Create an illustration inspired by Edward Gorey's distinctive aesthetic, featuring a character wearing a voluminous, layered dress reminiscent of the one in the provided image. Use intricate cross-hatching techniques to convey depth and texture, adding fine details to the fabric’s ruffles and geometric patterns. The character should have a minimalist expression and a stoic posture, evoking a sense of otherworldly calmness. Position the character against a stark cityscape, using subtle cross-hatching to define the towering skyscrapers in the background. Ensure that the cityscape is minimalistic, emphasizing only essential architectural elements to create an eerie sense of isolation. Include symbolic motifs like a small bird perched on the character’s shoulder or a shadowy silhouette of a cat in the background, subtly hinting at themes of detachment and surrealism. The overall composition should balance the ethereal lightness of the dress with the cold, imposing structures of the urban environment, highlighting the juxtaposition between fragility and rigidity.