This week I have been asked by many what they should wear to Ladies Who Lunch in Carleton Place this Saturday, June 6th. What should I wear to show people I have ‘rattled my pies’. Rattle your pies? What the heck is that? Last year I read a blog about “rattling pies in the sky” by a friend named Kit Duncan and was confused because I had never heard that term before. Being Canadian I have heard of a “pie in the sky”, but no where had I heard of pies being rattled. I sat there after reading her post and wondered how much pie rattling I really had accomplished.
When I was 14, because of my theatrical flare of dressing, people told me I should become a fashion designer. My father could not deal with those specific “pies” and the constant conversation of my dreams to him were ignored. He found me “flighty” and way too creative for anyone’s good, and when I was having trouble in school he strongly suggested a stint in the Canadian Army, like he had done.
My grandfather, concerned about not losing the “creative child” as he called me, insisted I be sent to England to the London School of Design. It was 1967, and I had dreams of Carnaby Street, the Beatles and fashion. My father was not amused and he wanted my pies in the sky kept at home and preferably on Canadian soil. Long story short, my grandfather died in early August of that year and any promise of schooling in the UK came to a screeching halt. After a lot of arguing I left home and attended fashion design school in Montreal.
Was it the right pie in the sky?
I think so.
I worked very hard and opened my own business at age 24. From 1976-1997 I owned a couple of clothing stores that made an impact on the Ottawa Valley locals. Through my clothing designs I let people become who they wanted to be through fashion as I applauded their acceptance of being themselves. I told them that being different was okay. Watching my shoppers grow up and having their children come into my stores was amazing. First and foremost; it was always important to me to always be there for those who needed to talk and for those who felt the pressures of being unique.
So come as yourself. Be yourself-you don’t need to prove to anyone who you are by what you wear–because you are all talented and unique in your own way. Remember, she believed she could, so she did. You don’t need fancy clothes for that.
(May 2015) Available at amazon.com
lindaseccaspina 