Chapter 35

New York City
Spring 2017

Not many times does a dress have such resonation with a young woman, that she can see herself getting a lifetime of wear from it. However, this is exactly what happened to Addison Wilder.

She and her mother decided to spend a weekend in New York to find a dress for her debut. They had a list of stores to visit. Mostly on Fifth Avenue. Hours were spent trying on garment after garment. Nothing seemed right. Addy had in her mind something beautiful, timeless and elegant.

She also had a plan. The dress was not only to be worn at the debut, but she would also have it retailored and reworked for her graduation from St. Vincent’s.

The ultimate outcome of the dress would be once again restyled for her wedding.

Needless to say, this was a unique approach and concept. She felt it was wasteful that a dress would only have a single purpose. However, Addy was one who believed that quality and style never would go out of fashion. It was an investment. She knew she wanted silk and a close form fit. She was not at all concerned that it may not be like other dresses the young women would be wearing for the debut and graduation. The dress would be a statement that bespoke of exquisite taste.

The two stopped for lunch at a charming little bistro on Fifth Avenue and ordered Crab Louis with a delicious and delicate remoulade. The dish was a favorite of both and it offered a light alternative for the mid-day meal. The weather was beautiful and the two lunched al fresco.

From across the street, Addy saw it!

There it was, in the window of a tiny shop across the street from them. The boutique was not on any of their lists. It was called GeGe’s. That was her pet name for Preston’s sister Gelia. But like a beacon in the night calling out to a passing ship, the dress spoke to her. It said it was the one. Addy stopped cold. She did not finish her lunch but hurried across the busy street to the shop. Mrs. Wilder finished her glass of wine and paid the bill. Then joined her daughter in front of the store.

The two women went inside. Mrs. Wilder’s thought was to simply inquire. Addison’s intent was to purchase. The young woman had been saving money from baby sitting and her allowance from the time she was 13 years old with the idea of buying such a gown by her own accord. Her parent’s had decided that if any additional money was necessary, they would help fund the purchase. (Within reason.)

The gown was simple. There were no ruffles, frills or beads. It was pleated and strapless. The only adornment was a simple bow on the detachable belt. It was white and would fit Addy to her best advantage. Still, Addy could envision various tailoring that would make it the basis for other major events in her life.

One of the main points that intrigued her was that it was made from Mulberry silk. She was well aware of the fact that Savannah’s founder James Oglethorpe had envisioned silk production in the colony due to the abundance of Mulberry trees. However, the endeavor did not succeed. Addy had learned that it was the most expensive of silks. Its strength intrigued her. She likened it to herself. A single silk fiber is stronger than a steel fiber the same size, possessing, like Addy, both strength and beauty.

Of course, when Addison Wilder tried on the dress, it fit to perfection. Neither she nor her mother had looked at the price tag. They were afraid to do so. Then the moment of truth. They looked at the tag and then looked at each other.

The price was far below what either had suspected and was well within the budget Addy had set for herself. It was as though the dress chose her.

The gown was wrapped and mailed to Savannah.

Addy would go on to carry out her plans for it: worn to her debut, holding her father’s and Preston’s arms as she took her bows. It emerged in modified forms at her graduation and wedding. She was always radiant when she wore it.

Also, the future would show she wore it on both her twenty-fifth and fiftieth wedding anniversaries. For her twenty-fifth, she would wear it with a silver silk shawl embroidered with white magnolia blooms. The silver wrap accentuated the touches of silver that were coming into her blonde tresses. For her fiftieth, she would wear it with a gold belt. She would also fashion her hair in a chignon with the gold combs Preston gave her to mark the occasion. His hair was then as white as snow.

She always looked regal.

And true to her instincts, the dress and its wearer never went out of style.