U3a Sept 2024 Wedding Dress for sale, never worn. By Helena Hewston. 1037 words

In the final year of the course in dressmaking the class was preparing for the end of year show where that year’s theme was Major Events.

They had a briefing from the course tutor outlining the timetable and stages to achieve. The various stages would be marked and these would contribute to the final assessment. Brian and Samantha, along with all the other 12 members of the class were used to this. They had also seen two previous, end of course, shows. The show would be a catwalk and all garments would be displayed, on manikins, in the town afterwards. Students could sell their creations to offset the costs involved.

Since it had to be a collection the class discussed at length what Major Event they should focus on. Weddings, christenings, funerals, graduations, presentations at and for red carpet events were considered and took several hours around the coffee tables in the student lounge before everyone was happy with the scope and creativity demanded. They felt a wedding would give everyone a chance to express their skills and artistry covering the range of ages involved and their roles in a wedding event.

It was also decided to make the wedding set in the future where a planetary back drop would support the creativity by putting it in context. This would require extras such as music and a stage set. Enthusiasm grew and the team, that they were already, made plans and drew up spread sheets for the project management. Also they needed to chose and accept which character they would dress. After the initial scrabble to be the one to design and execute the outfits for the bride and groom they accepted Sam for wedding dress and Brian for the child ring bearer.

Brian and Sam were particularly close friends; in fact they were considering a business partnership in dress design once they had graduated. Brian considered his strength to be in children’s outfits with colour and fabric design while Sam was drawn to adapting historical techniques to suit theatrical costumes. They had not finalised any plans and such things as where to set up the business and what clientele they wanted were pie in the sky. A closer relationship suggesting marriage was not on the cards and Sam was still undecided on whether such a future was the best for her. She was not averse to thinking about it though.

In these days of graphic design it was still prudent to put pen to paper; to reshape and doodle, to splash the colour and explore finishing touches. What type of design would reflect life on a strange planet? Brian also questioned the role of children and the practicalities of dress. Would it be a world where oxygen levels would be low and what would be a way of using/preserving/recycling water and air in clothing. The team held weekly sessions thrashing out these ideas.

The wedding dress involved a fitted bodice connected to fitted tapered trousers beneath a detachable skirt. The neckline was low exposing the shoulders but connected to the bodice under arm with long sleeves. A short waist jacket with high neck completed the ensemble. Hair was to be dressed with a tiara of micro chips. Sparkling micro chips were attached to the jacket, bodice, trousers, and skirt to give a cascade of light which came as motifs of space ships travelling through streams of nebula. The jacket could be removed after the ceremony to reveal the glory of the creation, while the skirt was removable for the dancing. The fabric was a plain silver lycre. Sam felt it spoke of light and hope and a bright future. Such as she wanted for herself.

The outfit for the groom used the same fabric and idea of design but without the skirt. While the accompanying children had romper suits patchwork fabric of many colours.

The class also tackled some fund raising to complete the staging and hire the necessary sound system and operator.

In the last weeks of the summer term the models were enlisted and the script prepared. Sam wanted to emphasize the fact that this was an outfit which could be adapted easily by changing the decoration. Brian wanted to highlight contrast and co-ordination and they both felt they had achieved the brief they had been set.

As is usual with some types of fashion shows the finale is marked with a wedding dress followed by a walk down of the entire collection. Cameras flashed and applause held the invited audience of family and friends, college officials and trade supporters who rose their feet in approbation. The Principal spoke to the gathering, some of it ad lib, praising the student work and the dedication of the staff involved.

After it was finished, the garments were prepared for the static display which was to be open to the public in the town for some weeks, with the wedding dress centre stage.

Brian and Sam decided to go away for a weekend together where they relaxed and chatted about the course, the show and their futures. They had both been approached by fashion houses to do apprenticeships. Upon reflection they realised that the interests that had bought them to the course in the first palace were still valid. Brian loved fabrics and felt he needed to join a firm where he could travel and make contacts. Sam did not want to go off somewhere but to start earning so that she could so a Masters Degree. Her interest in the theatre with costume design and restoration was where she could feel at home.

They decided to take one last look at the exhibition and to make arrangements for the collection of their creations. They agreed to meet up in a year’s time at the next end of year show and see if their other dreams could take flight.

As they looked at the captions on each exhibit giving details about each one Samantha smiled at the foot note, “Wedding Dress for Sale – never worn” .She mused on a secret thought that the future might have been different.