Simplify -- Say No to the Dress

Simplify!

Our Goal

A simple and beautiful house

that the Lord can use as a peaceful haven

for my family and others.

Click here to find out why/how I started!

The dress is the centerpiece, if you will, of a wedding.  Besides the vows and rings, it's probably the most important part, some would argue.  It's what people see first, what stands out--there's the bride, here comes the bride.  For us in the Christian community, the pure white of the dress symbolizes the bride offering a pure self to her groom, with her father giving her away to this new union.  It's a sacred and beautiful ceremony, and the dress plays a large role in that.

I regret only one thing about my wedding dress:  I never tried on a single dress.  As her wedding gift to me, a friend made my dress.  So the two of us went to the fabric store, looked at patterns, and I picked one that I thought was super pretty.  Then she took me shopping for all the extras--lace, edging, buttons, ribbon...

Although I loved my wedding dress, and felt so beautiful in it, I do wish I would have gone to some bridal gown shops to at least try a few on.  I had no sense of style (I still struggle with it!), so I just went with what I liked in the picture on the pattern envelope.  It would have been fun to go try a few on, but the regret is small, because I am practical, as I said, and I can't go back and change things.  I guess I can look forward to trying on mother-of-the-bride dresses!

So, you're wondering why this is in a Simplify post.  Well, I said "yes" to this dress when I was getting married.  That was 28 years ago (wow).  This dress is not quite old enough for the vintage category, but too old to be in the contemporary stylish category.  And since I've been decluttering our stuff, it was time to say "no" to my wedding dress:  I'm not keeping it any more.  The memories are in my heart.  Since I'm a photographer, I decided to plan a little photo shoot of this once-fashionable dress.

I tried to make it out to The Morton Arboretum during spring, when the trees were blooming and flowers were popping up.  But, the weather didn't cooperate, and our schedule didn't cooperate, and...  I never made it out.  One last spring-y day before it was supposed to rain then turn cold, I decided to go to my special place (for that is what it will be some day) in my back yard.  I have a bench back there, and somehow, the dandelions and weeds were fitting for this last trip down memory lane.

While I took pictures, I focused on the details--the ruffled hem, the beading in the veil.  I remembered that amazing day I walked down the aisle in this dress, feeling as if I were on the edge of a new life--which I was!  Feeling beautiful, and blessed, and set apart for my new life with Fernando.

I focused on the love with which Mary Beth stitched every stitch and paid attention to every detail.  I remembered how she made a flower girl dress with the leftover materials, and how my niece Suzie looked so adorable in her little dress.

These new images will help me remember those things and more, as the years slip by and details become fuzzy.  Even if these images never make it into a hard-copy photo book, I'll have them, and the memories they spark, for the future.

Once, I said "Yes!" to this dress, and joyfully wore it, and fondly kept it for the memories of an amazing day.  Now, I'm saying "No."  It's time to give it away.  But I remember that I'm giving away only the physical dress.  I get to keep every memory--the dress, the day, my family, my friends, my new husband--forever.  I'm so thankful for pictures to help me remember!


Back to life,
Christine

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Exploring My Shape -- Short Apple

A short apple.  That's what I figured out, anyway, through hours of intensive research late one night.  Well, two hours, anyway.  And as intense as one can get when one is tired but can't fall asleep.

Anyway, it comes down to this:  a short apple.  That's what my body type is, apparently.  An "apple" shape is not necessarily an overweight body, though I can stand to lose a few pounds.  Generally, it's one whose shoulder width is about the same as one's hips, who is fairly straight all the way down but with a larger bust.  Plus, the key--one who tends to gain weight primarily in the tummy.  Well, that's pretty much me.  Add the "short" in (I'm 5' 2") and I was all set with my "official shape."  Now to figure out what clothing styles look good on me...

The color part was easier--Fernando loves color, and I'm happy to oblige.  I've figured out that primary colors are best with my skin coloring, and bright colors work better than pale ones--though pastels are good if they're a "faded primary."  Here's a very recent pic of me (thanks, Danny!) to show you that "faded primary" pastels can look good.

As for style--well, that's a little more difficult.  I have five men in my life, and although they can tell me if they like something I'm wearing, they're useless when it comes to what actually looks good.  Fernando likes almost everything I wear (which is good, I suppose!)  What a pickle I'm in!

From my research, I've found that V-necks are better than rounded ones, and empire waistlines cover/hide the tummy.  Shirts whose hems fall at the hip line are good, as well as ones that flare out slightly at that point.  Also, A-line skirts are better than straight ones.  All of these style characteristics help give definition and curves to my body shape.  Several websites added shorter (as in above-knee-length) skirts to de-emphasize height, but that's just a little too short for me, generally speaking.  I'll stick with A-line skirts.  :)

Here are a few self-portraits, which frankly speaking, are rather scary to post.  I'm not the best-shaped person out there, duh.  However, these pictures have really helped me figure out what looks good, since I can see myself "outside of myself" and figure out if something looks good, and/or hides what needs to be hidden.  This has helped me on my quest to find the right clothing when I'm out shopping.

My analysis of the above Christopher & Banks top and skirt:   The skirt is not the best, since it has pockets, seams, and other bulk, but one must have a denim skirt, and it is an A-line and very comfortable.  The blouse is V-neck, and the seams and stitching along the front add shape to my waist.

My analysis:  The skirt is from Kohl's ($13 on sale with a coupon and my mom's senior discount!), and I found the top at Goodwill.  I love the flowing sleeves, which are 3/4 length, another favorite.  To compensate for the extremely low V-neck, I spent quite a few bucks on a bra that has a modesty panel in it.  I've tried layers, but don't look good in them; they just add bulk to my upper frame.  So the bra-with-panel works for those really low V-necks where I need a little more modesty, while still showing the V shape that adds shape to my figure.

Well, that's it for this little post.  I'll post more as I continue to get the confidence to take pictures of myself, and as I find clothing that works for my short apple figure.  See you at the store!



Back to life,
Christine

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TT--Sewing!! And a Card

It's time to share our projects on Tackle-It Tuesday!

Click on the button above to visit CelticMom, to read details and to participate!!

No big cleaning projects, no organizing, no re-arranging, no before-during-after photos.  Last week was a project week with very specific projects, and a very specific deadline:  a wedding on Saturday.

My first project was sewing a "modesty panel" in the dress I planned on wearing for the wedding.  The "vee" in the neck revealed just a little too much!  I've had this dress for about four years, and I used to wear a camisole underneath for modesty.  The problem with the camisole is that I had to shorten the shoulder straps so it would sit up high, but then it was binding under my arms.  So last week, I brought out my scissors and snipped a triangle piece out of that camisole.  I figured, "How hard can it be?"

It was frustrating trying to get the panel to sit just right inside the dress.  But surprisingly, the sewing part was fairly easy.  To my hyper-critical eye, the panel is a tad crooked.  But who will notice?

dress with modesty panel

Now for the fun project.  For the wedding couple, I made a card.  I took the wedding invitation apart, and used a pocket in the original card to make a pocket in my own card.  :)  I then made a pull-out card to go in the pocket.  We wrote a blessing on the back of the pull-out card, and we all signed it.

card with pull-out message

And just for fun, I made a bookmark.  The ink on the word sweet smudged a bit, but it still looks pretty good.  The white tissue-paper flower (and the teal one in the flower on the card above) are also from the original invitation.

bookmark

close-up of card

A neat side note:  My dress matched the wedding colors, which were chocolate brown and teal/sky blue.  I think it worked out nicely.  :)

Thank you, Shani, for hosting Tackle-It Tuesday!

Back to life,
Christine

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captured by Christine Anne