It’s time for ponies to start shopping for new threads in my Equestria dreamscape. A few days after the Apple family received their invitations for the Service to the Crown parade, link several other ponies received similar letters from the Crown. All of the Mane Six along with Zecora and our household were presented with similar invitations.

Just as it was with the Apple Family these invitations included provisions for rooms during the event and a stipend for purchasing appropriate garments for not only the parade, but also the formal banquet at the palace the night before. As courtesy there was an invite for Carousel to attend as a guest of Petina and I.

Now all of the Mane Six still have their dresses from the Grand Galloping Gala, but Rarity insisted that they all get new dresses. Besides there were less than happy memories still attached to the older garments. New dresses were definitely in order proclaimed Ponyville’s leading authority in fashion, and Petina and Carousel definitely did not need any encouraging to get onboard with this idea. Besides it wasn’t like it was coming directly out our personal house account. In Petina’s mind it was putting our taxes toward a good cause!

Since Rarity was designing not only for eight mares but also two stallions from the households she wisely decided to schedule appointments for all parties over the span of several days. That way she could better manage the entire design process. Her first concern was tackling the dresses for the formal banquet. Especially when Rarity learned that we would all sitting at the head table during the banquet. Nothing but the best would do! This is the first batch she designed and made.

Fluttershy’s dress borrowed design cues from the dress she wore to the Gala but had a green and gold emphasis to it. The oak leaf pattern of yellow-green silk contrasted with the deeper leaf green satin body of the dress, and mimicked the leaves on the trees around her forest cottage. The butterfly broach and mane fancy were of a deep metallic green with swirling gold threads embroidered into them. The hoof slippers were finished in a similar fashion.

Applebloom had never attended such a formal occasion before so this was a completely new experience for the little filly. She was both thrilled and terrified of attending such an important event. Rarity decided that her dress would mirror many of the same design elements of her big sister’s dress. Her dress, stockings, and saddle were fashioned from the same shimmering pearlescent white satin. Although she decided on less embroidery and lace Applebloom’s ensemble.

Originally Rarity had wanted to exclude the little filly’s signature red bow, but upon further reflection and protests from the little filly Rarity changed her mind. However she insisted on fashioning a new bow for not only the little filly’s mane but for her tail also.

Rainbow Dash has some of the strongest opinions about what she wanted in a dress ensemble. She appreciated everything that Rarity had put in her Gala dress, but in the end she’d found it too fussy. After all Dash was an awesome rainbow-colored pony to begin with! No need to cluttered things up, besides she wanted a design that did not cover her cutie mark. After much debate they settled on a gown of shimmering Prussian blue that draped off her haunches and left Dash’s back legs bare. The back hem and neck area were trimmed with gold thread in a square Greek key pattern. Matching front stocking rounded out her outfit.


Zecora presented Rarity with both a rare challenge and opportunity. Rarity did not want to completely cover up the alchemist’s exotic stripes, and she wanted to incorporate elements of the zebra’s homeland into the design. This was further complicated by Zecora’s insistence that she obligated by her profession and culture to wear certain elements of jewelry to such an important event. After much haggling the two mares came up with a solution.

Zecora’s outfit was in many ways the simplest to construct. A triangular saddle of embossed chocolate-brown leather that was bordered with tiny brass tacks complimented a simple train of lightly pleated dun linen. Cream-colored hair lined the back edge of the saddle. The train was embellished with a heavy band of geometric designs executed in gold and black thread.

The other elements of the zebra’s ensemble came from her own homeland. Around her neck Zecora was a heavy pectoral of gold decorated triangular inlays of polished garnet. Matching bracelets would be worn on right front leg. Finishing the ensemble was a headdress composed of two large, thin discs of gold that bore her spiral cutie mark. They were suspended below the ears by a network jet, gold, and garnet beads.

Applejack’s ensemble was a dress of shimmering pearlescent white satin that ended with a long pleated train that bore three embroidered apple done in pale gold thread. The edge of the train was embroidered with an intertwined leave pattern of similar thread. A ruffled saddle of matching and stocking of embroidered satin. Rarity was able convince AJ to let her experiment with the earth pony’s mane and tail. Just like her little sister Rarity incorporated crimson red silk bows into the mare’s mane and tail. However she did so by braiding them into thick cords of shimmering gold.

One group down now for the next!

To be continued.