Holy Grail, check. Next stop, Atlantis!

Do you see that fabric? (And yes, it's draped over a dictionary stand, but never mind that for now.) I've been looking for that fabric for at least eight years. Not just black-and-white polka dots, mind you, but HUGE black-and-white polka dots. Offensive, flamboyant, elephantiasic black-and-white polka dots. The glasses are there to give you an idea of the scale, so you don't think they're just puny neurasthenic polka dots in extreme closeup.

[Of course, after searching for this for years, I found it when I wasn't looking: I stopped at Vogue for just TWO MINUTES -- seriously, I put a nickel in the parking meter -- to get some baby-blue denim for a quick skirt, and there it was, hanging with the remnant silks. Three yards! Less than $20 total! I was so happy, I even forgot that I had a headache and a pesky persistent sore throat and two hundred emails to answer.]

Why would I want such polka dots, you ask? Am I trying out for the artiest clown troupe ever? Am I trying to win a bet by getting someone to say to me "My, what big ... polka dots ... you have"? Did I want the "I'm a mime" version of this skirt? (Well, now that I think about it, yes, but that's not why.)

I want this fabric because somewhere (I know it's in the house, but I haven't seen it since we moved, otherwise I would scan it for you, you know I would) I have a picture of my mother, at my parents' engagement party. She's looking soignée and chic and happy, with a bouffantish blonde bob and a drink in one hand, and she's wearing a black-and-white polka-dot dress. It's got an empire waist and a square neck and HUGE dots, and I have to admit that this is a dress that I think about probably more than is healthy.

It's not that my mom's not happy now (c'mon, she has the world's best grandbabies) or that I'm fetishizing my parents' marriage (they're now genially divorced) -- it's just, when I look at my mom, I still see the girl in that picture, who was younger than I am now, and I still admire her sense of style. My mom is someone who can wear polka dots THAT BIG, dammit, and make it look good. And if I've inherited anything from her, that's what it is, and that's what I want to emphasize.

So the reification of the totemic dress can commence, now that I have the fabric!

Comments

[Ivy]

My, what a big vocabulary you have. ;-) Great find!

[Ahava Jora]

If there were ever a reason to obsess about mega polka dots, yours would be a worthy one. What a sweet story. I can't wait to the dress.

[Chelsea]

Speaking of dictionaries, I never thought dictionaries could be funny, but they are! This may show my maturity or lack thereof, but if you have a spare second to click over to dictionary.com, look up "wedgie". If it doesn't make you laugh outloud, please call one of your friends and have him or her read it to you outloud.How many languages have an actual word in them for "wedgie"?!English is awesome! And so are dresses, now that we're back on topic.

[Marge, Born Too Late Vintage]

Oh boy can I relate to this! I'm still looking for some fabric from the 1960s that was called American Beauty Rose in fuchsia. My mom had a gown made up in that brocade fabric to attend a hospital ball in the 1960s. I would so make a gown out of that for myself. Here's to our very stylish mothers! Viviene

[Anonymous]

I guess Chelsea is referring to the "prank" wedgie?? In Australia that is the main use of the word!! JJ.

[twllin]

I have a similar story (do we have something about our moms or what?). My parents used to live in New York City when my sister and I were teeny, but they moved upstate. I'm not sure my mother ever quite got over leaving the center of the fashion universe. In any case, we used to go downstate for Thanksgiving every year and we would all then go down into The City to shop, do a museum, etc. In the early 60s, I remember my sister and I trooping up to the Bronx to go to Loehmans and my mother pulling out this amazing cocktail dress, which she apparently loved but would not buy because even at Loehman's prices, it was expensive. So, when we met up wth my father, she asked him to take us down to the Lower East Side to the fabric stores and she basically matched the fabric for the dress. It was a, frankly, standard cocktail dress of the period, but it had a beautiful flowered, print fabric for the lining - I'm not sure of the background color, but it must have been white or cream. The top stopped at the bust. Then, there was an overdress, same pattern, but of chiffon, in a dark blue, but it was a complete dress, with sleeves and went all the way to the neck. I loved seeing my mom dress up in that; my parents entertained a lot in those days and she wore that dress for several years until the styles changed. Later, when I was in college, she was cleaning out the closets and wanted to send that dress to the rummage sale and I nicked it off to save it. I still have it in storage. I never could wear tha dress - my mom was 5'10" and I'm 5'2" (don't ask..all the tall genes went to my sister) - but the dress is too amazing to ever throw away. And, of course, it's full of memories of my mom as wel.

[dawn]

Those big b&w polka dots remind me of that fantastic dress that Felicia wore in the intro to Top Design. that was the highlight of the show for me!

