Love is the first virtue in the list.  I chose it simply because I thought it would be easy to represent.  Its not necessarily the easiest word to find a definition of exactly what a virtue of love composes.   Since most virtues deal with interpersonal relationships, we can eliminate a direct relationship to sexual love even though it might in the end be hinted at.

Since I was using passages from the Bible, I used it to define itself in addition to other resources.  While doing my word study of the book, I saw the following passage that shaped my whole idea for the dress.

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

Love covers mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Six complete layers to express this total idea.

Those layers are all exposed in the kicky pleat and the neckline since there are 6 necklines each with a different shape.  Also each layer was dyed in a manner in show a heart, the universal symbol of love, right over the heart the supposed source of love.

We also feel love based on simple touch.  It gives us those warm fuzzies just by the simple act of being hugged when things are blue, happy, anxious, grieving, surprising, caring, and painful, especially by someone we love dearly or are friends.  Too express this idea, I ruched the back of the dress to give the impression of being hugged by that person you most desire receiving that feeling of love from.

The tissue weight silk has a light and graceful feeling.  Just slipping into LOVE makes me feel sexy and beautiful.  It also expresses each of the other virtues of the fruits.  Can you see joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control?