It’s Not Just A Dress

I used to love getting dressed up for special occasions. Heck I used to enjoy getting dressed up just to go to work. When I worked in a professional office I wore dresses, two-piece business suits, heels, pantyhose, make-up, jewelry, even glitzy hair clips every single day. In the summer I wore more sundresses and sandals, but I always overdressed by today’s standards. I was often the best dressed employee in the office, but I felt like I had to “look the part,” and dressing up added a feeling of me being extra valuable in the workplace because of it. It was a self-esteem issue for me.

When we moved to Mississippi I had to switch my mindset when I got dressed in the mornings. Dresses and two-piece business suits just aren’t practical for running an inn. I still wear sundresses a lot though, because they are very comfortable, but quite often in the summer I just throw on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt or tank top, some comfortable shoes and call it “dressed.” I think, since I’ve been here – almost six years now – I’ve only actually “dressed up” about three times, two of them to attend funerals.

In days gone by, lots of people “dressed up.” Men wore suits, ladies wore slacks and pretty blouses or dresses. Nowadays, it’s rare to see people dressed up. Even “fancy” restaurants these days are filled with jean-clad, t-shirt wearing folks, some of whom haven’t even combed their hair. Personally, I think that’s sad, but as I said a couple of weeks ago, times they are a’changin’. Most folks don’t even dress up to go to church anymore. Not that God truly cares about what you’re wearing in a house of worship, but still, it was considered a sign of respect to “dress” for church. Although, I think if you’re one of those people who believes that you absolutely MUST dress up to go to church, consider this, if God wouldn’t approve of what you’re wearing in a house of worship, do you think he’d approve anywhere else? If you’re wearing something that you feel is inappropriate for church and you have to change before you step foot inside the building, perhaps what you’re wearing is just plain inappropriate – period. God can see you everywhere so if he wouldn’t approve in church, would he approve somewhere else? Just my opinion. It’s more important that you actually GO to church than to not go because you’re not dressed how you believe God wants you to dress. I think God just really wants you to go to church. Period.

But getting back to dressing up: I think girls in particular don’t mind getting all dolled up on occasion. Men – not so much. My husband HATES to wear his “monkey suit,” but he dons the tux when I ask him to for whatever special occasions require it. Girls, however, will get dressed up for lots of occasions. But, two particular occasions require a VERY special dress. Two occasions when just anything in your closet simply won’t do.

Number One – Your wedding. Duh. Obviously, this one is HUGE. Daddies, if you’re reading this, pay the extra money and get the dress your princess wants. I’ve been a bride (twice, but let’s not talk about that) and that one day is YOUR day. It’s the day everyone is watching you. The day you have the absolute right to hog the spotlight. It’s a full 24 hours of everything you. Don’t compromise. Get the dress. Heck, lots of people get two dresses, one just for the ceremony and the second to party down later. That might be going a bit too far, but again, it’s one very special day. It’ll be memorable no matter how the marriage turns out. Spend the money on the dress.

Number Two – Prom. Every girl, I don’t care you they are, wants a special, pretty, new dress to wear to prom. Prom is a big deal. Prom is like a right-of-passage from big fish in a small pond to tiny guppy in a massive ocean. It only happens once in your life. (Unless you’re one of the kids who doesn’t apply themselves and has to stay back and re-do their senior year of high school. But I don’t think there has ever been a case where that has happened. No self-respecting kid, even one who fails their senior year, will ever go back and try it again. They’ll just take the fail and stumble through life without a diploma.)

It’s prom season here in the South and girls have been shopping for weeks for that “special” dress. Bridal shops are stocking special prom gowns that girls can buy off the rack. Major retailers are filling up empty shelves with sparkly, poufy, chiffony dresses in every size and color. Parents, splurge on that special dress for your daughter for this once-in-a-lifetime occasion. Their “career” as a high-schooler is over, never to come again. They are about to embark on adulthood with all of its amazing and difficult challenges. Why not send them off with a memory to last a lifetime? If it’s at all possible, get the pretty dress.

Now – that said – there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with a hand-me-down or a borrowed dress. Not one damn thing. Some girls are lucky to find those and I’m glad there are options available for folks who can’t afford the pricey designer gowns. All I’m saying is, IF you’re in a position to cough up the money for “the dress,” I encourage you to do it. Yes, it’ll only be worn once, but it’s a very special “once.” Trust me on this. The dress matters. And, if you donate the dress to one of those charities that provides dresses for underprivileged youth, you’re really investing in someone else’s happiness as well. See? Win win.

So that’s it for this week. Any thoughts on special occasion garments? Did you get the dress of your dreams for your prom or wedding? Do you donate your used dresses to charitable organizations that make them available for under-privileged girls? If not, I hope you’ll consider doing that. It might make a huge difference to some lucky girl.

Word of the Day: hemihedral

Fun fact about me: I enjoy watching the birds torment my cats. I’m not sure what that says about me, but it sure gives me a laugh every day.

Original post by Jansen Schmidt, April 2021. Images by Google and giphy.com.

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