Tulle and Lace…

by Rosanna Carlucci
In a thicket of tulle and lace, he finds her. He fumbles for her hand and then gently pulls her to the dance floor.  The pale moon blankets the gymnasium in a veil of teenage lust and curiosity. Together they sway side to side, holding each other with a mutual restraint that masks the desire that implodes within.

Her dress, a confection of fuchsia tulle and chiffon envelops her porcelain frame like a glove. The curl of her raven hair and the red velvet on her lips cause his heart to skip a beat and miss his step. The corsage around her wrist, slowly dying, fills the air around them with its last breaths of spring gardenia. Fearful to meet her gentle gaze, he takes her in as much as she will allow, grateful for every moment she isn’t looking…

There is something iconic about the prom, more specifically the prom dress. The frantic search for that elusive dress that will cause the boys to melt and the girls to covet. In the fifties the silhouettes accentuated a girls waist and decollate, usually filling out at the bottom with a crinoline. The delicious fabrics varied from delicate chiffon to a stiff taffeta or satin.

Today, Canadian designer Pam Chorley’s fabulous dress haven, Fashion Crimes, is the perfect place to pick up your vintage inspired prom dress. Walking into her shop is like stepping into a giant closet filled to the brim with vintage recreations and accessories. Her beautiful and exquisitely detailed dresses can be custom made or purchased off the rack. Either way, you are certain to be wearing a dress that will be as iconic as the prom itself.

Fashion Crimes 322 ½  Queen Street West

Trivia: The earliest prom dates back to the 1900’s when it consisted of a high tea where young adolescents wore their Sunday best.