The Tradition of Fashion

Fashion is so many things. It’s what we wear; an expression of who we are to the world. It also tells a story, and can be an outward expression of a rich tapestry of history. Case in point: the Military Ball.

Some time ago, I was dating someone who happened to be an officer in the Navy. I was so honored when he asked me to attend the Navy Ball with him. Military Balls are kind of like weddings or proms - they are a rare opportunity to get dressed up in the fanciest of attires and party. But the similarities end there. When attending a Military Ball, strict adherence to the set dress code must be observed. Failure to do so not only reflects poorly on the attendee who does so, but on their partner as well. I quickly learned that the short gold, strapless, beaded Adrianna Papell dress that lay poised, hanging in my closet, was unfortunately not an option. If I wanted to represent myself - and my date - well, rocking a freestyle look was not an option. I had to follow the rules. Fashion, in this case, wasn’t just about looking good, it was about paying homage to many hallowed years of American military tradition.

Rules for those in the military are pretty straightforward: wear a specific dress uniform, shoes, and medals/decorations. The only form of personalization allowed are cuff links and the sleeves of their dress shirt (the shirt worn under their formal dress jacket). My date opted for both, as did many attendees, and it was cool to see splashes of individualism amid majestic uniformity. My dates sleeves were a beautiful Polynesian print he selected while serving on a tour. Another officer’s sleeves featured fabric adorned with Pittsburgh Steelers logos. Very cool.

Rules for non military attendees, on the other hand, were numerous and absolute. No short dresses - floor length only, knees and below must be covered. No neon colors. No animal prints. No beauty pageant-like sparkles. Basically, nothing flashy. Think Jackie O chic. Classic, American inspired formal. Both attending the event and adhering to the dress code is an opportunity to participate in a rich, living piece of American history. Reverence of dress reflects reverence to the event, and to America and the military itself. Fashion meets tradition. How cool is that?!

This fashionista was up to the challenge. I enlisted the help of my mom, and a lovely sales lady at David’s Bridal to ensure my look was flawless in style and adherence to the rules. I went in with a black or navy blue dress in mind, but I tried on many different styles and colors. I ended up falling in love with a red off the shoulder trumpet gown. The minute I put it on, the three of us agreed that this was the dress. I paired it with a simple gold layered necklace (borrowed from my mom), a gold and rhinestone tennis bracelet (from my grandmother), a gold clutch from TJ Maxx, and nude Tahari pumps that I got from Marshall’s. The fashion designer in me was still represented, as I hemmed the gown myself. I wore my mom’s floor length faux fur coat (which she got on sale at Macy’s). For my hair - I wanted a classic, retro feminine look to complement the dress, so I had my mom tease it for some volume and sweep it into a simple curly half up do (our Italian card was showing with the teasing, curling iron and loads of hair spray - gotta love it!)

I must admit it was initially a little weird being dressed so formally. I hadn’t been this dressed up since prom! Being a small business owner at the time, I was living in sweatshirts, leggings and Ugg boots. But this was an exquisite departure from normality, especially for this intrepid fashionista. I felt more at ease when I joined my equally formal mate, who looked so handsome in his dress uniform. When we arrived at the ball, the storied pageantry began, and the tradition of fashion was in full effect. The presentation of colors, numerous toasts, keynote speaker, and tradition of the oldest and youngest service members cutting the cake. I met so many of his wonderful colleagues, and genuinely had such a great time with my date himself. It was both fun and an honor to experience that part of his life. What a great country we have! And even better, the thread of fashion tied it all together.