The Little Black Dress

I despise pants. Truly, I do. They will never touch my body. In my humble opinion, they are solely meant for men. I always try to feel feminine, and that is accomplished through the elegance of a dress. Dresses are my ultimate desire, my ultimate devotion. They hang delicately on satin-padded hangers, waiting to be worn. I possess a collection of ready-to-wear dresses for both work and play, crafted by renowned American designers Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein. However, my heart yearns for something more exquisite, my very own Haute couture little black dress, the core of dress perfection!

My dream is for the talented Italian designer Donatella Versace to create this little black dress for me.

But sadly, it remains a mere fantasy, a distant dream.

Until one day, luck smiled upon me, and I won a radio contest granting me the opportunity to spend a day in Milan, Italy with a fashion designer of my choosing.

I arrived in Milan, exhausted from the long international flight from Washington, D.C.

At the airport's entrance, I hailed a taxicab and eagerly instructed the driver to take me to the Italian fashion house of the esteemed designer Donatella Versace.

The anticipation of meeting the muse of the late Gianni Versace, his sister Donatella, filled me with excitement!

To my astonishment, Donatella agreed to meet with me. She greeted me with a warm handshake and bestowed two kisses, one on each cheek.

Donatella embarked on the creative journey of designing my little black dress. First, she sought to understand my style and budget. Second, she sketched a sophisticated design, eagerly seeking my input. Third, we carefully selected a luxurious black fabric. Fourth, the sketch was entrusted to a skilled patternmaker who meticulously crafted a replica of the dress, ensuring flawless design, draping, and fabric. Finally, my little black dress came to life!

My exquisite couture creation is a short masterpiece, crafted from the finest soft linen sourced from China. Adorning the bottom of the dress are elegant black ruffles, with a hint of silver fabric peeking from beneath.

The little black dress embodies versatility, understated elegance, and a classic style.

As my day with Donatella Versace comes to an end, I eagerly anticipate the dinner I will share with my husband, Paul, while adorned in my new haute couture little black dress.

After bidding farewell to the fashion house of Donatella Versace, I hailed a taxicab to return to our hotel. Once there, I freshened up and gracefully slipped into my exquisite new little black dress. With a sense of excitement, I met Paul at the renowned restaurant, Cipriani’s.

Paul greeted me with admiration, his eyes filled with appreciation for my attire. “Hello, my love. You look stunning in that little black dress and those ankle-strappy sandals.”

I couldn’t help but smile at his compliment. “Thank you, darling. It means a lot coming from you, especially since I always wear dresses. But there’s something about this couture piece that truly stands out.”

Paul’s eyes sparkled mischievously. “I have a surprise for you, my dear.”

He reached for a fancy box that had been resting on the chair beside him and handed it to me. My heart skipped a beat as I saw the familiar logo of the Italian luxury fashion house, Missoni, adorning the box.

“Paul! How did you know that I adore Missoni’s designs as well? Thank you.” I cried, unable to contain my excitement.

I rose from my seat and planted a grateful kiss on his cheek. Paul chuckled, delighted by my reaction. He was overjoyed that I loved the gift he had chosen for me.

With anticipation, I opened the beautiful black box, revealing a vibrant Missoni Haute couture knit dress. My eyes widened with delight, and I couldn’t resist embracing Paul tightly, overwhelmed with gratitude.

“I can’t wait to go home and try on this exquisite dress,” I exclaimed, my voice filled with pleasure.

Paul grinned; his eyes filled with adoration. “And I can’t wait for you to model it for me, my darling.”

Feeling a surge of love for him, I whispered, “I appreciate you for knowing my preferences so well.”

Paul’s voice was filled with warmth as he replied, “And I love you for being the incredible woman that you are.”

We savored our dinner, basking in each other’s company and engaging in heartfelt conversations throughout the evening.

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(Copyright Dana Esposito. All rights reserved.)