What a thrilling experience being a 2012 Golden Heart® finalist has been so far! And as I journey toward the Romance Writers of American® National Conference in Anaheim, California this coming July, the excitement builds. I belong to an online group of finalists where we share news, build friendships, and glean information from those who’ve traveled the Golden Heart® road before us. What kind of clothing should we consider was one of the first questions raised, especially with regards to the formal awards ceremony where the Rita® and Golden Heart® finalists will be honored and the winners announced (truly, we’ve all won just by being nominated).
For the most part, the conference calls for business casual, except for a few cocktail parties and the awards ceremony with over two thousand people in attendance. It’s those dressier events that have me thinking about what to pack for the long trip. Particularly since I live and shop in Budapest, where vestiges of the old communist way of life still lingers—in little ways and in some big ways (one of which is how business is structured—very odd for a westerner, like being handed a square wheel).
Even though there are several large and very modern shopping centers in the city, I don’t particularly care for the style of evening wear available. There are basically three ways
to go: Expensive, over-the-top designer fashions found in the upscale shops along touristy Vaci Utca, or daring little bits of cloth for the younger woman in trendy shops, or rather matronly-looking clothing.
What to do?
Recently, I was lamenting my dilemma while at my regular Thursday coffee with my international group of women friends. Jane suggested I catch the train to Vienna for some great non-stop shopping. Oh, I’d dread doing that. It’s only a 2 1/2 hour train ride, but ever since my younger days, working as a sales rep for Clairol Corporation and hoofing it in and out of stores all day long, I detest shopping, particularly running around to unfamiliar shops.
Another acquaintance, an Australian married to a Hungarian, suggested I find a photo of something I like and she’d refer me to a Hungarian dressmaker.
I wrinkled my nose. “Have something stitched up?”
“These dressmakers can copy anything,” Marilena said. “Back in communist times they had to make everything. They’re so good at it, you won’t be able to tell from the original.”
“Why did they have to make their own?” I asked.
Another woman, a Canadian, who has lived in pretty much every corner of the world said, “Because, until after the 1956 revolution, there were no dress shops for women.”
What? Now there’s something I never thought about having to do with political regimes. No clothing stores for women?
She went on to explain that retail clothing stores were only for men until the 1956 upsrising against communist control changed a few things.
That was even more puzzling. What did the revolution have to do with women’s clothing?
My friend said that even though the Russians sent in an army of tanks and beat the dickens out of the city and its people, a strong message was sent to Moscow that Hungarians were willing to fight to their death against oppression. So, while freedom was still not theirs to be had, a slightly different kind of communism arose. It was given the nickname “goulash-communism.” From then on, Hungarians lived under a more liberal political umbrella than did other Russian satellite countries (but don’t be fooled into thinking spying, cruelty and oppression fell by the wayside. It did not).
One eventual change was the opening of women’s clothing stores. A woman no longer had to make her own garments or hire someone to do it for her. The trouble was, there was only one dress pattern! That’s right, in the entire country of Hungary only one ready-made style was available. And according to my Canadian friend Jackie, who lived here at the time, it wasn’t a pretty sight.
But wait…there’s more.
One boring design wasn’t the worst of it. Each size was one color! So, say you wore a size eight and you ventured into a clothing store, you could only get that one dreary style in orange. Size ten? You’d get the same lackluster rag in black. Size twelve? You’d get green. And so on.
Frightfully thoughtful of those bureaucrats in Moscow, wasn’t it?
No wonder women’s fashion magazines were smuggled in from the west. No wonder dressmakers were so good at copying anything from a picture and remain able to do so to this day.
Then the wall came down in 1989 and communism was no more.
Freedom!
And free enterprise.
And the British.
They came in droves. They opened up pubs—English, Irish and Scottish. And used clothing stores. Just as they shipped in Guinness and good Scotch whisky, they shipped in second-hand garments by the ton. To this day, pubs thrive in lively Budapest, and you can still see those same used clothing stores everywhere with a colorful British flag
emblazoned on the front window.
Yes, I’m busy hunting for evening wear for the RWA® awards ceremony. Or should I say, I’m in the fabric stores hunting down the prettiest fabric I can find, and I’m on the internet looking for a photo of something I favor. My friend has the dressmaker lined up. I can hardly wait.
Or maybe I should have booked my flight into the U.S. a week earlier.
