When I was almost five, my oldest cousin was to be married and I was to have a new dress for the occasion. My mother was a seamstress and made most of our clothes, although there were more hand-me-downs than new ones. My dilemma was I that because I was nearly as tall as my older sister I often missed out and the items went straight to my younger sister – frequently I won my older brothers hand-me-downs, so a new dress was pretty special.
The chosen fabric was a tightly woven, shiny, satin material, smooth and cool to the touch. Red and pink spots scattered on a white background. The circles were paired together, one slightly overlapping its partner. It seemed to have the right ratio of repetition and randomness. The dress had short, puffed sleeves and gathering at the waist. I remember having to stand on the table and slowly turn as Mum pinned the hem at the correct length. Looking back, I think mum’s decision to dress me in white was very brave or quite optimistic – I was not a neat and tidy child.
At some point there was a scarlet velvet cummerbund added – I don’t think it was in the original design but probably attached to hide the letting out of the dress needed to accommodate my growth. Although I can only remember wearing the dress once, it is possible it came out on again before I grew out of it.
I don’t remember Sue and Graeme’s wedding ceremony and it's possible I didn’t attend; my younger sister would have been only three, so we were probably considered too young to behave in church. I do recall the tall red brick exterior and the wide steps leading down to green lawn area and the wedding party appearing at the top of the steps amongst huge smiles and ringing of bells. I was given a box of confetti, most likely half a box as we would have had to share, and it was quite a novelty to be allowed to throw something at grown-ups. Afterwards, we kids gathered fallen confetti from the steps and path and threw it at each other. The confetti was mostly white, but also pink, yellow, pale blue and green circles. On closer inspection some of the circles were incomplete – moon shaped. They were just like the spots on my dress!
The chosen fabric was a tightly woven, shiny, satin material, smooth and cool to the touch. Red and pink spots scattered on a white background. The circles were paired together, one slightly overlapping its partner. It seemed to have the right ratio of repetition and randomness. The dress had short, puffed sleeves and gathering at the waist. I remember having to stand on the table and slowly turn as Mum pinned the hem at the correct length. Looking back, I think mum’s decision to dress me in white was very brave or quite optimistic – I was not a neat and tidy child.
At some point there was a scarlet velvet cummerbund added – I don’t think it was in the original design but probably attached to hide the letting out of the dress needed to accommodate my growth. Although I can only remember wearing the dress once, it is possible it came out on again before I grew out of it.
I don’t remember Sue and Graeme’s wedding ceremony and it's possible I didn’t attend; my younger sister would have been only three, so we were probably considered too young to behave in church. I do recall the tall red brick exterior and the wide steps leading down to green lawn area and the wedding party appearing at the top of the steps amongst huge smiles and ringing of bells. I was given a box of confetti, most likely half a box as we would have had to share, and it was quite a novelty to be allowed to throw something at grown-ups. Afterwards, we kids gathered fallen confetti from the steps and path and threw it at each other. The confetti was mostly white, but also pink, yellow, pale blue and green circles. On closer inspection some of the circles were incomplete – moon shaped. They were just like the spots on my dress!
Phiona Rhodes
August 2023