11 Oct 2024, 02:39
The Greatest Dress
Maisie had dreamt about what it would look like: the greatest dress in the world crafted meticulously for the most auspicious occasion. It didn't have to be the loudest dress in the room, but it had to be perfect. No stitch was in the wrong place. Every applique was placed exactly where it was meant to the be. Every stone shone just so in the light. Yards of skirts bathed the wearer in a kind of ethereal confidence for that night, and left behind a memory for forever.
Yeah, that's what the greatest dress could do. That much she, the dressmaker's daughter, knew.
What she did not know was that the opportunity for the greatest dress to appear could be here—at school. Rumor had it that there would be a ball later in the term and the halls were a buzz with what everyone would be doing, who they would be bringing, and—most significantly—what they would be wearing.
Maisie had already written home in hopes her mother would send her something wonderful. It had been when she was discussing that very owl that she had, unknowingly, caught the ear of someone else, who, too, dreamed of what the greatest dress might look like. And it was here, in the harsh light of the girls' lavatory windows, that they might craft that garment together.
"Reyna?" she announced herself as the door squeaked open, "I've brought some sketches." Stepping forward and into the light, it was clear that Maisie Gemmell had not brought some sketches. The eleven year old had brought a huge notebook of sketches—and not just that, but a satchel full of scissors and remnant fabric and trim, etc. Care packages from her Glasgow home were perhaps a bit unorthodox, but that's what you had to be when you were crafting the greatest dress the world (magical or muggle) had ever seen.
For @Reyna Evergreen
Yeah, that's what the greatest dress could do. That much she, the dressmaker's daughter, knew.
What she did not know was that the opportunity for the greatest dress to appear could be here—at school. Rumor had it that there would be a ball later in the term and the halls were a buzz with what everyone would be doing, who they would be bringing, and—most significantly—what they would be wearing.
Maisie had already written home in hopes her mother would send her something wonderful. It had been when she was discussing that very owl that she had, unknowingly, caught the ear of someone else, who, too, dreamed of what the greatest dress might look like. And it was here, in the harsh light of the girls' lavatory windows, that they might craft that garment together.
"Reyna?" she announced herself as the door squeaked open, "I've brought some sketches." Stepping forward and into the light, it was clear that Maisie Gemmell had not brought some sketches. The eleven year old had brought a huge notebook of sketches—and not just that, but a satchel full of scissors and remnant fabric and trim, etc. Care packages from her Glasgow home were perhaps a bit unorthodox, but that's what you had to be when you were crafting the greatest dress the world (magical or muggle) had ever seen.
For @Reyna Evergreen
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12 Oct 2024, 19:16
The Greatest Dress
Mentions:@Maisie Gemmell
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It was 10 days later after their first meeting and Reyna was extremely happy. With 2 days left before the actual ball, Reyna would actually get her dress. Well first she had to decide on the sketch and then she would make the dress. Reyna wondered how she would pay back this first year for all her hard work. Some chocolate frogs maybe? Some money? And something that she would remember her by. Yes. Maybe some jewelry. But first the job needed to be done. As Reyna walked in, she found Maisie standing with so many sketches. She gasped. "Oh my goodness, how many sketches did you create?" she exclaimed. There was no way she could repay this girl for her kindness. "Could I see some?" she asked. She guessed that this would be a long day. Thank god she did not have any other classes today. And that she had no homework to complete. With the ball coming up everyone was busy with that. And so was she. "I was thinking black and gold for colors, but that was all I had in mind. Do you agree? Oh and I found these lace gloves that my mother had that she sent to me!" she said. She pulled the lace black gloves out. "I can do my nails, hair and shoes myself but I just need the dress, which it seems you've got covered?" She smiled at the girl, shaking her head once again at how lucky she was. She was really lucky, and she would do everything she could to help make this girls life easier. |
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Word Count: 267/200
20 Oct 2024, 18:13
The Greatest Dress
It was the gasp that gave the Hufflepuff away. Maisie's head turned sharply in her direction as she observed the older girl's surprise and excitement. Or perhaps, judging by the question, it might also be coupled with disbelief.
"Em," she said as she haunched over slightly. Her fingers shifted over the edges of the papers trying count, but it was fruitless. The notebook was large and unweildy, and with the bulging satchel hanging off her shoulder, it was clear something might just fall out. "A bunch," she said as her small frame wobbled slightly.
"Could I see some?"
"Oh, yes," she replied, taking a seat on the ground where she could sprawl out like a real designer with their sketches and fabrics. Almost systematically, she laid everything out—the notebook, the trim, the fabrics, the scissors, etc. The lavatory might be unusual, but she'd make it her little studio.
She was just turning the page to where Reyna's sketches began when the older girl started suggesting colors. "That'd be very Hufflepuff of you!" she enthused as she waved her—dare she say friend?—companion down to her level. Her brown eyes lilted up towards the gloves as her finger tips reached out to touch them. "Are they vintage?" Maisie asked, genuinely curious as not many people opt'd for gloves these days.
