alright, i'm a bimbo and all that, and having got that out of the way: will i be needing dresses for fancy dos in grad school? in boston? will it cover all contingencies if i just brought five dresses: 1) my strapless purple dress (calf-length) with black pleated organza over (cocktail) 2) my "old shanghai" peony-printed chinese silk dress with flutter sleeves, fluttery slit up one leg (restaurant, wedding, might pass for cocktail) 3) my shimmery green thai silk short (inch or two below knee) cheongsam for dinner, theatre and any occasion where i'm expected to advertise being "an ethnic woman" 4) long black strapless georgette arthur yen formal-ish dress with a fluttery wrapover skirt OR black satin v-neck shell + matching ankle-length biased-cut skirt (just so i have something long and black - the former is more formal, i think, but i mightn't ever need something formal, right? and satin separates could go a longer way in a budget wardrobe) 5) red viscose and silk sheath from allure with hintes of floral embroidery and asymmetrical hem OR red satin dress with matching fluttery shoulder capelet (mother's wedding dress! 30 years old!) - i don't know what for but i like red and it's nice to have a dress you don't know what for other than that it's pretty! i realise i haven't got anything to go to well i don't know von's graduation or lunch with visiting ministers or something, what with my plum cheongsam (which was so right for these occasions!) being out of commission. that seems about it. am i going to get into any situation where i will need a ballgown? i hope not, because i've no intention of carting any over. anyway, chances of opera opening nights and white tie galas are not on my cards nor in my stars. i'll have another think about them dresses.