the girl who turned down Vera Wang, part 3

The thing is, of course we found a dress or two at Vera Wang. I knew walking in that we would, because they are incredible. I also knew that a Vera Wang dress could buy a starter car for my college brother, a few months of rent when he gets started working, or a nice vacation. Or, you know, a dress for a day. I am too practical sometimes.


I’d feel differently if I knew the dress decision wouldn’t affect any of those possibilities; but it would, eventually. I really loved feeling like my mom thought I was worth a dress like that. But the more I thought about it, I didn't need the dress to go with the feeling. So I turned it down. Point: I turned down Vera Wang. I still can't believe I did that. Even so, I have to admit I wasn’t totally shut of the idea at that point. It lingered.


I woke up Sunday morning thinking about one of the dresses - the lace one. My mom and I had one more shop to visit, but the appointment wasn’t for ten days. After the Vera Wang window closed on Tuesday. I called my mom and told her I was still thinking, and maybe we could try to edge our way into the last shop before the window closed? To see if more options would help me decide?

Done, she said, I’m getting in the car. We called the shop, and they’d just had a cancellation. On the way, my mom showed me a sewing pattern and some sources for lace and fabric, with the idea that we could try to copy one of the Vera dresses if I was so set against buying one. We’re both pretty snappy seamstresses, but you can’t miss that part of that title is stress.

At the shop, we found armfuls of gowns to try.
This one made me feel very film noir-ish, but in a can't-sit-down way.
It did nice things for the parts of me that couldn't be seated, though.

But then-

But then - Somehow the perfect blend of what we liked about the two Veras, plus a little bit of fit-me-perfectly. My mom cried, and (usually these things don’t follow) everyone was happy.