Still, she looked through her notebook for something that might go with the ideas and images that Reyna was now putting forward. And that was when she heard the question: "...but I just need the dress, which it seems you've got covered?"
Her hand froze in place as her eyes glazed over, down at her sketches. Some of them were complicated with unique folds on the bodice and lazy daisy stitch. She started with the truth, "Well, mum and I usually sew together. She sent me some fabrics." But as the pressure started to wrench in her heart, she realized this was as good a time as any to grow her learning beyond more basic sewing. "Yeah, covered. We can do it," she adjusted her words as she scrunched up her nose. There'd be a plan. They'd sew a plan together—literally.
@Reyna Evergreen
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8 Dec 2024, 01:20
The Greatest Dress
Mentions:@Maisie Gemmell
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Reyna, very intrigued by the amount of sketches this young and incredibly talented girl had, found herself pouring through the book soaking in everything. It was really quite fascinating. As she began to scan, she found herself listing out the colors she wanted. Those were genuinely some of her favorite colors. Although Maisie seemed to think it had to do with her being Hufflepuff. She didn't disagree. She just smiled in return and said, "Well, I guess so. I take my house pride very seriously." "And yes, the gloves are vintage I guess. From my grandmother, given to my mother and now to me." she replied. Her saying that Maisie had the dress covered seemed to apply a little too much pressure to this young girl. But she seemed to take it well. She would definitely be successful later in life. "And of course I will help you as much as I can, don't want to put any pressure on you!" she replied, trying to lighten up the mood. Then she proceeded on to scanning the sketches before looking up and saying, "Was there any sketch you were particular about showing to me?" she asked. She couldn't decide on her own. Nah ah. Not when there were this many options. Hopefully Maisie had something in mind that she found fitting. Otherwise, it might be while. |
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Word Count: 225/200
19 Dec 2024, 20:50
The Greatest Dress
This was, well, very ambitious. That is not to say she had not taken on wild sewing projects before, but she'd done them with her mother. To do this with another student who knew nothing really about sewing or embroidery was going to be a challenge. But there was only one to tackle that kind of a dress: one stitch at a time.
"Aw, that's so sweet," she remarked about the gloves, "My mum has some things saved for me. She's mentioned it now and again. I guess I just have to grow up." Maisie didn't particularly know what that phrase meant other than ideally getting a bit taller. She didn't exactly know what her mum had saved either, just that it was it was something they did. If there was one lesson she knew in sewing, it was that everything could always be reused and find a new purpose.
She nodded eagerly as Reyna insisted she wasn't putting pressure on her. The Hufflepuff seemed very kind and genuine, but it was clear that unlike Maisie, she didn't know exactly how much work went into a dress nor the constraints of time.
"Was there any sketch you were particular about showing to me?"
As she held the sketchbook, Maisie found this question to slightly surprise her. Usually, she was drawn to things right away, but this was harder, probably because it wasn't for her. She didn't know Reyna's taste beyond a pair of gloves she'd only just seen now. She looked up and tried to take note of what Reyna was wearing, the gloves she held in hand, and some of her physical traits like her height.
But it was fruitless. Unlike her mother, she couldn't yet size up what would suit someone by just looking at them. Instead, she'd have to rely on her own instincts, which suddenly felt more vulnerable. "Well," she said as she flipped through, "What about this?" Stopping on on page, she showed Reyna something akin to a classic ballgown but with a narrower, more modern skirt and an asymmetrical neckline. "We could get some lace to match your gloves and use it to accentuate the shoulder and your face," she suggested. And somewhere inside, she hoped that Reyna might like some of it, and that if she did, they would, in fact, be able to create the greatest dress they could think of.
@Reyna Evergreen
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17 Jan 2025, 04:02
The Greatest Dress
Mentions:@Maisie Gemmell
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Reyna smiled, "Yeah, it was really sweet of her. I was really excited that she did give me these gloves. One of the first hand-me-downs she gave me." She paused. Hand-me-downs weren't the right name. They were more like an artifact. It was special. It wasn't an old rag or a tattered piece of clothing you could get from one of those weird places called Goodwill. She hoped Goodwill, was for a good reason. Because most of the clothes she had seen from goodwill, were like hand-me-downs. And those did not look the greatest. Maisie stopped at a page that she had wanted to show her. She smiled. The dress was absolutely gorgeous. The black lace, a narrow modern skirt, and an asymmetrical neckline. Maisie was amazing. She was so good at creating dresses. Obviously she had to make it yet, but the sketch was mindblowing. And for an eleven-year-old girl? Dang girl. Dang. “This looks gorgeous!!!” she exclaimed. “This is going to be the greatest dress. She smiled. This was all coming together. “One thing though, can we add some gold?” she asked. Then she realized she should clarify. “I mean like the color gold. Like sequins or stuff?” she added. She smiled, excited already for what ideas might come up. The creativity that Maisie and she had would surely come up with something great. |
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Word Count: 226/200