Next weekend, we are headed to Hilton Head Island for the wedding of my mom’s cousin. We are going to the rehearsal dinner on the 4th of July, and the wedding is on the 5th. It should be a lot of fun, my whole family will be there, and I’m looking forward to enjoying myself! (Paul is looking forward to being on the beach!) We’re renting a condo a block away from the ocean.

I was mentally looking through my wardrobe and realized that I don’t have much to wear. I have a cute dress that I’m going to wear to the wedding on the 5th, but nothing to wear to the rehearsal dinner on the 4th. So I decided to buy something.

Here’s what I was envisioning: a cute, breezy sundress that would work for both casual beach and dresser dinner. Tea length skirt, a dark blue that could be paired with red and white accessories for a patriotic theme.

Yesterday I went shopping. First I went to Ross. Then Target. Then Macy’s, then Dillard’s. Then I walked around the mall and stopped at any store with cute dress possibilities. Nothing. Nada. ZILCH. I found almost NO blue dresses, of any shade. The few that I did find were nonexistant in my size, a really weird style (or too immodest!), or were busy patterns with other colors. I didn’t even have the problem with them being $300 and I had to turn them down because of price!

So I’m frustrated. I have no time to order anything, since we’re leaving on Thursday. I just want to go to a store and buy a blue dress! (I would open my search to white and red, but I look horrible in those colors, hence the accessory idea.) So I’m thinking I may have to expand my search to include a different color – I’m thinking teal, since that color is in right now. Which makes me very sad because I was very excited about my whole patriotic vision.

Another thing I need is a bathing suit. I haven’t owned one in a few years because the specific style I want is DEFINITELY not in. I know I’m being picky, but I don’t want to buy something just to buy something. Though I may have to.

Basically, all the suits these days look the same, I’ve noticed. There is NO creativity with style – they just take the same design and slap a different color fabric over it. I’m looking for a top that is fairly modest in the chest area. I don’t want little triangles. I don’t want a tankini that covers my stomach really well but still has a revealing top area. I don’t want a one-piece that does the same thing. (Or is really weird – what’s with the one strip of fabric that goes down the front? Is this for getting around “one-piece only” requirements??) I am not worried about bottoms, because I’ll just wear board shorts no matter what. (I’m more shy about my thighs than about my stomach!) I am okay with a one-piece, but after all those years of swim team in high school, I’m really picky about how the back is. I don’t like the big open backs but prefer the criss-cross backs. But I don’t think those exist. Actually I’m looking at my stomach now and wondering if I’m stupid for considering a two-piece. I think I need to cover that thing up. :-)

Okay I’m sorry for my rant. I am just SO frustrated trying to find clothes right now!! I have this morning to shop for a dress and then I should just forget the blue thing. But where should I go?