She was sitting on a gunmetal-gray velvet pouffe, feeling uncomfortable. It wasn't my fault; I'm very comfortable. I know every dress says she's comfortable, but I really am.
The waiter had already come by twice, but she hadn't touched her champagne. I think she only took it to keep them from asking her if she wanted any.
I knew something had happened when I felt myself tighten; she'd taken a deep breath. She didn't let it out for a long time. She stared into the bottom of the glass.
A shadow loomed over us, and a light voice said "Kathy! You, here?"
He wasn't very tall, and he wasn't very young, but he wasn't old, either. In brighter light I bet you'd see gray in his hair. His evening dress was immaculate, but it looked as if he wore it every day, like he put it on right after breakfast. It was tailored to hide a little bit of a belly, I thought.
He sank down beside her. A waiter immediately appeared, and he took a glass. I could feel him staring; it felt like being next to a hot radiator.
"You look perfectly elegant," he said.
"It'd be a nicer compliment if you didn't sound so surprised," she answered. She took her first sip from the glass.
"Well, I usually see you in dungarees and an old shirt. Or a boiler suit. Although I must admit the boiler suit can be pretty cute."
"That's what I paint in. This is what I — " she waved the glass around " — whatever this is — in."
"This is Elena's showoff party. Are you showing off?"
"I think I'm being shown off. Or I'm going to be. She bought something last month. The big canvas — you remember? And with a big canvas you get a personal appearance by the artist. Plus Green Stamps."
"Ah." He smiled. "That explains all. Even the dress. Did she send it?"
"Her secretary did. I even get to keep it."
"Elena likes to make sure of all the details, she does. It's endearing in her … and lovely on you."
She looked into her glass again. "Where's the Countess? I didn't see her."
"She's with the Count. Wherever he is."
I could feel her turn towards him, slightly. "Should I feel sorry for you? Or for her?"
"Do you feel sorry for the library book when it has to go back to the library?"
"Sometimes, sometimes I do. If I didn't get a chance to read it before it was due."
"Well, then, you shouldn't feel sorry for either of us on that account. We figured out how the story ended."
"And it's really ended? This time?"
"Big letters, saying "THE END" appeared on the screen. I believe there was a sunset involved. Probably a horse, too."
"You're mixing things up. We were talking about books, not movies."
"We were?"
Music started in the other room.
"C'mon," he said. A waiter was right there, again. He was the kind of man waiters liked. He took her glass away and put it on the waiting tray, next to his. "Let's dance."
When he put his hand on her waist I felt her gut clench, but I don't think he felt it.
"You dance like you paint," he said.
"Lots of blue?"
"Lots of air." He smiled down at her. Not very far down; their faces were close together. "Lightness. Lots of little surprises, surprises you only find after a very long time looking."
She didn't say anything, but I felt her relax, just a bit.
"The funny thing about you, Kathy, is that as a woman, you're very direct. More direct than most women. As an artist, though … you're oblique."
"That's an interesting interpretation," she said. "I have told you how much I hate being compared to 'most women', though, haven't I?"
"You see? Direct. Of course, most women want to think they're unique. The difference is, you actually are."
He sounded so dispassionate, as if he were talking about auto insurance or Korea; that alone should have tipped me off that he wasn't.
"And what about you? Are you unique?"
"Me, I'm right off the assembly line. They make ten thousand of me a year, and you can get me in any color you like, with an optional radio."
"I could give you a custom paint job." She grinned at him. It was the first time she'd smiled since she put me on.
"I bet you could. Good thing I like blue."
They had drifted to the edge of the dance floor as the music stopped. A large woman in an electric-green dress swooped down on them. There was a jeweled clip in the shape of a peacock feather in her hair, and her eyes were lined in the same peacock color. She spoke in a low voice but it carried like a shout.
"My two geniuses! Of course you know each other! How perfect! Clancy, doesn't she look deee-vine?"
"Absolutely," he said. "I was just telling her so."
"Liar," she said.
"I was getting around to it." He looked like a sulky boy, just for a moment.
