This past week, I found myself remembering my grandmother. I don’t know if it’s because of: a. Elyoo’s entry about her grandmother; b. seeing all the old photos that my brother and I salvaged by scanning them; c. this project that I had to design in which a character reminded me so much of my Lola. When I was creating my PD notes, she was actually my peg for the character.

Anyway, the dress below belongs to her. I think she wore it during the 40′s. The sewing is pretty messy, she said, it was one of the first dresses she’s ever made.

I believe that Lola is the most creative person in the family. Her creativity was expressed through “housewife” chores (maybe due to the era where she had her peak). She’s a great cook, a great designer and a fashionista in her own right. I adore her clothes, most of them, were sewn and made by her.

Lola is the biggest direct inlfuence on how I dress up. She’s taught me almost everything she knows about fashion when I was a little girl. I remember her telling the little girl that I was (as she was fixing my hair), what to wear, how to wear it and why. More than that, she taught me how to make and maintain them. The tons of shoe boxes in my shoe closet is exactly how she keeps hers.

“Always do your best to look appropriate and still stand out. You’ll never know who you might see.”-Lola

Lola’s very old now. She cannot even remember us anymore. But I will always remember her fashion and her teachings.

Dress: From and made by my grandmother

Belt: Black Patent, Gozum

Bag: Borrowed from Kia

Ring: just saw it in my jewelry box

Shoes: Black, patent and satin, VNC