This was a Dress I got off the internet auction site, Ebay, and came in right on time, I thought it was going to be really big on me, but the dress fit perfectly, just needed some shortening of the hem.
Summer 1998
The 6th installment of the Fall flower garden shoot saga went by like a flash, and thanks to some wonderful weather and the fact we had the gardens practically to ourselves made it extremely enjoyable.
This year, it was five new Bridesmaid dresses and 3 formal outfits that made it to the special day to be photographed, and unlike other years, the planning did not start until mid August, I guess we were really getting better!.
Since last year, I had collected quite a few new and special dresses, some Bridesmaid and formal dresses. With the summer being as busy as it was, my packing and planning did not start until a week before the actual shoot, and that would be a first as typically packing starts a month previous.
Unlike years past the strange winter and summer we had with regards to the fact that temperatures had been well above normal all summer long, was cause for concern as the end of September approached. The week previous to the shoot was in the mid to upper 20's, way to hot to be going to the gardens and slipping in and out of dresses and keeping my makeup in check, so Rose and I crossed our fingers and hoped for the best.
Like in years past some of the dresses needed to be altered and Sharon gave me a hand in getting over to my seamstress, Maria. She got me there two week prior to the shoot, and she was a doll, coming and picking me up on her lunch hour on the Thursday prior to the shoot to take me there.
The evening before the trip to Maria's I gathered the three dresses that I had to have Maria alter together and hung them up in my room, all ready for the next days trip.
Thursday September 17th, 1998
So the day to go to see my seamstress Maria came, and it was warm outside, but I was ready as I had got hold of some lightweight summer clothes in the past few months, and knew exactly what I was going to be wearing. I began getting ready by slipping into a comfortable bra, no underwire for this visit!, and then a comfortable pair of purple silk panties and then finally a nude pair of pantyhose. No makeup jacket was going to be worn and I proceeded to apply my makeup. Since the trip to Maria's was going to be a short one, I decided not to apply too much, so I used my usual colours on my eyes, same colour, but a little lighter than normal, as well as my eyeliner and blush.
Once my makeup was complete and I was happy, I started to get into my light summer clothes for the trip. I decided on a short lightweight floral skirt, and light peach coloured T-shirt that matched the skirt perfectly. The outfit looked great and combined with my 3" white heels, was perfect. I then brushed out my hair and touched up my lipstick and before I knew it, was going upstairs to meet Sharon at the door. I had thought about packing my white purse, and taking everything from my black one, but this trip was only going to be a short one and I decided not to, and grabbed my black purse and met Sharon.
Sharon met me in the kitchen and our first meeting of the year was a big hug and a kiss, and she looked me over and complimented me on a lovely looking and comfortable outfit. Sharon lead the way and I picked up the dresses I was having altered and away we went. The ride to Maria's was quick and Sharon and I exchanged small talk and before I knew it, Sharon was dropping me off, and as I went into Maria's, Sharon went and grabbed some lunch and was to return later to pick me up.
I entered Maria's shop and she greeted me by name, "how are you Jennifer, right this way", and she opened the curtain for the dressing room. I hung the dresses up and slipped out of my clothes, and slipped into the first dress, which Maria's comment was when she saw it, "oh my how lovely!". Maria pinned the three dresses I had brought and it looked like I was just in time as quite a few other women started coming in, just as I was finishing. I slipped back into my clothes and said goodbye to Maria and as I was leaving got a friendly, female to female smile from another woman in getting clothes altered. I met Sharon in the Van and she drove me home, we kissed as she dropped me off at home and I thanked her for the drive, and she smiled and said, "take care, see you on your birthday".
In the days leading up to the shoot, I found myself preparing as usual, checking all of the outfits, deciding on the hose and jewelry for each, and then finally deciding the order. The way the order worked out was basically all formal dresses for the first part, and Bridesmaid for the latter, so hose decision was easy, sheer black for the first part and sheer nude for the second. The nude hose worked out perfectly for my "going away" outfit which was a dress that Sharon calls my "Spice girl Outfit", black and white, short and really cute.
