Scrap Book / Rosies

On first look this fabric left me blank, except for my general recognition that loud flowers on black background were a staple of 40s dresses. Later that evening a photo floated through my memory. A photo of me and LA together, captured in evening light. And now I remember one afternoon in Berkeley when, it seems at our photographer friend David's request, LA and I posed for a photo.

We searched through LA's closet, trying on various things. And finally we settled on two pieces which seemed almost to be cut from the same cloth. A classic black rayon printed with full blown blossoms for LA. And for Stella a black rayon fitted skirt hitched up and worn as a strapless dress. High heels and makeup and we three piled into the car and drove down to the Berkeley Marina, literally into the sunset. It's a sweet memory. Sisters at 40, still playing dress up together.
SA. 3.28.20 

That rose dress was one of my all-time favorites. College girl me found this rayon crepe 40’s frock in a thrift store in San Bernardino.  It was so unlike what everyone was wearing in 1968 that it made me laugh out loud. It reminded me of the dark  drapes in our stuffy LA aunt's houses.  Pure 1940’s funk.  I wondered if I would have the guts to wear it.  It fit perfectly and made me happy every time I put it on.  I remember wearing it up Telegraph Ave walking to my usher job at Zellerbach Theater. in those days you could wear anything anywhere.   Still got some weird looks… perhaps it was 1940’s shoes.  

When David asked if we would be up for some photos I grabbed these two rose covered items out of my closet and the three of us set off to the Berkeley Dump.  This photo captures summer, sunset, seaside and sisters.  This dress looked great at the dump and the theater. Those roses went everywhere until I wore them out.

LA. 3.29.20