It was easier when I was younger. Forget shops. Back then when I longed to get my hands on a fabulous frock all I had to do was head straight to mum’s wardrobe. At the age of five I would regularly struggle into a dress I thought was the most glamorous thing I’d ever seen. It was a long, slinky, black number with a red sequin diamond on the front – very 1977. Sure I was swimming in it but I didn’t care. Instead I swished around in that dress catching glimpses of myself in the mirror whilst pretending to mix martinis and make small talk with my dear friend Baby Alive. This dress-up ritual, which occurred whenever mum was out, lasted right up until my brother caught me and somewhat harshly pointed out that in his opinion I looked like Klinger from MASH.
These days trying on a fabulous frock still leaves me swishing around in front of a mirror, pretend martini in hand. Be it a strappy sundress or a sultry cocktail shift there’s something about the power of a dress to transform how we feel about ourselves. With the pull of a zip we can instantly get a bit of va-va-va-voom back into our lives. After all, it’s a dress – not trousers, not skirts – that can give you your mojo back. And every single one of them ends up with a story. First dates. Last dates. Some lucky. Some jinxed.
Nobody knows about the power of a pretty frock better than Sacha Drake. Sacha’s specialty is designing beautiful dresses and her creations are all about transforming a woman’s sense of self.
Which is why she makes a habit of gathering up a selection of dresses and heading to a local women’s hostel – a safe haven for women who have experienced domestic violence, financial troubles, homelessness and who have just a scrape of self-worth left. Many arrive at the hostel doorstep with just the clothes they are wearing.
Top Comments
Pretty sure the dress in the photo is a Vivien's of Holloway 1950's Halterneck Circle Dress. I wore a white lace and satin version for my wedding. Not sure If i am allowed to post a link to the website so won't but you can google them! Amazing dresses for curvy women, oh and I don't work for them ;-) - just really love their dresses!
Urgh, I dream of THAT frock, but alas... I don't think I'll ever find it. Most dresses make me feel frompy and ugly.
But hey, all the more reason to get rid of the ones I've worn once and will never look at again