What about you, do you have any fun stories about shopping for something special?
Here’s another suggestion for you. What do Hungarians do for wedding clothes? When I was shopping for my GH gown, one place I looked were bridal shops for–at my age anyway–mother-of-the-bride outfits.
I did consider going the internet route for some of my clothes, but I was too concerned I’d get something that looked good in theory but didn’t flatter me personally, and not have much means to send it back. Not to mention I’ve been burned on paying a ton in duty with mail-order stuff.
Just think of it this way: you’re one of your heroines visiting your modiste for a huge event. I can’t wait to see the pics.
Kathleen, please post a photo of what you will/wore to the ceremony.
How absolutely fascinating! Seems incredible that that sort of world was alive and functioning (I would hate to say flourishing!) at the same time as my childhood in America. I think of lying on my mother’s bed watching her get dressed for an evening out and at the very same time there were Hungarian women having to choose between compulsory colors or (I assume if they had enough money) choosing what to have the dressmaker sew for them. Where did they get their patterns? Were foreign magazines, films, etc. available?
Goodness gracious. How fascinating it is to learn about other parts of our world! (And please do post what you choose. I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s curious.)
Where did they get their patterns?
A good dressmaker or tailor or designer only needs one. It’s called a master pattern, and they know how to alter it to create various looks.
How interesting. I visited the Soviet Union twice in the late 80s, but I was a teenager and didn’t pay much attention to women’s fashions. The kids there would pay large sums (or trade valuables) to get a pair of jeans. We were on a school trip and weren’t permitted to make trades, but everywhere we went we were approached by kids and blackmarket sellers trying to get our jeans. They might have had more success if they’d been willing to include a pair of pants for us to put on if we traded our jeans right there on the street. Interestingly enough, the other thing they really wanted was bubble gum.
Please do share a picture of your dress when it’s finished.
Amazing what I take for granted. I’ve rarely traveled outside the US and never out of North America. So much history, good and bad that isn’t included in the history books.
I can’t wait to see what you choose. So many options and custom made just for you. That’s so fun.
Gulp, we will see. I went shopping today and bought some awesome material for the awards ceremony. Now I have to take an interpretor with me to the dressmaker! My son is married to a Hungarian and they were married here in 2006. Zsanett took a photo of something like a Vera Wang to a dressmaker and wow, what a beautiful bride! I didn’t think much of it at the time, but when I learned about women in the communist era, I had a different take on it all. Gulp, we shall see. Thanks for stopping by.
Gerri, I’ll post a photo of what I wore, for sure. Like I told Ashlyn, gulp, I just bought the fabric. I’ll be wearing all black with an over-blouse kind of thing that is aubergine and all beaded and see through with a scalloped hem on the sleeves and bottom that shimmers. I’ve never seen any fabric like this. My friend who came along talked me into it. Right after, we went to our Thursday coffee and, of course, I had to unbagged the precious jewel. but everyone loved it, and two of the women there would speak right up if they didn’t (they have a way about them that they can get away with being outspoken, but very diplomatic). That made me feel a bit more secure. Thanks for stopping by.
Hi Beppie!
They made their patterns out of old newspaper or tore apart old clothes and made new patterns, etc. And no, foreign magazines were not available, they were smuggled in and handed around. They produced film here, but it was government controlled, but there was an underground network here that was amazing. The regime preached that hand-me-downs were honorable and everyone should wear hand-me-downs (did they have a choice). Fabric was smuggled in, but I’m not sure where else they obtained fabric. I have to ask around. There’s so much we didn’t know back then, Beppie, because we were kept in the dark. There is a place here in Budapest called The Terror Museum. It sounds awful, and it is, to think people were treated like that, but the museum is filled with so much information that it is wroth the trip in. There is one room filed with old communist propaganda posters, as if they were trying to convince the oppressed that life was beautiful!
Back at ya, Ashlyn,
I once took a pattern-making class when I lived in San Francisco (in the 1970’s) and found that I needed only three basic patterns to take me through anything I made up. Recently, I had some slacks shortened in a well-known tailor shop here and I was so fascinated watching them while they draped fabric on a customer. When I went back to pick up the slacks, it was at the same time of day and the woman was there for the final fitting. It was like writing a novel. It all comes together beautifully in the end.
