What to do! I have spent hours looking for dresses and it comes right back down to making them myself. If I would have just made them to begin with, look how much time I would have saved! I thought I was on to something ... it would have saved me $$ and time, but after much deliberation we've completely tossed the plan.
Here's the deal: my two older girls competed in a music competition early this spring. It was the Young Artist's competion put on by the _____Valley Symphony. The whole idea was to gain experience playing in different situations. This was a situation with a little pressure :-) They worked hard in preparing for the contest never ever even entertaining the thought of winning, especially Brianna. Brianna is 13 and loves her violin. She plays with zest but she knew she was competing against more experienced high school seniors and other very accomplished music students. Vanessa is 14 and plays harp well. She loves the piano more, but harp has always been her "special" joy. She knew there were no other harpists competing so if she thought she might have a chance, it was only because her instrument was so different. The day of the competion arrived and so did all my family for a special family reunion. My brother and his family from Africa, my Mom and Dad from Africa and Colorado, My sister and her kids from the Yukon. They were all very much interested in hearing the girls play. Christina also competed on the flute - the youngest contestant by three years! So we all showed up at the competion. Each contestant went in the room alone with an accompianist and three judges. Our girls went in with All the relatives - down to wee little ones, violin teacher, flute teacher and harp teacher and her spouse! Not sure what the judges thought, but we didn't care. The girls played well - all three! They played their heart out for the visiting family members more than anything.
Would you believe it? Vanessa took third place! She is still wishing she had played a different song. It was her teacher's choice and she had good reasons to pick a less fancy song, but Vanessa wishes she had chosen something a harder because now she is a featured soloist with the Symphony this fall and will play with the symphony for an audience.
Brianna played Vivaldi's Spring for the Four Seasons. She tied 2nd place! She is also a featured guest at the Symphony this fall. In fact they play on October 12 - Vanessa's 15th birthday and 3 days before we leave for Africa.
So here is the dress deal. Apparently the girls are expected to wear formals. Great... have you seen a modest formal lately? There are not very many. I've done quite a bit of internet shopping and I know what is out there. The best dresses are offered at Mormon shops, but they cost a pretty penny and we need TWO! I was looking at Goodwill . Yes! My favorite store. And I found one. It was listed as $42 but they sold it to me for $20. Good deal. It needed some adjusting but I figured I could do it and it was Vanessa's favorite color and everything. I can't even make a dress for $20 anymore. The sailor graduation dress I made cost more than $30. The Goodwill dress is gorgeous... too gorgeous!~ I can't come up with anything close to that for Brianna. She's just a bitty thing and in between kid size and adult size 0. I only found one dress online that she loved. It was on ebay - corn flower blue satin and with some pretty embroidery, only about $50 and sleeves (I know... that is the hardest part of a dress to find these days!) BUT it was 5 sizes to big and there isn't another one in all the world or I would have tracked it down.
Been thinking and looking and praying and we have decided simple is better anyway. The part that hurts is it's going to cost me more to make them and take up time I don't really have right now. Simple is beautiful and while they won't match up to the other girls we think it would be a better witness anyway. Vanessa did like that Goodwill dress a lot but she is happy with going simpler. The dress is on Craig's list... Here's a close up of the detail on it.
So happy to hear how good your girls did. I know they will enjoy playing in the symphony.
Untitled Comment
Posted by gabbie427 on Monday, August 11, 2008 at 08:31 - Link
Congrats to the girls!!! Quite an accomplishment!!! How wonderful!!!
I love the dress you chose at the Thrift Shop. It is beautiful and covers all the important areas. It is a shame neither of the girls will be able to wear it. Have you ever looked on Ebay for another formal for the second daughter????
Either way, homemade or boughten dresses, this is a wonderful evening neither will soon forget. I hope you will post pictures of them dressed up!
Oh I am SO PROUD OF YOUR GIRLS!!! This will be such a wonderful experience for them to play as guests in the symphony! My violin teacher in elementary school was in the Chattanooga Symphony and I always wish I hadnt been so shy back then about playing b/c I never competed for anything on violin or piano. BUT the music and instruments will always be w/the girls. I find that playing gives me stress relief and is one of the most wonderful things in the world!
As far as the dresses...that dress is BEAUTIFUL that you posted. I was wondering if you have thought of looking on the clearance rack of department stores? I say this b/c that is how I found my bridesmaid dresses for my wedding...they were "three season" dresses going "out of season" and were VERY inexpensive. If you needed them to match, the stores will usually call up the other stores in surrounding area to find the right size, then have it sent to their location for you. I didnt know clothes had a season like this in the first place, but I also do not dress formal often enough to keep up...anyway, just a thought.
Thank you for sharing your girls' wonderful accomplishments with us!
. Yes! My favorite store. And I found one. It was listed as $42 but they sold it to me for $20. Good deal. It needed some adjusting but I figured I could do it and it was Vanessa's favorite color and everything. I can't even make a dress for $20 anymore. The sailor graduation dress I made cost more than $30. The Goodwill dress is gorgeous... too gorgeous!~ I can't come up with anything close to that for Brianna. She's just a bitty thing and in between kid size and adult size 0. I only found one dress online that she loved. It was on ebay - corn flower blue satin and with some pretty embroidery, only about $50 and sleeves (I know... that is the hardest part of a dress to find these days!) BUT it was 5 sizes to big and there isn't another one in all the world or I would have tracked it down. 
