Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Self-Portrait Challenge ~ What I Wear 4

I remember what I wear. I remember how special it was to wear this yellow dress that my mom made for both me and my doll. And I remember how grown-up I felt being able to hold my brother for the photoshoot.

My clothes are an intricate part of my memories. I remember...
  • my favourite red shirt with the alphabet on it that my mom made for me
  • that by grade 6 I loved clothes with drama - the red shirt with the ruffles down the front, the pink blouse with the voluminous sleeves (I still remember what the sleeves felt like against my arms)
  • the brown full-circle skirt that my friend Carol sewed for me in junior high
  • the cowboy hat I got for my 16th birthday from my friends
  • wearing red to my formal while all the other girls wore white, yellow or baby blue
  • the grey leg warmers I wore to shreds at dance class
  • the beautiful white dress that was too formal to wear anywhere but I'd put it on now and again just to see what it looked like
  • the first time a bought something I had seen in a magazine (white Esprit flats)
  • receiving my Latvian ring
  • my first pair of good-quality shoes
  • the grey suit I wore for my grandmother's funeral
  • discovering that you can wear Docs anywhere, with anything
  • clubbing in long black evening dresses, a short gold one and every now and again army pants and a tank top
  • the moment I tried on my wedding dress with a veil (That was a real "bride" moment for me. I cried)
  • discovering Jamie casual
  • manifesting my wishes with boots

I've really enjoyed taking a look at what I wear for SPC this month. It's been a journey of self-reflection and of owning that I really care what I wear. Thanks SPC!

For more self-portraits, go here.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

aww I love that your mom made your doll matching clothing for your doll!

Mindy said...

love the green ric-rack :) and i love this list of memories! isn't it funny how clothes can bring you right back to a particular moment or feeling? i remember my 1st grade, first day of school outfit - a grey and red goucho set. i felt so "i can conquer the world" that day. a 6 year old's power suit. xo

Vanessa said...

oh yes... this rings so true for me.
sometimes the just about the only thing i can remember about a past event or experience is what i (or someone else) was wearing).
i loved this post... such special memories.
Vx

Suzie Ridler said...

Oh that picture brought tears to my eyes. I love that Mom made you that matching outfit with your doll! How Jamie is that? Look at you radiating like sunshine with Robbie.

I remember a lot of those clothing memories of yours Jamie, I think that brown skirt is one of the reasons I fell in love with long, flowing skirts. I remember you spinning around in it and how lovely it looked.

What a special time capsule post.

Anonymous said...

Lovely post. So cute that your Mom made a matching dress for your doll. And I think ric-rack needs to make a comeback! (It was a staple of my childhood!) :) It is poignant to look back on wardrobe touchstones. Some of mine have included red cowboy boots, a black wool beret, long black dusters, faded Levi's 501's...actually I'll stop right there...because if you'd known me in a certain chapter in my life, that was my uniform: faded Levi's men's 501's...white shirt or black turtleneck...red cowboy boots...long black duster...black beret. Now imagine me walking everywhere in San Francisco and Portland wearing that. I was that girl (even though I was long past 'girl' years in age) for many years. :)

Melanie Margaret said...

You are so cute! I love old photos~the look and feel. So good you and Shannon are saving these.

Anonymous said...

sooooo cute!
I remember the soft grey poncho with tassles my mum made for me when I 3 or 4.

Vedrana M. said...

how cute, love your yellow dress :)