FIRST (MIDDLE) AND LAST PRETTY DRESSES

First, Middle and Last Pretty Dresses - do you have a favourite dress and memories that go with it?

THE JOYS OF A PRETTY DRESS

What's not to love about a pretty dress? My problem is that I don't have the opportunity, or occasion to wear one much these days. Fortunately both our children got married so there was the excuse to go out and buy a Mother of the Bride/Groom dress but before then there were these moments in my life.

FIRST

This is a picture of my brother and me taken when I was about three (and I'd say he's around one). It's one of those few photos we have where a "proper" photographer took the shot - and that explains why it's in colour.

I'm wearing the first pretty dress I have any memory of. It had a bow and a layered skirt - what's not to love? I notice my mum went all out with a matching bow in my hair for the photo - but that doesn't disguise the fact that she had trimmed my fringe, and I think she may have been drunk at the time! As per the previous post with my "pixie" cut, my mother really should have been kept away from scissors when it came to her children's haircuts!

First, Middle and Last Pretty Dresses - do you have a favourite dress and memories that go with it?

MIDDLE

This photo is the only one I have of my Year 12 Dinner Dance - the very poor relation and precursor to the big End Of Year Formals that our kids get to go to these days. Back then you bought a pretty dress - or your mum made your dress - and nobody wore false eyelashes, or hair extensions, or had their nails and make-up done. There were no professional photos, no limousines to hire, no super fancy venues - just a dinner and a dance. We still felt really special and very grown-up to be out on our own and staying out so late.

This is my friend Cynthia (still a good friend of mine today) and her Mum made her dress (if I remember correctly). Mine was bought at a little dress shop and I'm wearing a silk flower on the neckline to really jazz things up - simpler times indeed! 

First, Middle and Last Pretty Dresses - do you have a favourite dress and memories that go with it?

LAST (1)

And then we come to the here and now - and the only time I've bought a formal dress in the last thirty years! The first picture is our son and daughter-in-law's wedding - it was September and cool-ish and I was so pleased to find a dress that had a co-ordinating jacket. It was on sale, so my inner frugalista was satisfied as well.

First, Middle and Last Pretty Dresses - do you have a favourite dress and memories that go with it?

LAST (2)

Here's dress number two at wedding number two a year later. Our daughter and son-in-law chose to have a destination wedding in Bali and it was hot and humid. Quite a contrast to the cooler September wedding. I fell in love with this dress but walked away from it because it was too expensive - then saw it at the boutique's end of season sale at a greatly reduced price - the only one there and it was in my size - it was meant to be!

First, Middle and Last Pretty Dresses - do you have a favourite dress and memories that go with it?

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

Do you have a favourite dress that holds special memories? If you have a photo of yourself wearing it make sure you pop over and post it in the comments on my Facebook page because I'd love to see you in all your glory.

It's funny how a dress can trigger such happy memories and remind us of the special occasions in our life. I'm feeling quite nostalgic at the moment!

First, Middle and Last Pretty Dresses - do you have a favourite dress and memories that go with it?

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36 comments

  1. I honestly can't remember the last time I wore a dress...it was at a wedding of course, but don't remember whose it was...I remember growing up we wore them all the time and our Mother's never wore pants or at least not out in public... I think we need to dress better again....loved this.

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    1. I saw a lady walking her dog today - she was wearing a dress (the woman - not the dog!) and I realized it was something you don't see these days. Even for church it's unusual to see women in dresses - times have definitely changed.

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  2. What a great idea for a blog post!

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    1. Thanks Susan - and a great trip down memory lane for me too!

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  3. I'm not really a dress girl, although every once in a while, I shock people. Pants are just so much easier. So now that you have two party dresses....have you ever worn them again?

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    1. Haven't worn either of them again Jennifer - I just never go anywhere fancy enough to put on a formal dress. And, like you, I'm a real pants girl too. That's why it was so lovely to change things up a bit for the weddings.

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  4. I'm one of those that absolutely loves dresses, and feels like I can never have enough!!
    Whether it's for a special occasion (like yours) or just a nice dinner out, I can't even count the ones that I've loved over the years!
    XOXO
    Jodie
    www.jtouchofstyle.com

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    1. I still love a pretty dress Jodie but there just don't seem to be many occasions to wear one these days - and I'm a big fan of varying what I wear, so mixing tops and bottoms gives me more variety than dresses do.

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  5. I love a pretty dress too Leanne, but I usually only wear them when I'm going out somewhere special (not sure why?!). There's something about a dress which makes me feel more feminine :) #TeamLovinLife

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    1. I think they definitely make me feel more "girly" and more special Lyndall, I just don't seem to have the occasions to wear them any more. Pants seem to take precedence more these days.