[Heather Outside Boston]

Oh, you simply must find that iconic photo of your Mom and share it with us. Then, when you've made your dress, we'll need to see that, too. And congratulations on your fabric-karma. :-)

[La BellaDonna]

Oh, our mothers and their totemic dresses! My mom was blonde (my sister got those genes), and very stylin' in her younger days. I remember, when I was little, she had a black cocktail dress that I loved; I believe it was sleeveless,with a boat neck, but what I remember is that it was piped in shocking pink, and it had a deep pleat on the side that opened as she walked, and there would be an intense flash of shocking pink, because the pleat was lined in shocking pink! She wore it with red lipstick and a faint sweet cloud of Arpege. After five kids, there wasn't much dressing up or going out to cocktail parties, but I still remember that dress. <3

[Meghan]

I'm also a big fan of big polka dots:http://www.flickr.com/photos/18682827@N00/486822602/Can't wait to see what you make!

[Lorinne]

I concur, we must see the totemic mom photo!I love polka dots too. The skirt in the link to last year is BEAUTIFUL.Hope you feel better soon!

[Anonymous]

I cannot wait to see the side-by-side comparisons of the two dresses! --Lydia

[jessicajlee]

Fantastic! Hope to see both the picture and the new dress, when you get 'round to it!

[xstpenguin]

Isn't wonderful how buying beautiful fabric can make you feel so HAPPY! And having it turn up under your nose like that - the definition of serendipity?Enjoy, and feel better (gargle sage tea for that throat).Cheers,AJ

[S.]

Congrats! I love finding things like this after a long search. Somehow, the time spent searching makes the actual thing all the more sweeter.

[tea]

Ooh! You could make the Ashley dress in this fabric. Then you'd be able to mix two desires in one. It would be pretty easy to at least make an approximation (I've been mulling on it overnight). Use the kimono pattern's bottom and cummerbund, then extend cummberbund to go all the way around the dress. Then for the top, use kimono pattern's neckline (adding, of course, around to the back of the neck, too), and borrow a different dress pattern's bodice and cap sleeves. If needed, extend your cut for the bodice to accommodate ruching. Voila! Instant success. Of course, sticking with the original vision probably takes precedence as it has been a lifelong dream.

[nancy bea]

Anyone who can use the words reification and totemic in the same sentence is OK by me. Ad astra Big-Polka-Dot Girl!

[Anonymous]

Enjoyed the story, but loved the word reification. I can't remember the last time I had to look up the meaning of a word. Thanks for the vocabulary lesson!Gina

[Anonymous]

Seeing that fabric reminded me of the wrap dresses worn by the Tournament of Roses court when they announced which court memeber would be queen. http://www.tournamentofroses.com/press/ (4th press release from top) If you can make it work, GO FOR IT!

[Anonymous]

Please find the photo!

[enc]

BRILLIANT!

[Nora]

Hooray! Doesn't finding something like that that you've been looking for so long feel like a benediction? How utterly gratifying - and on sale, too! and in silk!!! quelle coup!I love these stories about people's mothers' dresses. I recently came across a photo of my Mom and I, in which I was about six and dressed in red with my then-yellow-blonde hair in pigtails, and my Mom was wearing a navy blue shirt and NAVY BLUE PANTS WITH WHITE POLKA DOTS!!! And looking extremely chic, I must say. Luggage-tan sandals, too, with a matching purse (if memory serves).Gotta love those polka dots, and those Moms with a sense of style.

[Ang]

Fantastic fabric!! And great story about the inspirational pic. I can't say I have any pics of my Mom in something I could wear/make/pull off, but one of my favorites is a New Year's Eve shot when I was a little over one year old, me in my festive hat with noise maker and Mom in a ruffled long sleeve white blouse under a purple crushed velvet long vest with....hot pants. Ever so 1970/71. I wish we still had that outfit....she made it herself! Can't wait to see this picture and what you make from the fabric! Ang

[kafrit08@holycross.edu]

I know where this fabric came from! I work in a costume shop, and we recently ordered an entire roll of this (only about 1/4 of which was actually used), and the giant dots are emblazoned into my memory. If you'd like, I can look up the name of the theatrical supply company from which we ordered it-- but just to let you know that if you need more, it is still available. Cheers to you for finding such awesome fabric, especially since it sounds like you've been looking for it for some time now!

[Anonymous]

Please tell me where I can get those huge polka dot fabric!! I need it in white with white dots. I am making a wedding dress out of it for my daughter. I am having no luck finding the fabric. Help!!!Debbie