Day 2: Dresses

There's nothing like staring into your closet year after year and telling yourself, "Sure, I'll wear that again one day" when you know you probably won't. After moving some of these items through more than four different houses and apartments, it was grand time to look at each of them carefully and ask the honest question: "When is the last time I wore you?"

Here is a final tribute to a few of the dresses that got the boot.


The beaded blue floor-length dress.

My third year of college was the first time I ever really fell in love. A couple of weeks after we started dating, we went to UVA's Restoration ball, and I wore this dress. He was appropriately in awe, and the guy I had a massive crush on before him (that had broken my heart the year before) looked like a sucker when he saw us together. I haven't worn the dress since then. I can't imagine it being part of a better memory.







The French countryside dress.

I found this French-made dress in the second-hand section of a clothing boutique in Charlottesville just before May of my final year at UVA. I had to buy it. Not only did it fit well, but it seemed right to wear a French dress to get a French degree. I graduated in this dress, said goodbye to some of my best friends in this dress, and years later, I watched two great friends get married in this dress. Now, it's off to make memories with someone else.







The humble mirror dress.

Confession: I have never worn this dress outside of my house. But I have tried it on in front of my mirror more times than I can count. It is one of those dresses you wish you could wear, but you never get the guts to walk out the door in. Sure, it's not much to look at on a hanger, but it can hug curves like nobody's business. Now, it must go on to someone with less inhibitions than me...or at least someone with a great trench coat.







Moon River Express

In early high school, I learned how to play Moon River on the piano. It was an absolutely beautiful song, and to play things up for the recital, my piano teacher thought it would be a great idea for me to dress up like Audrey Hepburn. I found this dress at Express: a little black, reversible dress that fell nicely and made me look better endowed than I was. It was perfect for the occasion, and I may have worn it to a dance later that year. I have had this dress the longest. It might be my oldest clothing item, and all the more reason to say goodbye.



So, with these dresses, I give a final hurrah to all I experienced in them. While the dresses may be gone, I hope that the memories never leave.