We teamed up with Katriona Flynn, lecturer in fashion at TU Dublin, to ask readers to share their story of a dress that has played an important role in their lives. We were struck by the huge response, and how the physical features of the dresses played second string to the human stories around them, and the memories embedded within. Here’s a selection …
Submit your own ‘Story of A Dress’ to amy@thegloss.ie and discover more stories online throughout the series. See the details of a new Desert Island Dress Podcast, coming soon created by Katriona Flynn and Dr Dee Duffy below.
A Polka-Dotted Keeper by Jean Noonan
As I edge closer to the end of my twenties, I launched into a wardrobe clearance mission to make space for a new chapter of style. During this process, I walked down memory lane, revisiting and reminiscing on my fashion choices that defined the last decade. From the cringe-worthy college outfits that served me in my early twenties to the reliable light jacket that kept me warm on those not too hot, not too cold evenings in late summer. Among the many memories and outfits, a wave of nostalgia swept over me when I saw my black and white polka dot dress. A timeless, vintage piece that is filled with memories that evolved with my style throughout my twenties. On every summer adventure I embarked on, this dress rolled neatly into my suitcase. It is crafted from a soft, quality cotton that brought comfort and durability. Its black and white polka dot pattern brings a playful and elegant charm to its design. The silhouette of the dress is flattering, featuring a fitted bodice that hugged my waist, tied with a bow. The long, flowing skirt had a gentle and graceful movement with subtle slits, giving the dress a touch of allure and versatility, perfect from day into night. This dress encapsulates the essence and spirit of my twenties and carries a sense of nostalgia and sentimentality with it. Each polka dot holds a treasure trove of memories from dinner with old friends, to new cities and experiences. Every time I slipped into this dress, I had a sense of confidence and femininity. This dress is placed firmly in the “keep” pile. My style may outgrow this dress, but the moments it holds will always be part of my journey.
Dressed To Daydream by Georgiana Dan
It was springtime in Dublin nearly a decade ago when I first wore this dress out. I was going to meet a boyfriend at the time in the Grand Social for a drink. I’m not sure how the evening went but I’ll always remember the short walk home alone along the Quays. The sun was setting and the sky looked like a Monet painting. I lived in an apartment on Wellington Quays at the time and was fond of playing Ella Fitzgerald on repeat, eating pastries from il Valentino and smoking rollies.
Headphones blasting ‘Manhattan’. Daydreaming of another world, longing to be somewhere else.
The boning on the corset had bent into my ribs in the short time I sat down to have a drink, probably due to the slouching, and it felt like the top half was only staying up thanks to my hips. For a period of time afterward, I spent most of my days off work wearing this dress. Something about it made me feel beautiful and elegant. The ill-fitting didn’t bother me.
I packed it away for a few years after that summer. Only choosing to wear it on certain occasions. Some special, some not. Each time the fitting feeling different. The boning on the corset still bent and digging into my ribs, regardless how many times I’ve tried to bend it back into shape.
Many things have changed since then, but with each wear I still think of that time. I think of that girl daydreaming along the Quays and feel a strange melancholy of the impermanence of time.
The fit doesn’t matter. The cotton still feels soft to the touch, and something about it continues to bring out the daydreamer in me.
The Dress, by Eithne Doherty
“No Mum,” said Sadhbh. “No print.”
“No print? But print is what makes things interesting,” I remonstrated.
“Well it doesn’t for me,” she said calmly. “No print!”
Is this what it was going to be like? Mother of the Bride. How did I even get here? I was a Cosmo girl: baby in one hand briefcase in the other and sexual freedom a byword for independence. I had two things to consider: the sisterhood and my daughter. Both were considerable forces to encourage action. There hadn’t been a wedding in the family for years. How does the curvy one in a family of straight up and down people carry off the golden cup of perfection or even better envy?
The race had begun. I went from shop to shop. I spent hours online. My money spend went up and up. There was nothing. I could feel the panic stinging in my throat and the dull pain in my tummy. I oscillated between chainstore and designer. I bought magazines. I looked at celebrities. Amal Clooney never got it wrong.
Christmas came and went but I didn’t see it or hear it. I was waiting for the sales. Discipline my father said. Grit my mother added. Both were long dead but their mantras were seared on my heart. And there it was hanging at the end of the sale rail, a pale pink Valentino dress with dramatic ruffled sleeves. My heart beat fast. What size was it? I took it to the dressing room. I slipped it over my shoulders. I looked in the mirror. Thank you Amal. The wedding went in a blur. The photos were fabulous. People commented. The dress. Beautiful.
The Dresses That Will Stand The Test of Time by Dearbhla Lovett
The first port of call when home from Dublin is a visit up to Granny’s. The fire’s lit, there’s either scones or buns in the oven, the smell filling the kitchen. The house is adorned with gorgeous crockery, photos she’s collected over the years, all these little knick-knacks that Granny will never throw out.
The same goes for the wardrobes in her house. Granny will never throw out anything, whether it be her own clothes or any of her daughters, that are years old. I myself have amassed many great pieces over the years; handmade dresses from Italy, maxi skirts, shawls.
But one Thursday evening she arrives down the hall carrying this dress. You can almost smell the mustiness of time. This dress is very special to Granny, belonging to her aunt Maimie, and is over 70 years old. Her aunt lived in Terenure back in the 1940s and would often come to visit them in their farmhouse in the country of Rockcorry, Monaghan – always dolled up to the nines in big hats and a matching coat. “A rare sight in the countryside in those days!”
That dress has stood the test of time. It’s in pristine condition (besides the sitting in a wardrobe for the last 50 years smell). Can the same be said for all dresses we buy today, will we still see these in the wardrobes of our grandchildren in ten years’ time let alone 50?
It’s an interesting thought to think about where all of our clothes will end up in years to come.
Coming Soon: The Desert Island Dress Podcast
The podcast that unearths the heartfelt stories behind the clothing we cherish the most. In this unique series, guests share the four garments they could never leave behind, each with a profound connection to their lives and loved ones. Join your hosts Katriona Flynn and Dr. Dee Duffy on a captivating journey through the wardrobe of memories, as we explore the emotional tapestry that clothing weaves into our most cherished moments.
