New Horizons

Window Dressing

Years ago there was a tiny shop in New Hope, PA, located on a side street, that sold vintage clothing. I didn't pass the shop very often but on this particular day I happened to see a beautiful, diaphanous white embroidered gown in the window. Just the dress nothing else.

A headless wire form highlighted the dress beautifully. It had a high collar and long sleeves both finely embroidered. Definitely of a time when shorts, halter tops, and flip flops weren't even on the fashion horizon. I thought Victorian era as it was a beautiful dress to be sure. Unfortunately, I couldn't get a full shot of the dress due to a few bushes in front of the store's only window so I moved in closer towards the bottom of the dress because the way the light fell across the embroidered detail caught my eye.

As I stood there trying to figure out how to take a shot of this beautiful dress, my mind wondered about the wearer? It was definitely made for someone who was thin as the waist was incredibly tiny. I picturered her hair piled on top of her head in the style of a Gibson Girl. Did she wear this dress to a formal garden party or some other summer party? I will never know because the store wasn't open or I would have gone inside and asked.

Only one other time did I pass this shop when another article of vintage clothing caught my attention. It was a gorgeous full length, black velvet coat sprinkled with small red embroidered flowers. Again, the wearer would have been thin and tiny. The shop was open this time and I ventured in and the woman did know the coat's history but all I can remember is it belonged to a Hungarian princess.

There is no rhyme or reason to why I wrote this post. I came across this photo not long ago and it is one of my favorites. But I do have a thought for today, which has nothing to do with the photo above but has everything to do with it's almost a year since my job layoff. I am still looking but this quote from spiritual teacher and author Eckhart Tolle gives me hope:

"Some changes look negative on the surface but you will soon realize that space is being created in your life for something new to emerge."

I hope it also gives hope to those who are still unemployed far longer than I have been.

Namaste
Chris