The Girls in Their Summer Dresses by Irwin Shaw
"The Girls in Their Summer Dresses" by Irwin Shaw is a short story that explores the complexities of a married couple's relationship through a walk in Manhattan. The narrative centers on Michael and Frances Loomis, who are enjoying a Sunday morning but soon find their day marred by tension. Frances observes Michael's habit of looking at other women, which prompts her to confront her feelings of insecurity and frustration. As they stroll down Fifth Avenue, what begins as light-hearted banter quickly spirals into a deeper discussion about fidelity and attraction. The couple navigates their contrasting perspectives: Michael's enjoyment of casual glances at beautiful women versus Frances's emotional turmoil over his behavior. The story poignantly captures the fragility of their bond and the underlying issues that threaten their marriage. Ultimately, it illustrates how external factors, such as desire and insecurity, can complicate intimate relationships, leaving readers to reflect on the nature of love and commitment.
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The Girls in Their Summer Dresses by Irwin Shaw
First published: 1939
Type of plot: Psychological
Time of work: The 1930's
Locale: New York City
Principal Characters:
Michael Loomis , a man approaching middle ageFrances Loomis , his wife
The Story
"The Girls in their Summer Dresses" chronicles the origin and conclusion of a married couple's quarrel as they walk through lower Manhattan on a Sunday morning in November. Michael and Frances Loomis have left their apartment and are proceeding along Fifth Avenue toward Washington Square. As they are walking along the crowded thoroughfare, Frances observes that Michael has turned to look at a pretty girl and remarks good-humoredly about it. Michael, who seems unaware that she has previously noticed his habitual girl-watching, also makes light of the incident. He explains that the girl's complexion drew his attention to her, a country girl's complexion seldom seen in New York.
The conversation, sprinkled with jokes and patter, suggests that so far they have had an enjoyable weekend. Frances expresses a need for more time with Michael and urges that they call off a previously planned country outing with friends so that the two of them can spend the day in the city together. After Michael readily agrees, she begins making plans aloud for his approval, while they continue their walk. They will attend a Giants' football game, have a steak dinner at a famous restaurant, and go to a film.
As Frances is making her plans, selecting the activities that she knows her husband will enjoy, Michael's eyes stray to another attractive girl, and this time Frances is unable to conceal her frustration and dismay. She intimates that because he is so interested in the girls, he might prefer to spend the day walking along the avenue. Michael's point of view is that he takes only an occasional glance. Further, he tells Frances, there are few really attractive girls to be seen in the city. Frances dismisses this conclusion, making it clear that she considers Michael's behavior habitual and ingrained. Indeed, she can describe not only the frequency of his girl-watching but also his manner of looking and the time he spends on each. The effect of the episodes on Frances is to increase her insecurity, and, as the story progresses, she reveals deepening anxiety and resentment. She takes no comfort from his insistence that he is happily married, for she believes that he looks at every woman who passes with the kind of look he once gave her. In reality, Michael takes pride in his wife but enjoys watching other women. To Frances this seems both contradictory and threatening.
Sensing the beginning of a quarrel that will ruin their day, Michael suggests that they have a drink, even though it is not much past breakfast. Frances rejects the idea and changes the subject temporarily. When they reach Washington Square Park, they decide to walk among the people there, but soon Frances's insecure mood returns and she begins talking about Michael's annoying habit. In an effort to reassure her, he claims that his habit is harmless and that he has always been faithful, but Frances remains troubled and gloomy. After a brief time, she agrees that they should go for a drink.
At a bar on Eighth Street the couple order brandy from a Japanese waiter, having decided that brandy is the proper drink to have after breakfast. As they drink, the conversation returns to the troublesome subject, and Michael now admits that he enjoys girl-watching. After ordering a second brandy, he becomes expansive and loses all restraint. He talks of the countless beautiful girls in New York, classifying them as to places they are found, professional types, racial and national types, and girls who belong to different seasons, among them, "the girls in their summer dresses." Frances believes that he wants the women, and Michael, now no longer caring, acknowledges that he does. When she pathetically declares that she, too, is attractive, he agrees that it is true. When she suggests that he would like to be free, he hesitates and then admits that at times he would. Now weeping, she presses him further, believing that someday he will "make a move," and Michael replies, after further hesitation, that he will. Regaining some of her composure, Frances asks that he not talk to her about the attractiveness of other women and Michael acquiesces.
They call the waiter and, to his astonishment, order a third round of drinks. No longer intent on spending the day alone with her husband, Frances suggests that they telephone their friends, who will take them for a drive into the country. After Michael agrees, she walks to the telephone, and he watches her, thinking, "What a pretty girl, what nice legs."