Hi, Ally,
The reason they didn’t have pants to share with you was probably because they were wearing them and that’s all they had! Even back in 1995, when Hans and I got married, he filled a suitcase with jeans to bring to his German family because they wanted Levis and they couldn’t get them here and if they did, they were horribly expensive. Yes, I’ll share the outfit.
Thanks for stopping by, Terri!
Well, not only did I buy the fabric for the awards ceremony, I also bought some for anything a bit dressy as well. If it doesn’t turn out, I don’t know what I will do. My friends here keep reassuring me that these dressmakers only have to look at photos. Bring photos, they tell me. Um.
How interesting! It’s amazing that they would set up men’s clothing shops but nothing for women. And how tiresome and tedious would that monochromatic color palette by size get to be?
I hope your dress turns out lovely. Be sure to take some pictures of the work in progress and then also the finished product. Good luck!!
Thanks for stopping by, Pamala. Maybe I should video tape this whole dressmaking process since I have to take a friend along to interpret for me. Hungarian is such a hard language and everything is spelled with so many extra letters! Long words. Very long, excruciatingly hard words to pronounce. Who knows what I’m going to end up with. But I have faith. 🙂
I’m with you, Kathleen. I hate shopping. I’d rather have a tool pulled than go dress shopping. It is always a chore to shop when you don’t enjoy it. It’s catalogs for me.
Loved all the history, as usual. I so look forward to seeing you in Anaheim and will be one who cheers loudly for you, my fried. 🙂
That was a great post. Very interesting. I have no idea what I’m going to wear.
Hi Paisley, Thanks for stopping by. I’m so excited about attending the conference in Anaheim and about visiting my family and friends. I’ll be in NY, Texas, California, Washington to manage it all, but I’ll be there!
Hi Ella,
I have to start considering now, because I don’t know how long all this dressmaking, finding everything is going to take. And, I have to travel light, I’ll be bringing back a load of books and with these airline restrictions ever-changing, I have to plan carefully. Thanks for stopping by.
What an interesting blog!! I remember when I visited China in 1996 – I had in my mind that all the Chinese would be wearing those blue overall-outfits. No, they definitely don’t anymore! Very modern clothing. I bet you can have something beautiful made in hungary…that’ actually kind of exciting. I had some suits made when I was stationed in Korea…it was amazing how well the Koreans could put something together, at a fraction of the cost. I can’t wait to see your new clothes!
Hi Lacey!
That’s what I’m told happens here: The Hungarian dressmakers can do amazing things. I just bought this awesome fabric for a top that will go over either a long skirt or evening pants. Can hardly wait to see what it looks like finished. Thanks for stopping by.
I’m still looking for my dress as well Kathleen … but thankfully I’ll have lots of options to choose from!!! Hard to remember that not everyone can have access to goods as easily as we do here in North America.
Hi Nikki!
I love the little shops, like bakeries, vegetable stands, butchers, etc., but when it comes to things we are so used to in the U.S. there is a bit of a pinch…like aspirin can only be purchased at a pharmacy and you won’t find a Walmart look-a-like anywhere! I now have a business card of a tailor who makes wedding dresses and formal wear. He comes highly recommended so I’m giving him a shot with the beaded fabric I Found! Thanks for stopping by.
Kathleen, as always, you make your blog an adventure to share. I love fabric, to touch, to hoard, and sometimes to use. You will have a one of a kind outfit that will be the envy of all.
So interesting that when we in the US became “liberated” to wear jeans and t-shirts and the like, the Hungarian women were forced into more dreaded off the shelf dresses. Yet, they found ways around that.
When we were in Poland in 1998 adopted our two little ones, we roamed the flea markets and were amazed at how many American knock-offs there were there. Even including a sports jacket with the San Franciso 59ers logo. Too funny.
PErhaps when you are in San Antonio, we can have a dress up event where you can dazzle us all. No doubt your inner beauty will shine forth and your new outfit will simply compliment that beauty.
omg! Congrats! Have fun at the conference! it will be a whole new experience being a finalist there. Wish i was going and could see you!
Thanks for stopping by, Barb!
Maybe we should have a dressy potluck! lol
Hi Lori!
I wish you were going to! It was great seeing you in 2010!
Mens clothing can be difficult to choose because there are so many options. We have different colors, textures and materials to choose from. :*;:;
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