About Sweetmama Editor
Nadine Silverthorne’s love of journaling began in Grade One with the entry, “I am the greatest dancer!” Two babies (and countless diaper changes) later, she has found her home away from home as editor of SweetMama. Don’t miss her humorous bi-weekly accounts of the joys and pains of working while raising them fabulous.
Dress Who?
silver spoons canada
(Jun.08.09)
I remember the day of the Pink Tartan/Joe Fresh shows at Toronto Fashion Week earlier this year. After discovering on Twitter that we were both going, Canadian Family editor Jennifer Reynolds (an old friend of mine) and I emailed back and forth in a tizzy. "What are you going to wear?!"
Because really, we might be editors who deal in style and trends (mostly revolving around moms and kids mind you), but when our laptops go off at the end of the day, we're just plain old moms. We go home and put our yoga pants on just like the rest of you. And when it comes to getting dressed for a big occasion, we're really just hoping to wear something that looks more current than our prom dress (mine was a plain Calvin Klein rip-off influenced baby doll circa 1993 that I had a seamstress make for $40).
When I started to hear the office chatter about Sweetspot's fifth birthday, I began to panic. (The TFW outfit worked out, but it wasn't really a party dress.) And then, as if by magic, my fairy godmother sent an email asking if anyone would like to be styled by Fashion Crimes for the party. I immediately replied YES!
Then I thought, Fashion Crimes? Wasn't that where all the girls go to get their prom dresses. Am I too old for that?
All my worries were quelled the second I was greeted by fabulous Logan at the door, who lead me to lovely Lindsey, who guided me to Kat the stylist. If you've never been in the store, it's the candy store of dresses. Colour, crinoline and costume jewellery rule, and it would be hard not to get swept up in the girliness of it all. They dress everyone from wee babies, flower girls and bridesmaids, to the mature white-haired party guest buying opera length satin gloves at the cash next to me.
Of course the first dress I tried on was THE ONE. Actually, it's called The Oscar. Strapless, with a built-in corset (to suck in the damage the kids have done) and a full skirt with the most beautiful floral detailing along the hem, in a very Sweetspot shade of pink. Kat covered me in bling, an ostrich hair band and a stole. I felt like Cinderella, but cooler.
Much like that fairytale, my outfit had a time limit on it. Having it only for a night made it feel like a boy I met on a dance floor in Acapulco once upon a time: Exhilarating and scary. One thing was for certain -- I could not let my kids near the dress.
In fact I was so scared I would wreck or break some of the beautiful accessories that I didn't dare put them on (I'm looking at you beautiful ostrich hair band). In the end, it was completely worth it. I felt amazing in the dress. And the comments from partygoers were tremendous, including one very appreciative woman who made my year when she opined, "Dress of the night!"
The party itself was fantastic (you will have to make a point of coming next year!). It was truly one of the most beautiful and impressive events I've ever been to and all the credit goes to our marketing team. There were balloons and ballerinas, candy and cupcakes -- like the most gorgeously grown up version of a five-year-old's birthday. And best of all, we raised a ton of money for the CWF!
I spent the evening at the door, greeting our guests (all volunteers wore adorable teal tulle and peacock feather corsages, as seen in my hair), but I did get to sneak into the party a few times for mingling with friends (Heather and Deanna pictured below) and sneaking bites of Pogos and sweet potato fries. All in all, the night was a sweet success. Can't wait to turn six!
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