Dress 8 : I can show you the world

I have to start off by admitting washing and ironing are not my strong points.  Mainly because I’ve never really had to do either of these domestic tasks.  Growing up my Nan lived with us so did those types of things.  When I moved to California with Kirsty she not only became my travel partner but substitute teacher in domestication.  Living in California there was no such thing as ironing, everything went in the dryer and most clothes we bought while there didn’t need an iron.  I did however master the washing machine!

Moving to New York there was a Laundromat with a lovely lady who I dropped my washing off to at 7am and picked it up the same day folded and ready for my wardrobe (or floor when it wouldn’t fit).  There have been a few comments that ironing was needed on some of my dresses so I did what any girl would do – I chose the ones that didn’t need ironing!!  Emma has an iron at our house but it is scary!  I swear it can fly and talk and do all sorts of things that irons should not do.  But I had put today’s dress off long enough and pulled up the courage to ask Emma for an ironing lesson.  Last night was that night.  The first things she said was ‘ok so its a little complicated’ .. 6 months I have tried to avoid that iron for that very reason.   But with Emma’s watchful Eye and Dannii (my second lovely roommate) cheering (more like laughing and taking photos which she has kindly shared) from the sidelines I did iron this dress.

Today's dress is just gorgeous and comes from an equally gorgeous girl Sarah.  Sarah joined my office when I had already been there about 2 years.  A good Adelaide girl she loved to have a drink and that's where we got to know each other with a glass in our hands and plenty to talk about.  Sarah had a laugh that you could never resist joining in on.  She was always there for a chat and would always amaze me with her ideas and creativity just burning awaiting to be unleashed and not wasted at the job we worked in.  When Sarah’s time came to end in New York and she moved back to Australia a little light went out in New York when she left.

When she left we were invited over for the usual I can’t fit this into my suitcase party with the things that were up for grabs displayed out around her apartment.  During my time in New York these types of get together’s whenever one of us would be a constant reminder at what a transient life we were all living, before I left I had the same type of gathering and it really made my heart stop to see my things all lined up ready and waiting to be left behind.  Thankfully Sarah left this dress because it has been a staple for my summers.

Something amazing would happen when I would wear this dress in summer in New York.  While the city held the heat in its concrete walls and floors and it was unbearable to sleep at night this dress was my saviour to help keep me cool in the day time.  Aside from being a great dress to keep cool when I would walk down the street heads would turn.  I’m not sure why but it was only this dress that would catch peoples attention, especially the male type with nonchalant nods and sly call outs.  Being that it is cold (yes cold in Summer, we nearly had to turn the heater on last night) I am wearing tights with it today, but normally it has a lot more movement.  I would walk past the same construction sites the next day and not even get a look.

I always thought that this dress didn't have a tag or any information on it.  Given the patterns and embellishments it always made me feel like it came from some far off exotic destination.  Images of wondering through the Sahara dessert my hair blowing in the wind, or shopping in the markets of the middle east and stumbling across a genie lamp hidden in a alley way always come to my mind when I wear this dress and think of its origins.  But tonight I decided to have a look one more time and there I found the tiniest tag I have ever seen .. it does come from an exotic location Indonesia!!!

Today however I was meeting my lovely friend from India and after seeing some of her Indian movies in recent months and Indian dresses it felt a bit Bollywood to me today.  So we thought we would have some fun I put on a bindi and tried my first ever Bollywood poses with her expert direction!

Thank you Sarah for this dress and for all the confidence boosters I got from wolf whistles and shout outs in NYC!  Also happy Birthday to my Nan who turns 79 today and can still rock a dress (maybe that's where I get it from!).

Day 8

Dress: I Can Show You The World
Received: 4ish years ago
Price Range: Free
What I like about it: I love the material and the pattern.  I love the lightness of the material and all the attention this dress draws to me.  It gives me a feeling of freedom and adventure being on the horizon
Tag Info: Hand made in Indonesia, 100%Rayon
Photo Credit: ND. White, NChakraborty (aka shake your booty!)