blogger profile

Cory Bordonaro

Journalist

Cory is the editor of skirt! magazine in Birmingham. A University of Georgia grad, she moved west to Alabama in pursuit of her journalistic ambitions. Cory had aspirations of working in magazines from a young age. Her first title, Cory's Story, printed on college-rule (using Crayola), was published...

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Citizen's Arrest!

Cory

In the spirit of our “Wear your (ugly) skirt to WorkPlay” event last night, I’m reminiscing this morning about some of my most serious fashion offenses. And I’ve had some doosies over the years...

One such faux pas occurred my senior year of high school. At the time, I had ambitions of becoming a fashion designer. I was fortunate enough to have a talented seamstress as a family friend. That spring, she graciously offered to help me implement some of my designs. Inspired by a Chanel get-up I had seen in a Vogue magazine, I had sketched out a lovely little white eyelet number. I wanted to make it in time for my senior baccalaureate ceremony. I would be the envy of every girl in my look-a-like dress!

I labored for weeks on the strapless piece, sizing it to fit. Once that was completed, I selected a blue satin ribbon for a sash, and sewed on two perfect pearl buttons. The finishing touch would be the collar overlay. In the magazine picture, the collar grazed Kirsten Dunst’s shoulders and hung down over the top part of the dress. It was elegant and feminine.

The design was lost in transition, however, because what resulted from my efforts was a space cadet piece a la Jane Jetson. Plus, it puckered in the back, refusing to lay flat no matter how many pleats I sewed into the design. At the time, however, my eyes were blind to its imperfections. I was actually sincerely impressed with the work of my hands. I remember gazing at my reflection in the mirror and actually being pleased. Pleased enough that I actually wore the dress in front of 500+ peers and their families to the ceremony. I was absolutely oblivious to the fact that I looked like a page out of the “Fashion Don’ts.”

Several years later, I had some college friends come home with me. In my room, I was delighting at showing them old pictures of the high school version of me. When I came across one from that fated day, I launched into a full explanation of the dress. They snickered and begged to see it. As I sheepishly pulled it from the closest, they erupted in laughter. They began pointing at the hanger, referring to the collar piece as a bib. Taking a new look at my creation, I too, started to laugh. Wearing it had been a complete error in judgment. I’m thankful that the fashion police weren’t present then, as I’m sure I would’ve been locked up immediately – without parole.