The Birthday Dress

"You know I'm gonna be 25 in June"

"You are?"

"That's a quarter of a century, makes a girl think."

"About what?"

"The future."

Some Like it Hot (1959)

I've been waiting years, ages, practically my entire life until I would be 25, just the right age to be able to quote that line for a while and have it apply to me. I don't think at six I knew what a quarter of a century was, but that didn't matter to me one little bit, because it was just the most glorious fun of a line to say.

Somehow, I also never really cared much about birthday outfits (I'm not entirely sure why I stuck that somehow in there, or the also, but I can't just leave these two sections unconnected without some kind of verbal hand-holding going on to string them together sloppily) but this year I was struck by a need to have a bona-fide birthday dress. It also means I could justify the kind of dress purchase I would normally think thrice about.

Of course I got it into my head that this was the one I had to have. Of course, there is no Anthropologie anywhere near here (psst, put one here, it is the best idea!) but I had seen the thing on a recent day trip, and just loved the print to little pieces. It helps that it looks very much like a vintage dress that is amazing and just tight enough in the waist to keep me from wearing it to any activity that involves eating, drinking, breathing, or moving.

Details: Dress: Anthropologie; Shoes: Anthropologie (2009); Bag: Aldo Outlet

Despite a setback or two, I had the thing in my grubby little hands just in time for a birthday dinner. It wasn't the actual day, but for a celebration I plunged into the unnecessary items I overpacked and attempted to do justice with lipstick and heels to the little dandelion print.

But then today is my real-deal birthday, so I wore it again.

Details: Dress: Anthropologie; Shoes: Urban Outfitters; Bag: Vintage; Jacket: Vintage

With some rather out-of-place looking shoes I somehow miraculously acquired for ten dollars.

And now that it is almost post-August 11th, I can start thinking about sweaters and tights, boots, and jackets and scarves without feeling bedraggled by the rest of summer.

Photos by John.