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  6. Such cute dresses in your photos, Leanne!
    I have a closet full of dresses that I never wear. I really should start giving them away. I always think that maybe one day, I'll want to wear one of them!

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    1. I have a dozen dresses in the closet in the spare room Donna - I keep hoping something will motivate me to wear them again, but so far it's been a bit of a non-starter. I occasionally pull out a casual Summer shift but that's fairly rare too.

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  7. How gorgeous are these photos from down memory lane. My mum used to sew party dresses for me and my little sister so that we matched. I do have one photo somewhere. I have a wardrobe full of special occasion dresses that I don't get to wear often. My son is getting married next year so I will have an excuse to add to my collection! I love your pale green ensemble. It looks beautiful on you. #TeamLovinLife

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    1. My Mum and I had a Mother/Daughter matching dress at one stage Kathy - I never inflicted that on my daughter though. I have several pretty dresses that have had one or two wearings but I don't see any special occasions in the near future to dust them off for. I hope you do a Mother Of the Groom post next year :)

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  8. What a beautiful post and dresses!

    SSG xxx

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    1. Thanks SSG - it was a fun post to do and it was lovely to look back on those days - especially the teenage me (so carefree!)

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  9. Just beautiful Leanne, memories can come from anywhere! I love your MOB dresses, you look stunning :)

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    1. Thanks Deb - the MOB dresses would be close to your heart with yours being so recent - it's such a special time and it's nice to think we scrubbed up well for our children isn't it?

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  10. I still have my year 12 formal dress. Electric blue taffeta with puff sleeves and big side bow. Yikes! LOL. As for dresses in more recent times, hmmmm. I'll need to dig through my wardrobe to see if anything leaps out at me. Love the wedding photos above! #teamlovinlife

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    1. Thanks Leanne - and I bet you loved that electric blue taffeta dress when you wore it - I can imagine how glorious it was!

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  11. I love all your dresses! The last fancy dress I got was for a wedding 6 years ago. I wore the same dress to my niece's wedding the next year because I liked it so much. Geez I have to get out there more!

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    1. I know the feeling Haralee - I have a few dresses gathering dust in the closet waiting for me to go somewhere worthwhile - I don't see it happening any time soon though.

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  12. I'm really loving this first middle and last series. I love the pic of your year 12 dinner dance, and the 2 MOB dresses are gorgeous. #TeamLovinLife

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    1. I'm so glad you like the posts Jo - I'm enjoying stepping back in time and digging out the old photo albums - there's some nice memories tucked away to be discovered again.

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  13. I really don't know why but I felt like I have known you a hundred years after just reading this one simple post. Its funny how words and pictures can make you feel like that! I love a good dress. The way it hugs your body and makes you feel so good about yourself! I am a dress over jean girl so I know the feeling very very well!



    www.nmdiaries.com

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    1. Thanks so much for stopping by Nazrin and for your lovely compliment. I don't wear dresses anywhere near enough these days, but when I do, they always make me feel prettier and more dressed up.

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  14. What a lovely post! My last dress purchase was for a wedding in July. I chose a dark pink lace one. Dress purchases don't happen very often for me. ;-) -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

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    1. I don't buy dresses very often either Marci but that's what makes them so special isn't it? It's usually for an occasion and so there is a happy memory attached to each one in my closet.

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  15. 'Forgot to mention I am visiting from Bloggers Pit Stop -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

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  16. I'm not much of a dress person... hate the feeling of my thighs chaffing or something. But I have bought a couple of Adrift brand ones of late. I figure if I wear the summery dresses outside of work it'll be a distinct separation between my work and social life. (Of course I don't wear a dress at home, just when I go out to do bits and pieces!) #teamlovinlife

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    1. I have a couple of floaty dresses for those really hot days when even shorts feel too hot - but I'm not much of a dress person these days either - trousers just seem to be a more practical alternative.

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  17. Your photos are so cute and your beautiful smile is always shining. The beautiful dress I wore to my daughters wedding I wore it again to her son's wedding. I still have it but I don't think it will be worn again.

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    1. Thanks for the lovely compliments Kathleen - I can't believe you still fitted into the same dress and that it was such a classic that you could wear it 20+ years later - good on you!

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  18. I love this post! I have memories of several favorite dresses as I was growing up but I don't think any pictures exist.
    :) gwingal

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    1. We certainly don't have the plethora of photos available to us that this generation has do we Nikki? Still, it makes the ones I have more special.

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  19. Hi Leanne, this is my first (not my last) visit to your blog. I love the idea of dressing up and giving a dress you feel great in a nice twirl. We don't have occasion enough to do those things. I loved seeing the pictures. I also read the post about not complaining. I think I will give it a shot... Thanks for the inspiration to put on a dress today and to dress up my attitude, too.

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Thanks so much for your comment - it's where the connection begins.