crowd attending that gala would appreciate it.
I figured the last time I went to such a fancy event was probably my Junior Prom. I went to high school during the height of grunge, so even formal school dances weren't very formal. But Junior Prom was the exception. The event was held in our state capitol's Rotunda. Everyone who planned to attend had to go to several early morning promenade practices where we learned a very formal group dance. We also rehearsed how everyone would enter the Rotunda (our state capitol building's ball room) by walking as couples down a long, marble stairway (very scary when you're not used to high hills!) For this dance I had a very specific idea of what I wanted to wear, but I couldn't find anything like it. Luckily my mom is a very talented seamstress and she made it for me!
Because it's the only dress that my mom made for me (she made tons of them for my older sisters and even made one of my sisters a wedding dress), and because I still LOVE it, I've kept it all these years. I didn't really think I'd ever have an occasion to wear it again, but here it is 15 years later (I added the short jacket since it is sleeveless).
 |
| My handsome husband and me in front of the very cool Hylozoic Veil exhibit. |