Elena wasn't paying attention; she had her head turned towards the band. "Clancy," she said. "I know I said I wasn't going to make you do this, but the drummer got a hernia or indigestion or malaria or something, and the replacement won't be here for twenty minutes — would you play something?"
He looked doubtful. Elena didn't notice.
"Please, Clancy — it would mean so much to me. And everyone here loves you, you know that. Play something for me?"
"For you, Elena, anything," he said. He shrugged. "Although you're making me stand Kathy up for the next dance. I can't dance and play at the same time."
Elena laughed. "If anyone could, you could, Clancy." She was still looking towards the band. "Oh, and play something new, will you? Thanks, darling!" She hurried off.
"Play something new, will you, darling?" she said, imitating Elena.
He looked away, absent for a moment. He took a deep breath. "I think I will play something new," he said. "Be careful what you ask for." He headed up towards the piano.
Elena was already up there. I thought she would make an announcement, but she just said, "Everybody, Clancy!" There was a lot of applause.
She didn't clap. She just looked at him.
He sat down and did an elaborate jokey hand stretch. He dropped his hands on the keyboard in a dramatic chord. The room went quiet.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he said. "This is a new piece. It's called "Kathy"."
I can't really tell you what it sounded like; I can only tell you that she shivered and got goosebumps. And that I got really mussed during the cab ride home, but I didn't care.
[NB: this is a first draft … wrote it all this morning very quickly! so it might change.]
[Note: Sarah pointed out that this is really #14, because #13 was the fundraising post back in December. I've updated the list on the sidebar, so everything should be properl
y numbered and ordered now …]
A Dress A Day 
I love it !! You’re such a good writer !!Donna
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Hurray! That was marvelous, Erin!Thanks for writing these, I (and others) love reading them. :)-d
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This one is fabulous!
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Thank you thank you! I’ve missed the secret lives. This one is wonderful – but then they all are.
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Oooh, I was so excited to see a new SL – and it did not disappoint. And that DRESS – it DOES look comfortable and elegant! I love the color blocking.Thanks Erin for the storytime treat!
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Now I have goosebumps.Becky
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Count me as another who loves it. No need for editing. It’s lovely. And I’m glad it had a happy ending.
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This is so wonderful! The dress, the story, everything is perfect.
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Ooh, that gave me goosebumps! Very good!I was just watching an old black-and-white film; it must have put me in the right mood for that!
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Oh, hurray for a happy Secret Life!–Lydia
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I love it! It’s perfect! I can’t tell you how much I love the Secret Lives stories! Thanks for brightening up my day!
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Wonderful! I think it’s your best yet!
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Hooray, a Secret Lives! 😀 And even better — it has a happy ending! 😀
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WOW! An awesome first draft, indeed! I love how you combine gorgeous dresses with stories that keep us on the edges of our seats.
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Hmmm (happy sound). That’s my favorite one so far.
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Thanks for another dress story! Love them! Your words cause me to “see” the setting, the individuals, almost like a movie! Wow!
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What a great way to start the day by reading this after a tough day yesterday. I feel like today’s already going to be better.BTW, no I have to Google “boiler suit”
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this is great. 🙂 I love the notion of feeling sorry for library books that don’t get read — something I’ve never been able to put into words for myself.silly question: is Elena also the Countess? (I can see how the dress wouldn’t know for sure, but when I came to the end I didn’t know for sure, either.)
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Oooohh…….I “shivered and got goosebumps” right along with her at the end. Fabulous!
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I love the shadow behind the dress in the picture. It gives the dress such a sense of mystery.
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So there I am just bopping around online, checking Dress-A-Day like I do each morning…and suddenly I am transformed into the middle of a novel. What a lovely surprise. Thank you, Tina
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You made my day! What a terrific break from the ho-hum stuff! THANK YOU!! Teresa
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This is like finding a big package on Christmas morning but even better because it was a surprise that it was even Christmas! I will be thinking about it all morning.
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wonderful. more please!
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What a perfect dress–such a simple design, but distinctive.I should spend more time poking around the pictures on this blog. I’ve got a cousin’s wedding coming up in July and I always seem to get caught at the last minute, trying to find something comfortable yet appropriate to wear. My uncle–and I know he meant well, but still–just sent me an email reminding me that I’m the “last one standing”, so now I really want to find, or sew, something better than the usual off-the-rack compromise.Sigh.
