Last weekend, I cleaned out my closet during a pretty big snow storm. I found a bunch of clothes that I’ve loved that no longer fit… and I found something else: A DRESS.
All my life, I’ve worn different sizes. I’ve been up and down on the scale more times than I care to mention… and being in my 30s, I’ve seen many a style come and go and come back again. But I’m always picking up what I like to think are classic pieces. You know, those timeless ones that will last for a lifetime, whether they fit or not.
Let me take you back in time to 2001. I remember it was 2001, because I was scheduled to fly on September 13, 2001 and instead made the decision to drive to see my friend Jessica and her family in North Carolina after tragedy struck our country just days before.
It was my first trip to the Raleigh area, and Jess and I spent our time catching up as we always did. We laughed a lot and even made time for a little shopping. I remember we went to their fancy mall… and talked about how we REALLY needed to find out how to become Lane Bryant models, since they were so fabulous and during most months of the year, we qualified as plus sized. One of my favorite people on the planet, Jess and I were always up to something, and still are twelve years later. 🙂
We were looking for a gown for Jessica or her mom if I remember it correctly. We went into Cache to see what we could find. I had never in my life entered this store, and certainly didn’t plan on finding an evening gown for myself.
I remember finding it on the sale rack, and gasping by how beautiful it was. Like any seasoned bargain shopper, its beauty was intensified even more by the red lines that scratched through the original price and marked down price, making it a complete steal.
Trying it on, it fit absolutely perfectly. After receiving oooo’s and ahhh’s from my onlookers, I knew it was going home with me. Just out of college, spending $75 on an evening gown that I had no plans to wear was extreme, but I was in love. I just had to have it.
I REALLY want to share a picture of the dress, but to do so… I’d have to get myself fixed up to really pull the look together. Seeing how it’s Sunday afternoon when I’m writing this and I’m super cozy in some workout clothes, that’s not happening. What I will share with you is that I tried it on last week, and 1) It fits perfectly and 2) I absolutely love it as much as I did back in 2001.
By now, you might be wondering what the heck I bought. The best way I can describe it to you is that it looks like SPAIN.
This picture captures the essence of the gown, but it’s completely different. Imagine beautiful black fabric, with stunning red flowers… beautiful beading making it glisten just so. And, the ruffles… The ruffles just make it fun. I always imagined I’d wear it with a red flower in my hair, and I think that occasion is approaching.
The crazy thing about this dress is that I’ve had it for nearly TWELVE years now… and I’ve never worn it. It still has tags on it, and lives in a Cache bag in my guest room closet. TWELVE YEARS.
For twelve years, I’ve looked at it at least once a year and thought… ONE DAY. For twelve years, I’ve moved it from place to place with the HOPE that I’d be able to fit back into it one day. Some people hang onto their “SKINNY JEANS”, well… I have a dress.
When I think of the ONE DAY pondering I’ve done over the years, I absolutely know that it wasn’t just about the dress. It was about losing the weight. It was about freeing myself of the weight I’d been carrying around for so long. I’d refused to get rid of the dress because ONE DAY I was going to lose the weight, and ONE DAY I was going to have the opportunity to wear it.
So, I backed up the dress and moved it from Tennessee to Colorado and then back to Tennessee, and yes back to Colorado again. To me, getting rid of the dress was like giving up – – resigning myself to my overweight state. Twelve years later, it sounds crazy that I still have it… but I’m so glad I never gave up!!
And, I’ve made a decision… this is the year it’s going to get worn! Even if I have to create an occasion to wear the dress, it’s going to happen. Some girls plan every detail of their wedding, I guess I’ve hung onto the idea of wearing this dress. It’s going to happen… it’s time!
I haven’t decided if it’s going to be a dinner party out here in Denver, or perhaps a lovely night at Montelucia, but that dress needs to make its debut in 2013. It deserves to shed that plastic bag and those weathered tags. Since I’m so close to achieving my final goal, I may even tie this DRESS into my rewards program somehow. I just haven’t figured out how… Stay tuned, it’s going to be a heck of a reveal!
While I haven’t held onto much over the years that I wanted to fit back into, I’ve held onto this. You may have something in your closet that you’re holding onto… that a friend/husband/boyfriend/roommate just doesn’t understand. If it means you don’t give up on trying to get there, hang onto that one piece. If it holds a strong memory and represents hope, don’t even think about getting rid of it.
Now that you’ve decided to keep it, don’t let it take twelve years to get back into it. Start today… you’re worth it.
Do you have “skinny jeans” in your closet that you haven’t worn for years or a fabulous dress that you hope to wear one day? Why do you hold onto them?