Sisterhood of the Bloggess’ Traveling Red Dress
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.
© 2011, Lolli. All rights reserved.
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What a fabulous idea. I hope that dress keeps traveling around.
[Reply]
Lolli Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 1:42 pm
I think it will. It NEEDS to be worn by many women. It’s a magical dress.
[Reply]
Twitter: goodgirlgonered
said:
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.
[Reply]
Lolli Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 1:45 pm
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!
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Twitter: JoLynneS
said:
LOVE this. What an awesome story.
[Reply]
Lolli Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 1:46 pm
Thanks! I can’t believe I waited so long to share it. It’s one of those posts that needed a down day with no pressure.
[Reply]
I love it! I’ve read the story about the red dress and I hope to put it on one day!
[Reply]
Lolli Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 1:47 pm
I think we should start a campaign to bring it to blogger groups around the country.
How cool would that be?
[Reply]
Twitter: caramamma
said:
This gave me goosebumps. I am so glad you all got to wear the dress together!
[Reply]
Lolli Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 1:48 pm
Me too! I just wish you could have been there! By the way, it’s been too long since I’ve seen you!
[Reply]
Twitter: fromtracie
said:
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.
[Reply]
Lolli Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 1:50 pm
By the end of the evening, I felt very subdued. Profound. It was a great experience!
[Reply]
Beautiful…both the writing and the ladies.
Thanks for sharing!
[Reply]
Lolli Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 1:51 pm
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.
[Reply]
I remember reading the original story. It really is such an amazing story. I really hope that it does continue to travel around the world so that all women can experience it.
[Reply]
Lolli Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 2:18 pm
It really is an amazing story, and I feel lucky to have taken part in it.
[Reply]
Twitter: aMusingFoodie
said:
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
[Reply]
Lolli Reply:
September 5th, 2011 at 2:16 pm
I am so glad that you took the pictures on your phone! And, yes, I hope that we can get together again soon!
[Reply]
Twitter: FarewellStrangr
said:
Awesome. I love that dress and what it’s come to mean. How amazing to get to be in a room with a bunch of women who got to wear it.
[Reply]
Wow! what an amazing story and amazing dress
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Twitter: MaricrisG
said:
You look adorably beautiful Lolli. Love it!
[Reply]
Twitter: boxofchocolates
said:
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.
[Reply]
Twitter: LadyAnne525
said:
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.
[Reply]
What an incredibly fabulous idea!
You look beautiful!
[Reply]
Twitter: rockdrool
said:
what a fabulous idea! that dress looks beautiful on everyone in the pictures!! you…look smashing in it! xoxo
[Reply]
Twitter: tattertots06
said:
This post gives me goosebumps! Bless your heart ladies for something so beautiful to embrace every women in all sizes and color. Kudos to you!
[Reply]
Twitter: MamaWantsThis
said:
Love the idea of the dress, love that each woman made it their own. Thank you for sharing this and thank you for linking up with Just.Be.Enough!
[Reply]
Twitter: catchatcaren
said:
Loved this!
Loved how it made each and everyone feel and how the red dress started it’s amazing travels.
Couldn’t have started my day better
[Reply]
Twitter: kpugs
said:
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!!
[Reply]
So beautifully written! I’ve been following the story of the red dress since its wonderful beginning and I’m so so so glad for this post and this story.
[Reply]
Twitter: prCarrS
said:
I continue to be amazed at the power of The Red Dress and its original owner.
[Reply]
[...] 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 [...]
[...] The sisterhood of the traveling red dress [...]
It was a magical night! I love the montage of pictures! I’m 3rd row, no. 3! I felt AMAZING in that dress. Like a unicorn!
[Reply]
Awesome post! It was very inspirational to read this and you all looked amazing.
[Reply]
Twitter: JamiW
said:
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.
[Reply]
Twitter: therevolvingdiet.com
said:
It seems to have an aura of its own that transform whoever wears it.
All of you look wonderful in the Red Dress. I hope I have the opportunity to one day wear it.
KEEP IT GOING!
[Reply]
[...] So she got it. And she wore it. And she began sending the dress around to those who needed it for whatever reason. All different reasons. All have stories attached to them. And there are many…You can read about them here. (Top photo by Better in Bulk.) [...]
[...] So she got it. And she wore it. And she began sending the dress around to those who needed it for whatever reason. All different reasons. All have stories attached to them. And there are many…You can read about them here. (Top photo by Better in Bulk.) [...]
[...] Fighting cancer with friends. No mirrors necessary. It’s a good kind of weird. [...]
Twitter: jodifur
said:
I somehow never read this post. Thanks so much for writing it and compiling what went on that night at my house. It was magical.
jodifur´s last [type] ..I May Be A Fashion Don’t
[Reply]
Somehow I missed this too! Glad it’s making the rounds again. What a fun night that was
[Reply]
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!
Elaine´s last [type] ..Eradicating Lice From Your Head
[Reply]
[...] dress itself has earned magical status. Last September, Lolli of Better in Bulk recounts her encounter with “The Bloggess’ red dress:” Each one of us had walked down those [...]
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