Story 12

Married to ‘Ann Huybens’

Was it his distinguished nod, his charisma or pure predestination? In a second, she knew it was him and always would be. James turned out to be his name. He was introduced on stage as the new president of the youth club of which she was also a member. It was as if she recognised him without ever having seen him. A strange feeling that threw her sober self off balance. After the meeting, they were briefly introduced to each other, plain and simple. It was just before the summer holidays, all club activities halted until autumn. For weeks on end, whenever she sat alone in the car, he haunted her mind.  Until reason had repressed the feeling. She thought.

It was September, the first meeting of the working year. She had just taken her seat when a soft male voice asked “Is this seat free?” She looked up and saw to her surprise that it was him. And so they started talking, as if they had known each other for a long time. Weeks later, they met again by chance, at an event by the sea. He never left her side for the entire day. When he knelt down three years later, she said a resounding ”yes”.

The date of the party was pinned: 12 March. Time to choose a wedding dress. A pompous, traditional princess dress was anything but an option. As a budding fashion journalist, she discovered the work of a young designer, Ann Huybens. Her quirky creations and her shows that were more like an artistic performance appealed to the bride-to-be. So did the way Ann Huybens worked: in addition to her permanent collection, she created unique dresses in dialogue with the customer. The young journalist found it fascinating to follow the entire process of a modern haute couture dress and have a say. As a winter bride and cold weather sufferer, she wanted a high-necked dress with long sleeves, Victorian and at the same time sensual-close. A style Ann Huybens had never brought, but which intrigued her. As for the rest, the designer was given carte blanche.  Ann started drawing. The first sketches were an instant hit. The bride-to-be and the designer chose the fabrics together: a beautiful taffeta combined with cotton lace for the sleeves and muslin silk for the train that came from underneath the dress like a babbling river. The stole was also in muslin silk. The closure at the back was with fine, handmade silk buttons. At the front, just where the heart was, there was also a row of buttons. Ann gave symbolic meaning to each detail. For instance, the muslin stole was also meant to be draped over the future children’s cot, a lovely thought.

The morning of the wedding Ann Huybens came to tie the bride’s stole perfectly. Never married herself, she hoped that one day, at 70, her boyfriend would ask her. It was not to be. After a far too short career with her own boutique in Ghent and Paris, she has had to kiss her collection and her high-profile shows in Paris goodbye due to a brain tumour. For years, she fought it. She remained creative within her limitation. For instance, she made ceramic pearls that she strung together like a string of tears. She also published her diaries. Unfiltered and often raw, but with the same sense of detail as before.