Victory and "Thee Perfect Dress"

Every Southern Girl knows the thrill and victory of capturing "thee perfect dress." It starts when we're very young, and I just discovered, continues on as we are adults.

Growing up I would search for the perfect "first day of school" dress -- usually on a marathon trip to every store in Amarillo. Sometimes we ended up back at the first store we ever went to (usually), but we searched every store just in case. And sometimes, there was a tie and more than one (two or three) would end up coming home so that I could decide the ultimate victor the night before school.

Then there was the Christmas dress, the Easter dress, and even the dance recital final bow dress (usually the Easter dress, since the 2 fell so close together.) My mother reminds me how in Kindergarten I wanted a dress like Mikael and Jama because their mom's MADE theirs. Mine was "just" store bought!

Around second grade the perfect dress style was to have a layered dress (2 or more pieces), and I recall even having one with a layer that had bells on it. I loved that dress, though I received some teasing from my cousin Jason.

Fast forward to 8th Grade Achievement Night, and this is where the real search for a formal began. I scored a beautiful deep sapphire, full length formal from The Trolley Car Boutique. It had a sequined bodice and a full skirt (which of course required a full petticoat), and it had just one poof sleeve with the other side strapless. I felt like a princess. And that is how you know you have found THEE dress -- you feel like a princess.

Searches for the perfect prom dress in high school resulted in the need my senior year to make the 6 hour trek to Dallas, the shopping mecca of the south. I returned home with the most unique and beautiful flapper girl styled dress that was fully sequined with a colorful paisley design. Who cared if I had no date to the prom -- I had THEE dress, and that was what mattered most.

The quintessential dress hunt occurred back in Amarillo when I was on the hunt for my wedding dress. Every girl dreams of this dress, and I was no different. I was "daring" and found a dress with a floral accent with champagne flowers....It was everything I wanted, so that I could marry the man who was, and is, everything I ever wanted.

I was reminded this weekend, that victory can indeed happen even after our bodies have given birth to a baby, and even after years of marriage. I broke the cardinal rule of dress shopping (I was wearing no makeup, and my hair was just in a top knot.) and I dashed in to Cache to see if they had something special for the upcoming company holiday party. And boy did they! It was a beautiful, black , full length dress, which exuded the elegance of Audrey Hepburn. It fit perfect, and I felt like a princess. And I walked out of the store, with no dress in hand. I found the perfect dress, enjoyed a small moment of victory, and that was enough for me.