Sunday, March 18th would have been my brother Taylor's 50th birthday. He died in a car accident two weeks before 9/11. Oddly, there was an article in the NY Times Sunday about the cherry dress. The Woman's Exchange in St. Louis (my hometown) is where the dress originated and is still sold. My mother worked there as a young bride, waiting tables as part of her Junior League duties. She still tells hilarious stories about her inability to serve correctly according to the wishes of the demanding clientele, the same ladies she later met for cocktails. But she did shop there to outfit her children in the classic uniforms of elite baby-style. As a child of the 50's, I wore the adorable little dresses, hand smocked, piped collars and sleeve bands, exquisite lace details. My brothers suffered the button-on short pants, embroidered and smocked bubbles -- John John was not alone in his cherried frills.
Later we graduated to Lilly Pulitzer's snazzy tropical prints and summer shifts. Mother/daughter even. Later still, I turned my back on all that and embraced hippie-wear, bell-bottoms, halter tops, India print dresses...and embroidered motifs like snakes and flowers. But I circled around and I do love all those clothes again. I can still hear my mother saying, "Go ahead, wear that! Be somebody!" When the girls were little, we didn't have 2 nickels to rub together (hippies!), but my mother made sure that they had lovely dresses to wear. I still have Mo's cherry dress in the closet, Erin's navy dress smocked with red stitching, Maggie's crisp poplin sailor dress. When we moved to Chicago, I learned how to make my own. I smocked calico prints and hand sewed all their lace edgings. Baby clothes were the most fun to sew, especially when I made my own designs. I like to think that someday their babies will toddle around in those dresses and duds again. Or at least dress up a bear or two. Did I mention that I wasn't called by my real name, Charlotte, in those days? They called me Muffie. Now you know....one more glass of wine and I will press publish now. Some things never change. My mother would say...Yeah, baby! Cheers!
Happy birthday, Tay. with love, Muffie
Dearest Muffie... I mean Charlotte,
Those pictures are priceless! I love the jacket too. I've seen it before, was it in one of your books? Your girls will definitely want that for their future little ones, who wouldn't!
Taylor is probably smiling down on you celebrating his birthday.
Cheers!
Posted by: Lisa | March 21, 2007 at 08:32 PM
This is a really sweet post, Charlotte - I hope you were comforted by the presence of your children on Sunday.
(And can I just say that a glass of wine and the 'publish now' button are a dangerous combo? I know this to be true!)
Posted by: amanda | March 21, 2007 at 09:59 PM
What a lovely post and beautiful pictures, i adore those little dresses. A perfect heirloom for your girls.
Posted by: Natasha | March 21, 2007 at 10:01 PM
Sweet story remembering your brother. THank you.
Posted by: pam | March 21, 2007 at 10:41 PM
What great memories! I am sorry about your brother, truly. It's heartbreaking to lose a sibling. I am glad you found such fond memories this Sunday.
Crystal
Posted by: **Crystal** | March 21, 2007 at 10:48 PM
Oh Charlotte, I do so know what you are feeling today. My sweet gentle giant of a stepbrother passed away a few years ago when he was only 48. We all still miss him so much. I don't think it ever goes away, that feeling that your life will never be quite the same, but like you I have memories that are wonderful and I'm so thankful to have had him in my life for as long as I did. Since I was 10...he was truly my big brother and welcomed me with open arms into his family.
I love the cherry dress. I have a wonderful photo of me wearing a favorite dress when I was little. I wish that my mom had saved it, but being an army wife for so many years, she didn't hang on to many things like that. All those moves tend to change one's attitude towards such things I guess.
I rembember this beautiful sweater that you've made from a couple of places. I've always loved it!
You're in my thoughts sweetie. Cheers and here's to the next election! xoxo
Posted by: Mrs. Staggs | March 22, 2007 at 12:48 AM
Thanks for this Charlotte. Both the interesting history of the cherry dress, and beautiful, bittersweet memories from your own close family.
It is always a joy to read your blog.
Posted by: Britt-Arnhild | March 22, 2007 at 02:40 AM
I was just thinking about that article today. I need to paint that dress for Easter. And I love that jacket, Muffie!
Posted by: Loretta | March 22, 2007 at 08:10 AM
Charlotte,
I think Muffie fits your perfectly :-)
Great post. There is nothing like a frilly dress to make a girl feel pretty whether she is one or one hundred and one!
Posted by: Angie Grimm | March 22, 2007 at 09:11 AM
I love the jacket. I saw it a few years back in a Mary engelbreit book and, I'm ashamed to say, always planned to make one for Baby. Baby is 5 now, and still no jacket, but this might be the year I do it... she looks so cute still & suits red so I'm going to take the plunge over the summer & make her a unique coat!
Posted by: Angel Jem | March 22, 2007 at 10:34 AM
I'm just now reading this Charlotte and I am so sorry to hear about your brother ~ thank you for sharing about him with us. The pictures of all of you are so precious ~ and the dress and jacket just charming. I enjoyed hearing about their "story". ((hugs))
Kim
Posted by: Daisy Cottage | March 28, 2007 at 07:04 AM
What a bautiful post! How I love your chery clothes story,I just posted about sweet vintage dresses I put my own girls in! That little jacket,wow!
PS love the banner!
Posted by: jungle dream pagoda | March 30, 2007 at 10:01 PM