One of the dresses I was to model was a beautiful and sexy Jessica McClintok dress, short hunter green and very elegant, the problem was, that even though the dress was supposed to be a 13/14, it actually fit like an 11/12, something this girl is not. I had that dress and another "on the fence" in case the day before the shoot they would not fit. So I asked Sharon to help me the night before the shoot to see if the dresses could somehow work. Sharon waited as I tried on the first dress, a lovely purple off the shoulder number, but to no avail, as much as we tried it could not he done up, so that one was definitely out. Then the Jessica McClintok dress, well we worked and worked and finally it did up, but it was not easy. Sharon explained what Rose would have to do in order to get it done up on me the following day. I was happy and the first dress I was to wear was chosen.
The last thing Sharon helped me with was the shoes that I was going to be wearing for the first few formal dresses and I had to choose between a pair of 4 ¼" black patent pumps and a pair of 4 ½" pumps with an ankle strap. I modeled them both for Sharon and she informed me that the strappy ones were perfect for the outfits I was going to be modeling and decided to go with them. With all the packing was finally done, and the dresses all ready to go, especially he first one, the one I would wear to the gardens. To complete the rest of the outfits, here is what they looked like and were they came from:
This was a Dress I got off the internet auction site, Ebay, and came in right on time, I thought it was going to be really big on me, but the dress fit perfectly, just needed some shortening of the hem.
Another dress off Ebay, got it for $15, and was originally $200, the original owner wore it for a captains dinner aboard a cruise, "The Sea Mist" was the name of the ship, she got lots of compliments and I have a few places I plan on wearing it and showing it off as well!.
I got this dress as well off Ebay, however quickly learned once again, that one manufacturer's 13/14 is another's 11/12, I just managed to squeeze into this dress, it is a really cute and lovely number and was really sexy.
This was a little black dress that I got the year before on my annual Christmas shopping trip, it is actually an 11/12 and still needs to be taken in to my body shape, but is cute all the same.
Again, another dress off Ebay, as well as the matching shoes, all for only $20, and I cannot wait to wear this to my next formal function, now I have to find a purse to match.
Ok, so I went nuts on Ebay, and this $250 dress was got for $20. The woman said she bought it for an Alaskan Cruise, but never got to wear it as she got pregnant and could not wear the dress, and hoped that I could enjoy the dress, well combined with some glittery jewelry and matching satin 3" pumps it was perfect!.
I answered an ad in the local paper, a woman was selling her Bridesmaid dress and heels for $25, and I decided to take the chance, as it was a size 16, and when I got the dress it fit perfectly.
Found this dress and matching heels at a garage sale and got it for $5, a great bargain the way you look at it!.
This was a gift sent to me by a friend, and my spouse Sharon wore a very similar dress the year before in a Wedding and was the perfect fit for the shoot.
Friday September 25th, 1998
I had my fingers crossed as the date of Friday approached, the temperature was really warm, and not showing any sign of cooling off, but a slight drop was expected for the Friday, as well as some overcast weather and showers. Actually, overcast was what we hoped for, as that is the best lighting for perfect pictures as Rose and I have found in the past.
The day finally arrived, and it was not exactly overcast or hot, but it was clear and sunny and about 17 degrees, a little warm but not like days previous in the mid to upper 20's. Rose was to arrive at 9:30am and I started at 8:15 to get ready, which was more than enough time.
I slipped into my lingerie for the first dress I was going to be wearing, which was an off the shoulder number and very pretty. My strapless bra was the first piece of lingerie, then a favorite pair of purple lace panties, and sheer black hose. I then slipped into a low pair of 2" black heels to make sure I did not snag my hose as I got dressed, then it was off to do makeup.
With the formal theme of the first few dresses, I decided to go for the dramatic to match the dresses and started my makeup off with a healthy application of eyeliner, not too much, but a little more that if I were putting on for a business look.
