Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Cranberry Velvet

image from here

I had stolen peeks into the secret world of Mom's closet a few times, usually seeking Christmas presents or hidden treats out of reach on the top shelf. So many interesting things, so many stories. Against the far wall, swathed in flimsy plastic, hung treasures from her life before motherhood--her self-made wedding gown and a few formal dresses from high school dances with Dad.  Lavender mostly, but the cranberry always caught my eye.

Knee-length cranberry velvet.  Boat neck.  Three-quarter sleeves with gathers at the elbows.  Wide pleats at the waist. Fully lined in satin.  Incredibly soft and meticulously preserved. A princess dress in my imagination--worn with white gloves and a crown. 

October 1983--Fourteen years old and my first Halloween masquerade dance.  I was immature and inexperienced with such adventures, but I knew what I wanted to wear and who I wanted to be.  Hesitantly, cautiously, I approached Mom, carefully preparing arguments to counter her reservations.  She removed the dress from its protective sheath, gently handing me the prize. Although slightly marred with sweat under the arms and a few errant drops of water on the skirt, it was beautiful.  And perfect.

White gloves from her cedar chest. Flat black Mary Janes. A glittery headband. Mom's real pearl necklace.  I had been transformed.

"Faithfully" by Journey announced my arrival. The old potato cellar was my castle, Travis Stastney my unwitting prince.

Let the fairy tale begin.
Linking up to RemembeRED at The Red Dress Club.

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19 comments:

  1. i had my eyes on several of the dresses in my mom's closet, though none of them were velvet. But I remember that feeling, and Im so glad you got to wear that dress!!!

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  2. Oh my goodness...I love this story. I used to dig into my Moms closet and her hope chest. She had the most beautiful vintage jewelery that belonged to her aunt. I would ask her if I could play in her jewelery drawer sometimes. Great memories! Thanks!

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  3. What a great memory. Your mom was very cool to let you use her carefully preserved red dress. And the pearls, too!

    Pretty neat.

    =)

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  4. Tucker told me to read this this morning. I was ranting a bit to him last night because my dream red dress has already been sought out for use again at this year's Prom. And I was having a really hard time with the idea of "sharing." Silly, but it's special. So I appreciate the red dress post. :)

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  5. A wonderful gift from your mom, I wonder if she knew how treasured that experience would be for you? I am much too quick to jump to "no" at these times, a lesson I will try and remember from your sweet mom.

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  6. Oh no no no no.....you have to have a photo in there somewhere. Please say you have a photo.

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  7. Oh I am glad you joined up this week. I just love your writing. I think about how many times I went to my mom's closet or jewelry box. How magical that is.

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  8. I love that you wrote about a red dress for the Red Dress Club! Yay!

    and I bet you looked simply beautiful in it!

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  9. love love love the way you told this story, jen - feel like i was right there with you ;-)

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  10. Ah, the red velvet dress.... Did you know that Sally gave it to me?

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  11. With me it was shoes. My mom's heels were the center of all my girl hood fantasies. And now that I can wear them? I never, ever do.

    Great job.

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  12. This is so SWEET! And it made me think of wearing my mother's communion dress for my own special day. Great job with this!

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  13. I love that your mom let you wear it! What a great memory.

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  14. Ah, sweet memories. My mom had a purple dress with a velvet bodice and tulle net skirt. The ultimate Princess dress to me growing up!

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  15. I adore that you wrote about a lavish red derss for TRDC!!
    I know if my Mum had owned a dress like that I would have loved it too.

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  16. I love the way you wrote this. Muttie's (mom's mom) closet held all the dresses that my aunts and mom wore and my cousins and I had the best fashion shows with all the treasures we found there. Thanks for the reminder :)

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  17. What a sweet memory -- I bet you felt like a princess! I love the look on my daughters' faces when I spray a little perfume on them -- like I allowed them into a magical adult world....

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