A Stitch in Time

 Looking at this photograph, what do you see?

A cream crochet dress over a black slip?

A classic Karen Millen dress?

A party dress?

This dress is all of those and much more.

When I look at this dress I am transported back to my 30s in 2005 in Liverpool City Centre. That feeling of finally losing my baby weight after four children and a career back on track. Working in Liverpool City Centre as a PR Manager I had lunch hours and on one of those on a late sunny afternoon I spotted this dress on the sale rail at Karen Millen in Bold Street.

It was less than half price but still expensive for me.

But I bought it for no other reason than I loved it.

Our relarionship was sealed under the fluorescent lighting and flattering dressing room mirrors.

When I look at this dress I remember holding my baby neice, Georgia in my arms at her christening in the hot summer of 2006.

When I look at this dress I can feel the heat of a hot Sunday evening  in late April 2007 hurtling through the back streets of Rome in a cab rushing to get to a tiny pizzaria in time for my friend's 50th birthday.

When I look at this dress I can feel the pride at standing alongside my son who worked so hard to graduate after a few false starts one July afternoon in 2017.

When I look at this dress I recall the bittersweet feelings of love and loss at my daughter-in-law's Hen Do in 2018. 

Those mixed feelings of knowing that your eldest son has found the love of his life but you are no longer the number one priority in his life - as it should be.

 I wore this dress deliberately as it was my safety blanket and I needed the support of a really good friend.

This dress didn't let me down. 

And now I couldn't be happier that my son has found such a wonderful woman to be his wife and the mother of my beautiful granddaugter.

There are many other times that are not photographed but are woven into the fabric of my memory. 

The day I tumbled downstairs after having one too many at a local bar and was caught by a handsome young man who turned out to be a friend of my sons. 

The barbeuces and dinner parties.

My love affair with this dress has continued throughout the ups and downs of my weight.

 It has hugged me close when I was a size 6 and a size 12 and every size  in between.

Every stitch is infused with my life from my 30s to my 50s and all the rich array of emotions I I have had the privilege of experiencing.

Sutra is the Sanskrit name for a short story (or a spiritual teaching) and comes from the same root as the English word suture or stitch.

And it is why I feel that the threads of this dress are stitched together within the rich tapestry of the small fabric of my life.

Today's post is a joint collaboration with Melbourne based style blogger Sarah

London and she has an amzing story about a fabulous wool coat - please hop over and take a read.

See you soon,

Jane X