My eyeshadow was done differently than I have ever done before, a week before the shoot, I saw a picture in a magazine and saw that the model had done her whole upper and lower lid in the same colour. I wanted to duplicate what she had done, and picked a dark pink as my eye shadow for the top and bottom lids. The look I achieved was dramatic and exactly what I was looking form. Next the blush, and it was done slightly darker than if I were getting ready for work, but not too dark. Finally my lipstick, formal of course, combined with another lipstick for a more dramatic after 5 look. As I brushed out my hair and inspected the makeup job, I was please that I captured the look for the day.
I checked the time and things were looking good, Rose was to arrive in 15 minutes and all I had left to do was my nails. I slipped into my satin makeup coat and sat down in the washroom and applied a coat of polish that matched my lipstick perfectly. Once I was done my nails and they were dry, I applied a healthy spritz of Halston's perfume and scurried to get last minute details sorted out before Rose arrived.
Rose arrived right on time, around 9:30am, and after greeting each other and such, Rose started to get the film packed and loaded things into the car as I went to slip into the first dress. I explained to Rose about the first dress and how it was going to be a struggle, but Rose zipped me up and it was not as much of a hassle as when Sharon helped me the night before. Rose then helped me into my heels for the first dress, my strappy high 4 ½" heels. Once that was done we were ready to go and I grabbed my purse, checked for keys and away we went, no need for a coat on this trip!.
Rose and I made small talk as she drove me to the gardens, we had not seen each other since the last trip to the gardens a year ago, but had communicated, via voice and email. Before long we pulled into the gardens and started grabbing everything for the walk to the public washrooms that would be my changing area for the day.
For the first time in 5 years, the entrance to the gardens had someone in the entrance to collect money for entry, and this caught both Rose and I by surprise, luckily she had the money for the two of us on hand, and paid the admission. As we walked down to the washrooms we discussed the possibility that due to the warm weather they were trying to get the most out of the gardens. I was soon to find out that the 4 ½" heels were really sexy looking, but I was going to feel it in my calf's later in the day, and was having a little difficulty staying graceful, but I managed.
Rose and I entered the gardens and we had the whole place to ourselves, there was no one there, and proceeded to set up in the washroom as in years past. The smell of the washroom and the look brought back a flood of memories and before I knew it, we were off taking pictures.
The morning was cloudy and proved to be the best part of the day for pictures, and after each outfit I check and adjusted my makeup as appropriate, lipstick, eyeliner and such needed to be re-applied. Rose clicked away as I posed and tried to keep from falling backwards as the ground was very soft in some locations as my tall heels dug in. During the day a few people joined us in the gardens, but we stayed away from them so they would not get in the way of the shots. Some of the more humorous moments were walking back to the washrooms, we passed a man with a video camera actually video taping flowers, and not just many, he had a tripod set to one plant, too weird.
Time flew by and before long and we finally fished all the outfits and I changed into my "going home outfit", and packed all the dresses and such away. We stopped at a sign that we had stopped at from years past for one last picture before we left and then horror struck Rose's face, as the counter was up to 32 on her camera, and could only mean one thing!, the last roll we took was lost!.
Rose was beside herself, but even though it was getting late in the day, and we missed two Bridesmaid dresses and my going away outfit, I suggested we go back and do them over. Rose was upset as she said we captured some great looks, but I ensured her that we could be capturing more if I changed back and we re-shot the last three dresses as I brought extra film just in case. So away we went back to the washroom and I slipped into the first Bridesmaid dress we missed and away we went filming again, and this time no mistakes were made.
Final packing was done and the pictures re-taken at the sign as we left and I now had 4 complete rolls of film to have processed and lots of cleanup to do when I was home.
Rose and I spoke of the day as she drove me home and once home, I slipped out of the 4" heels I was in and felt my calf muscles definitely sore, but after 8 hours in heels that was to be expected!.
Again a large unpacking and such was what I had to do and loved every minute of it!.