Dresses and Flip-Flops – My Favourite June Dresses Memory

Hey there!

Have you ever sat at a bus stop in a dress, headphones on, eating a corndog with a huge smile on your face?

No? Me neither!

However, I did see that tableau on my way home from work today and thought: not my thing but to each their own! As I reflect over my past 5 years of June Dresses I think about the people, the dresses, the smiles, the causes, all the love and support and the stories.

So many stories. Mine as well as so many others around the world.

My June Dresses Story

I’ve met some incredible women (& men- shoutout to Dan who knew June Dresses and I were meant for each other) who have fully jumped on board with June Dresses whether it was through wearing a dress every day, choosing and talking about causes, donating, taking pics (please get our feet!) or dishing out the compliments.

Since the beginning, I’ve had full support from my mom and sister who are total feministas with style and hearts of gold. I’ve met women around Alberta who are working with pregnant women struggling with addiction who have joined June Dresses to continue to empower women and help disrupt cycles. I’ve had women cross the street to tell me that they love my dress and just wanted to let me know. I’ve had ladies fully support my cause just because I’ve asked them to.

This year I had someone show up wearing yellow asking “Wait- why am I wearing yellow?! I just heard that you’d asked so I did!” Incredible!

I’ve been on holidays for June, at two different workplaces (with incredible teams), with family, friends, and made friends of friends and had family of friends become friends (oh my heart, the White family)! Together we’ve all made an amazing community literally around the world because of 30 days in June.

I am honoured to be connected.

Doing What You Can

A few years ago, a previous colleague and friend of mine and I were in our dresses and flip-flops in the Edmonton River Valley. We were helping a youth move his belongings out of a homeless camp. I’m sure it was quite a sight!

We carried big heavy garbage bags up a muddy slippery bank. It was a bit heartbreaking/exciting that he was moving on/ridiculous mostly based on our footwear and yet, there we were doing what we could.

That’s what this is about. Doing what you can.

I have causes and passions that I like to share about. June Dresses has given me an intentional way to stand up and speak out about more of my life and work using social media in a positive, engaged way. I’ve raised money for big projects and small, and am incredibly grateful for the connections, money raised and this movement of women empowering women.

The beauty of June Dresses is that you can take it and make it your own, however you want to fit it into your life and way of being.

Cheers to the last days of June and the ripples of June Dresses that will continue to spread throughout the year!

I’ll leave you with these words from Margaret Mead which couldn’t be truer:

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.

xoxo Alaina (@peacealaina)