Do you believe in the power of power dressing? I do! I’m not the best public speaker (nerves and adrenaline get to me too often) and so my big crutch is the threads I wear.
I had a work presentation this week. On the day, I got up, showered, stood in front of my wardrobe. Stood there a bit longer … and a bit longer … Then I slammed the doors shut. It’s time for the big guns, I thought. Marched myself over to the spare wardrobe where my nice dresses hang. I pulled out the Simplicity 4934 I’d worked on with Sunnygal. The one made from lavender wool bought at Goldhawk Road and carried in my suitcase to San Francisco. The dress with a hand picked zipper, beautifully fitted bodice (all credit to Beth and none to me), silk organza underlining and a subtle Sixties vibe. Then I applied my make-up, pulled on my coat, reached for my bag and set off into central London. I got through the presentation just fine.
Two years ago, how could I possibly have known that a dress worked on in the warmth of a Californian afternoon, would become my armour of choice on a grey, rainy day in London? With a needle and thread, I hadn’t just been making a dress, I’d been giving myself a coping strategy. This is why we sew. Strength and self love go into those stitches, to keep us together when we’re feeling weak and uncertain. I don’t think there’s a designer label, a pill or a big enough slab of chocolate in the world to duplicate that. Do you agree?
