from the Material Witness Mystery Series
by Diane Vallere
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***Contest closed. Congrats to Margo Bittner! Thanks to all who commented. ***
Comment by 6/8 midnight PST for a chance to win an ebook of SUEDE TO REST or CRUSHED VELVET (your choice!)
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Sometimes a girl just needs a new dress.
I admit, working in a fabric store keeps me on the casual/functional side of fashion. And even though I'm no longer responsible for repairing sewing machines and hot-gluing plastic gems onto pageant dresses, I haven't quite shaken my habit of wearing black every day. Running Material Girl, the family fabric store, has had its share of benefits, not the least of which is letting my cats, Pins and Needles, join me in the store during the day. But sometimes, when business is slow, I wander the aisles and get inspired by the fabrics. I know this sounds silly, but I even let them talk to me and tell me what they think they could be. Bathing suit cover-up? Interview suit? Party dress?
See, that's the other thing about wandering the aisles of the family fabric store. Every fabric reminds me of my great aunt Millie and the movies we used to watch together. She was the one who first taught me about sewing and about style. She introduced me to Mae West and Greta Garbo and The Thin Man movies and all kinds of glamour that doesn't exist today. I learned to buy vintage dresses in bad shape and deconstruct them to make patterns. That's what I used as inspiration for the dresses I designed for my old job, but Giovanni, the cheapskate, dumbed them down. Grrrrr.
Imagine having a place to wear a champagne dress with bugle beading! Or fringe--yards and yards of fringe. One of these days an opportunity will come along. And trust me, I'll be ready.
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Poly's going to get that chance to get all dressed in up August when SILK STALKINGS comes out. When's the last time you had a chance to get all dressed up? Leave a comment and enter to win a Kindle copy of SUEDE TO REST or CRUSHED VELVET.
Posts
I try to avoid "dress up" occasions. I'm a casual type gal. This book sounds great. I love that the fabrics speak to her.
ReplyDeleteI dressed up for a wedding mid May. I do not get dressed up much.
ReplyDeletedebby236 at gmail dot com
The old movies had such elegant clothes. Not sure if everybody really dressed like that all the time, but it's a sight to see. I don't dress up much, especially since I've retired. The last time was a wedding and the next time will be a wedding in December.
ReplyDeletesallycootie@gmail.com
I very very seldom get dressed up---but I did go one step above my normal jeans and t-shirt for the 50th class reunion.
ReplyDeletesuefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Its been awhile since I got dressed up I think my brother in laws wedding last October it is rare to get dressed up mama2bulls@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteThe last time I got all dressed up was for a wedding weekend -- it was actually a very nice change from my very casual lifestyle. There is just something about a having new dress(es), wearing make-up, maybe a new scent, and of course having new shoes. When everything gets put together it's just kind of magical~
ReplyDeleteLast Wednesday was my hubby's birthday. Got gussied up to go to dinner.
ReplyDeleteI rarely dress up. I usually wear something nicer during Christmas when visiting family. My grandma her birthday was last month and I put on something a bit nicer then as well, so that's probably the last time I dressed up
ReplyDeleteLevi's can be dressy right? =)
ReplyDeleteI'm a casual gal. Looks like another fun read!!
casual here but like to sometimes dress to the nines also :)
ReplyDeleteI dress casually. When I have to go to a dress up occasion I have to figure out what to wear way ahead of time, because I very fee dress clothes.
ReplyDeleteI dress casually. When I have to go to a dress up occasion I have to figure out what to wear way ahead of time, because I very fee dress clothes.
ReplyDeleteI love the Thin Man movies. The clothes in those, and all the other classic movies, were perfect. Nowadays I don't dress up at all. In fact, I'm going to a wedding in July and already stressed about what I'm going to wear.
ReplyDeleteLast time I got dressed up was my wedding. Than you for the chance
ReplyDeleteLast time I got dressed up was my wedding. Than you for the chance
ReplyDeleteI'm reading Suede to Rest right now. I really like it. I don't dress up. I would need Poly to design a dress for my body because it is too hard to find nice clothes these days. If I would win, I would like a copy of Crushed Velvet. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteElaineE246 at msn dot com
Thank you. Last fancy dress up was a work Christmas party. nelson_ee at yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI love fabric stores, fabric, trims, tread. Sewing is a favorite activity for me, by hand and by machine. Glad to learn of this series.
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to reading Silk Stalkings! Looks like it will be a winner. I just love cozy mysteries. Fabric stores are great places to explore. I love looking at all the different prints and the beautiful ribbons. Thank you for a chance to win!
ReplyDeleteI had to get all dressed up a few weeks ago for a college graduation event. It has been so long, you would think I forgot how to dress myself! Picking a dress and shoes and accessories was so stressful. So to prepare for next time, I bought a dress pattern and fabric to make so next time, I will have my "go-to" dressy dress that I love and feel comfortable in!
ReplyDeleteI attended the wedding of a former student of mine. She was a delight, and we'd kept in contact over the years. I had a floral 'twirly' dress with a coordinating shawl. The perfect dress for moves on the dance floor.
ReplyDeletekat8762@aol.com
I'm more a casual gal and avoid try to dressing up.
ReplyDeletepeggyhyndman(at)att(dot)net
A couple years ago for my nephew's wedding.
ReplyDeleteMy email is donamaekutska7@gmail.com I forgot it before.
ReplyDeleteLast time I got the chance to dress up was a wedding (which was about 5 years ago). Thank you for te chance to win. myrifraf (at) gmail (dot) com
ReplyDeleteI get dressed up regularly- not formal wear,but costumes. I might be in Victorian dresses for special events at the winery, our murder mystery dinners have characters that always need costumes. You never know what I'll be wearing. cheers@Marjimmanor.com
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Margo! You're the winner of a Kindle copy of SUEDE TO REST or CRUSHED VELVET, your choice!
DeleteGracious , I don't even remember the last time I had an occasion to dress up for ! kathambre@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteA friend's New Years party. Seascapelife (at) Gmail (dot) com
ReplyDeleteI love walking through a fabric store. Looking at the different types and thinking about what I would make with them, I could spend hours and hours. Thanks for the opportunity to enter the giveaway. robeader53@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI have been retired from teaching since 2003 and live the FL retired life...no dress up here. The last time I remember dressing up was for our son's wedding 6 years ago, lol
ReplyDeleteOOPS my email is northstarvance@gmail.com
ReplyDelete