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Oh, how lovely!And I do hope you didn’t choose the name “Kathy” at random. It IS a song, and it’s just lovely and sweet and romantic and… well, it’s the perfect song. And I’ve only heard it in one place, on an old radio show from about 1950.This has made me SO happy.
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wow!!!!!!! so much inspiration from one dress…….you amaze me
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YAY! My computer always lags behind and this morning I had yesterday’s psot …and then after lunch, I ws feelign like I think I’ll finish reading the comments on Dress a Day — and YAY happy surprise SL! It was fun to read one where the wearer was talking too.
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What a lovely secret life.It’s definitely worth clicking the photo to see the back of the dress, too!
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Erin, I continue to love Secret Lives. They are my favorite part of the blog. I’ve spent the last year reading the archives, ever since your blog turned up on one of my husband’s ‘StumbleUpon’ trips. You have done what my mother has failed to do in the last 30 years of my life: convinced me to learn to sew. But alas, it will have to wait until we return to the U.S. in 3 years. (By the way, I think your numbering of the Secret Lives is off by one. #12 was posted March 16, 2007, then #13 was posted, sans dress, December 17, making today’s #14. Just in case it matters. Please forgive any perceived nitpickiness–I am an editor.)Thanks again for your regular contributions of joy to my day!Grace and peace,Sarah
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Oh, I just LOVE this one. At the risk of being trite, a happy-ending story just hits the spot today.
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First draft?!? It’s perfecto!Thank you so much for bringing us a special surprise today!
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finally!!!!! I love secret lives of dresses. These would make such good stories in a short story book. You are a wonderful writer.
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I was getting a little confused in the middle, but the ending is just wonderful! I wish we could see more from the dress’s perspective, tho, like in some of your earlier “Secret Lives”. 😀
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I thought this was extremely well written. -Negative Nancy
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I really loved this one, too! Exciting and hintful without telling too much–but with a possibly happy ending! I like to hear about the people from the clothing’s angle, makes me worry about what mine would say about me.
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Is there a Secret Lives of Dresses #12? I think I missed it. I love the Lives of Dresses. I sometimes wonder about the dresses I have seen in thrift stores or online and wonder who wore them and when they wore them. It is such fun to make up stories about them!Linda
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**BRAVA!!**
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ah, the power of a good dress and honest flirting. I love this series. It’s so fun to see a new installment.
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divine! thank you.
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Wow! Very charming indeed. Fred and Ginger couldn’t be more charming, in fact (and I should know – just went to a screening of ‘Shall we Dance’ last night, with a live pianist tickling the ivories beforehand in expert Gershwin manner). That gave me goosebumps too. You’re very skilful to be able to write such a first draft.
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Seriously. When are you going to put these together into a book?
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yes, yes, a secret lives collection. we all live our little secrets, collectively. i haven’t read them all, but this one was a peach! tres sexy.
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Another wonderful secret lives; I think it’s one of my favorites even though it featured the dress less than others. And I loved the line about the library books!
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I guess you gave a lot of us goosebumps, me included. I was just sort of wishfully longing for a new secret lives this past week, thanks for coming through! I’m mostly lurking, but enjoy your blog daily; thank you for entertaining and connecting us all.
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Oh, I was having such a bad day and when I saw the headline “Secret Lives…” in my rss feed it was just the little pick me up I needed. And as always it is fabulous and the dress is fabulous – love the color blocking. You have a good ear for dialogue.
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Loved it! I look everyday and always hope for a new Secret Lives..did I miss 12 or is posted differently? Thank you for sharing.
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I love it. It is so descriptive without being obvious and it sucks you right in. I love how you catch subtleties and ambiguities and illustrate them without actually spelling them straight out. And you keep such an engaging tension – just like a great piece of music your stories are.I lurve the secret lives of dresses…
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You HAVE to write a sequel…with a wedding dress maybe???
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Erin,Love your site and dress stories it really makes me happy. I thought about your website when I ran across this web vintage dresses on greeting cards!!! /www.angelinascardsandpaperboutique.com
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