The bride did everyone a favor by allowing us to pick our own dresses. They just had to be black, and she reserved veto power for anyone who picked a truly ugly dress (no one did, luckily). This is my dress:
You'll notice the length is, shall we say, interesting. It looks alright on this model, because she's probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 5'10" and she's a model so anything looks good.
I'm just barely 5'4", so it made me look like an expensively attired bag lady from the waist down when I first put it on. This would simply not do. I purchase this dress sometime in March, and then let's just say I procrastinated like a champ on getting it shortened. See all the pleats? Yea, that's a lot of pleating. I was pretty sure someone was going to charge me an arm and a leg to get that shortened the 6 inches I needed (so that it would actually hit just below the knee and be a fun party dress instead of a weird matron length). I would say to whomever was listening on a weekly basis, "man, I really need to get that dress altered" and then do precisely nothing toward that end.
Enter the bride's mother, who sent me a list of tailors after the bridal shower the last weekend in June (yes, that's three months of putting it off. I told you, like a champ). One of the people on the list was located in Winthrop, which I thought would be the easiest. It's best if I just sort of transcribe my first conversation with her so you get the picture:
(phone rings)
Her (thick Italian accent): Hello?
Me: Is this Maria?
Her: Who this?
Me: My name is Jessie, I was given your name on a list of tailors-
Her: Oh! yesyesyesyesyes
Me: I was wondering, are you open tomorrow?
Her: Yes! What time do you want me to be open?
Me: Well, I was thinking around 10 or 10:30am?
Her: Yes! I will be open then. 10:00! Make sure you bring your shoes! Shoes are very important for length!
Me: Yes, I will bring my shoes! Thank you! Where are you located?
Her: Where are you?
Me: I'm in Winthrop, I'm on _____ Ave.
Her: 0384UQ2L3IY5P346YL/RKHGJNS;DKF;DHGOERTU2!!!!! I'M ON _______ TOO! I LIVE AT __! WE NEIGHBORS!!! HOW MANY TIMES WE MUST SEE EACH OTHER?!?! OHHH!!
Me: Well, great! So I'll see you tomorrow!
The next morning, there she was, waiting for me to arrive. As I walked up to the door this teeny-tiny woman peers out of the window with huge glasses and crazy hair. Seeing that I had a dress in my hand and guessing who I was, she came to the door saying, "Yes you are! Yes you are!!" It was pretty nice for someone to be that excited to see me!
Fast forward to a week and a half later. She called Wednesday morning to tell me that my dress is ready to be picked up. Here is that conversation:
(phone rings - 9am)
Me: Hello?
Her: Oh I'm sorry to call so early, I wake you up??
Me: No, no, I'm already awake!
Her: This Maria, your dress ready to pick up!
Me: Oh great! Can I pick it up tomorrow evening?
Her: Yes, what time you want to come?
Me: Between 6 and 6:30pm?
Her: Yes! Good!
Me: How much do I owe you?
Her: Oh..... between 15-20 dollars? In there?
Me: Ok, see you tomorrow!
Last night I arrived to pick up the dress. She did a beautiful job, I tried the dress back on (with my shoes!) and it's exactly where I wanted it to be. Maria told me that it took quite a bit longer than normal because of all the pleats, when she finished shortening it she had to press all the pleats so it would look good. I thanked her many times over and told her that she did a beautiful job, and as I was changing back into my regular clothes I said, "so over the phone you said $20, is that correct?" I got a vehement "NO!" from the other side of the door. I figured she meant that because of all the extra pressing it was going to be a little more, which I was more than willing to pay since I thought someone would be charging me like $50 for this job. She straightened me out by saying, "I said BETWEEN $15 and $20. So, you give me $17!" I kept trying to give her $20, but she absolutely wouldn't take it. $17 was what she wanted, and it was all she wanted.
That, and to give me several of her business cards to give to all my friends who need work. Anyone who lives in the area and wants this lady's information, she does a GREAT job, she's the cutest lady on the planet, and she's extremely reasonable, price-wise.
Today, I finish out my last day of work and then it's off to new adventures and good times!
See all you Michigan people soon!
1 comment:
hahaha cute little Italian ladies in Winthrop...SO glad your dress turned out lovely. can't wait to see it!
Post a Comment