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Sisterhood of the Bloggess’ Traveling Red Dress

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I wrote this post the day after BlogHer ended, and it has been sitting in my drafts since. I didn’t make it to BlogHer this year and was pretty sad about missing it until I attended a local HomeHer party for all of those who couldn’t make the conference.

I go to many local blogging events each year, but this particular one was different, and I was grateful that I was there instead of at BlogHer this year.

I was pouring myself my first plastic cup of Coke when I heard cheering from the other room.

Surrounded by women in jean shorts and sandals stood a woman in a fancy red dress.

“It’s the Bloggess’ red dress,” I heard.

I figured there must be a story behind the red dress, but it wasn’t until much later in the evening that I heard its history and its significance.

Every 5 to 10 minutes for the rest of the night, a different woman would walk down the stairs in the Bloggess’ red dress. Smiling. Stunning. Glowing.

Everyone looked different. There were short women, tall women, blonde, brunette, thin, well-endowed, dark skinned, light.

As each person took a turn trying on the red dress, the energy in the room began to change. Something was happening to us.

Finally, it was my turn. I followed Amy up the stairs and was right behind her as she took the red dress off. I stepped into the dress and Kristen fastened the corset back.

In less than a minute, I was ready for my debut. I walked down the stairs and the room cheered.

I felt beautiful. But I realized with a jolt as my picture was being taken that I had no idea what I looked like at that moment.

Photo by MammaLoves

Each one of us had walked down those stairs into a room full of other women without ever passing a mirror. Everyone looked gorgeous but that was not what we were focused on.

The magic of the Bloggess’ traveling red dress was the way it made each woman feel.

Later that night, after the dress had been put away, I was sitting next to Susan. She told me the story of the dress and how it had come to be at our party.

The red dress’ history started with this post from the Bloggess. The dress has been shared with many women of various sizes, shapes, ages, and backgrounds, including a trip to BlogHer last year.

Recently, Susan, who has been battling breast cancer, tweeted about the constant pain she has been in.

The Bloggess noticed the tweets, and a few days later the red dress showed up on Susan’s door step.

She knew she had to share it.

And so it was that the Bloggess’ red dress ended up at a HomeHer party in Maryland.

I’m glad I ended up there, too.

Photos of everyone else taken on @AmusingFoodie‘s phone. See all of the pictures on her twitpic stream.

 


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About Lolli

Lolli has written 3738 post in this blog.

I became a mom in 1996, and in 2005 I had my fifth. Yes, 5 kids. In 2007, this blog was born (my 6th baby that will never grow up) and I've been sharing recipes, photography tricks, parenting tips, and everything in between. (Formerly Better in Bulk)

Comments

  1. I suffer from anxiety. I’ve coping for years. I am also a three time TNBC survivor who just a had another mastectomy Sept 6th. This is my fourth bought with breast cancer. 5 years ago I had a bought with depression. I guess the timing is right since depression was inconvenient while I was trying to stay alive. The depression came hard and heavy after treatment was over. I committed myself for observation and realized I didn’t want to be there. See, they were under the impression I was suicidal. Why would I do such a thing after trying will everything I am to stay alive. Instead, they put me on a truckload of anti-depressants. It’s taken me 5 years and many days of therapy to now only be on 1mg of Ativan 2-3 times a day for anxiety. Also, 5 years cancer free until a routine mammogram a month ago informed me that I had cancer yet again. I smiled today while watching all the brave ladies who wore the Red Dress on Katie. My motto is Be blessed…Be a blessing. Being blessed is important for sure. Taking your blessing and sharing it with others blessing them is pleasing to God. God bless you all for your courage, and strength. Please know that all things are possible with Jesus Christ. Be blessed…Be blessed!!!!

  3. As a newbie to the group, it was really fun to meet folks and to be included in such a cool thing. I never saw this post but it showed up on my facebook feed today. I had also never seen my photo in the dress until I looked at the twitpic stream you pointed to. Thanks so much!

  7. As a member of the Red Dress wearers sorority, I know exactly the feeling that putting on that bit of fabric magic instills in everyone who wears it. To me, it’s simply miraculous that it creates a beautiful woman out of everyone who wears it, even if she never sees herself in it, and that that beautiful woman endures even after taking the dress off. I would have loved to have been there with you all just to observe the magic as it happened, but I’m so very glad that all of you got to experience it and to share it with each other. And us.

  12. I saw this on twitter and then came by to read. I love that story from the Bloggess…and I love that you all tried it on and felt beautiful!! :)

    Thank you for sharing and thank you so much for linking your story to JBE!! :)

  18. I LOVE the story of the red dress – and it’s so amazing that you all got to wear it during HomeHer! You look stunning!

    On a slightly related note – I’d love to join up with some Maryland bloggers. Do you guys get together regularly? I love spending time with bloggers, and I wish it was something I could do at more than just conferences, where everyone is being pulled in a hundred different directions.

  19. I have not heard of this dress, but what a beautiful story. I love all the pictures of people of all shapes and sizes wearing the dress. Very cool. Thanks for sharing.

  25. SO glad to finally see a post about that night! You did a fabulous job, and it’s amazing how different we all looked while wearing it – yet, I think we all felt the same emotion.

    Hope to see you again soon!

    Cheers!
    Liza

  27. Thank YOU for sharing your dress! I think your idea in the first place – getting a dress just for you, for no purpose other than to feel good – was wonderful, but then to share the dress….it’s really a gift. I’m glad I had a chance to share it.

  32. I think the story makes it all the more incredible. It was cool to look back no the pictures this morning and realize that it’s the same dress in each shot, but everyone makes it THEIR OWN! :)

  35. I remember reading about this red dress last year.

    I’m crying, reading this. So happy that y’all had this experience. What a powerful moment and a beautiful gift.

  39. I knew it got there I just didn’t know how it started. LOVE this. You look beautiful, everyone looks amazing! I love the Red Dress. Hopefully I’ll cross paths with it someday. :)

Trackbacks

  8. […] and amongst all the women in their shorts and sandals was the amazing red dress! Her post titled “The Sisterhood of the Bloggess’ Traveling Red Dress” tells how all the women at this party took a turn sporting this inspirational […]

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