Home-sewn for some special event in the 1970’s or late 1960’s. The velvet is plush and silky. The trim is elaborate with accordion pleats and lace. It’s been a long time since almost every town had a store where everything needed to custom-make a dress like this one was available in one shopping trip.

Women used to linger over illustrations in pattern books to pick out something they loved, then stroll through the aisles of fabric bolts to find just the right one. This was an event full of hopes and fantasies – very different from heading to the mall or Walmart for a mass-produced dress made of polyester by workers who earn hardly enough to make ends meet.

The whole story unfolded in my mind when I discovered this one. It’s always an adventure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

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