Tis the season

So everywhere I look, I have another friend showing off that little piece of jewelry every little girl dreams about, a sparkly engagement ring. Now, I could turn completely cynical, and start bitching and complaining about the marriage issue and what the point of it is (my defense mechanisim for being nowhere close to getting engaged). Or I could drop the attitude and get into the spirit of things. Yes yes, that day is supposed to be about you and your lovey, and how much you mean to eachother. Lets face it though, it really is about the outfit.

Every female wants to look the best they have ever looked on that day. That takes a little time and planning. In the past there were the basics- white dress, veil, bouquet, and your groom. Now, in this day and age, all the rules have changed. Theme weddings are all the rage, and dresses have evolved with the addition of "non-traditional" colors and lines. There are so many different routes a bride to be can take. In the end though, it is all about the how you feel.

For example, lets take my best friend Mo. She has planned a weekend getaway in Las Vegas. Now Mo has spent most of her life being labled as "cute". She is petite with a little voice. Growing up boys either loved it or hated it, more the former than the latter. She always managed to pull off the craziest of fashion statements with no regrets. Now, she is a little bit older and about to get hitched. On our first outting for a dress, our discussion turned to what it is exactly, that she wanted to look like at that moment. "Classy, not cute" was her instant reply.

5 hours and a lot of stores later, we came home with the first draft. A strapless, lace, empire waisted dress. She stayed close to a traditional look with a cream color. The whole thing looks very antique. But does antique equal classy? Its a fine line between the two.

Like most brides shopping for an ensamble, her shopping didn't stop there. About a month later, while out looking for "classy" jewelry, Mo found draft #2. The shimmery satin caught her eye as she browsed. Following her intuition, she lunged for the piece of fabric sticking out of an overcrowded rack. (Cue music and lights) There it was in all its glory, a dress that was very wedding like and classy without the heavy wedding price tag. She almost couldn't get the damn thing on fast enough she was so excited. And what do you know, a perfect fit. The length showed just enough leg to be sexy, but classy. Instantly, the original antique was forgotten.

Being an emotional shopper myself, (retail therapy works wonders,) I was moved by the out pouring of feeling Mo had for the new found dress. You could see an instant transformation in her whole attitude when she modeled the garment for me. Every part of her being radiated how she was feeling and would feel, like the most beautiful girl in the world. Mission accomplished.

I just want to take this moment to thank the fashion gods and goddesses for bestowing that kind of pleasure on myself and my fellow fashion adventurers. When an everyday occurance such as shopping can turn into a euphoric state of mind, who could ask for anything more.