Do they even have Home Economics in school these days? It was a class I excelled at. I took it all three years of Junior High School.  I knew how to cook & sew. My teacher, Mrs. Benedict loved me. I didn't goof off. I was Julia Child & Halston all wrapped up in one. I enjoy domestic things, dusting is a pain.

I was so good that I got the Home Economics Award for the entire school. A letter went home to the parents to come to the assembly. It mentioned I was being recognized. I hoped they didn't think it was for academics.  LOL! 

My mother & sister went to the ceremony. My name was called for the Home Economics Award, it was a little embarrassing being the school's Betty Crocker & Betsy Ross. 

The COOKING final project was a breakfast meal. I made Chocolate, Chocolate Chip Pancakes. 

The SEWING final project was making something using a pattern. It didn't have to be complicated but I am complicated. I went to Macy's and picked out a difficult Vogue pattern, with facing,  buttons, stiff collar, cuffs, sleeves, etc. I had to pick out a cotton/denim fabric too, not the easiest to manipulate.

I could have made an a-line skirt or simple sundress like most.

I wanted to make a dress for my mother. She did buy me a sewing machine for Christmas. Thinking back now it was probably way out of her budget but she made it happen.

Her style was classic, unlike mine, throw in some extra. 

I went with the classic button-down shirt dress. Popularized by designer Norma Kamali. Kamali was the first premium brand outfit I owned. My mother gave me a chic casual pants suit.

She liked Norma Kamali, Halston, & Diane Von Furstenberg.

I did go way and above anyone else in my class, I can truthfully say the entire school.

The dress was too BIG!, which was my only gripe. It drowned both of us. Since it could be belted it wasn't a lost cause.

My mother wore it once. She wrapped a red leather belt around it and wore red strappy corkscrew wedges. It looked great. She knew how to dress. 

Even then I knew to go with a CLASSIC and not a TREND.

(I need to teach a class. Signature style is lost on most nowadays. That's a lesson for another post.)

Shirt Dresses & Denim will NEVER go out of style.

Whenever I see a dress similar to mine, all these years later, I take a screenshot.