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Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes!

Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes!

Posted on March 28, 2011 by in 1990s Prom, Aquanet!, Backdrop FAIL, Blame the Photographer, Group Prom Pictures, Lace Disgrace, Oh Bows, perms, Shared Hair | No Comments

Year: 1992

Christy writes: Junior prom. My boyfriend broke up with me the day before. I bought my own corsage and convinced my girlfriends to take this picture with me. I’m the one on the right. Showing you my shoe.

This is one of those photos that I love more and more with each passing glance. It’s just — “just” — four girls at prom. And yet?

Why is no one smiling? I mean, the second from the left is thinking about smiling, but doesn’t quite get there. I have the distinct feeling this was established to be a “serious” sort of photo shoot for some reason I can’t fathom but that would have made sense when I was 17.

Apparently 1992 had something against straight hemlines. And straight hair, for that matter. I mean, no, none of these adorable girls have official perms (that would be too 80s), but they are all certainly flirting with the perm. They are PERM FLIRTS.

The girl in black looks like she wants to smack the photographer just a little bit.

There’s just a deceptively copious amount of satin and tulle and sequin and lace and bows and ruffles and Promtacular glory. If I do say so.

Mostly I wonder if the girls — or the photographer — decided to go the “show us your toe” route in the hopes of distracting us from the carpet that defies explanation. I have nothing against the pattern for a QUILT. In a log cabin. In Maine. In February. Or even for a nice golf pant? Maybe?

But for a magical prom night? There aren’t enough mylar star balloons or satin shoes in the world to make it right.

Satin Accident

Satin Accident

Posted on March 14, 2011 by in 1980s Prom, Blame the Photographer, Mullets, Oh Bows, perms, Shine On!, Uninvited Guests | 1 Comment

Year: unknown, timeless

Suzette didn’t offer much in the way of commentary (although she did make a helpful suggestion about how to improve the speed of this site), and I can’t help but wonder if that’s because so little need be said?

They’re so happy and smiley and…shiny. And slippery. Can you imagine if these two tried to hug? They’d slip right off each other and onto the ground and then everyone would be talking about that one graduation with the unfortunate satin accident.

I don’t know which I prefer more: Suzette’s bow or Suzette’s smile. Together, they are magic. MAGIC.

You can tell that the young man by her side is very relieved to be out of this school. His entire expression says: This? Is dumb.

Probably the best part of the photo, though, is that it captured those two women on the right. They BOTH have frosted, permed hair fashioned into high-headed mullet do’s. Which is AMAZING on its own, but that matching denim outfit with pegged jeans and giant white socks takes us into a new dimension of awesome. Add the woman trying to get something unstuck from her teeth and you have one downright Promtacular photo right there.

Here Is A Picture Of Our Picture. And Also 6 People.

Here Is A Picture Of Our Picture. And Also 6 People.

Posted on March 09, 2011 by in 2000s Prom, Blame the Photographer, Group Prom Pictures, Homemade Goodness, Oh Bows | 2 Comments

Year: 2002

Gillian has a lot to say — fascinating Texas traditions! — about this photo. But before I give you her words, I just want to point out how much I love the angle of this picture. The parent (it had to be a parent) was standing in such a way as to make the pastel flower print (purchased in the 80s?) the focal point. Somehow, the six students in the photo holding what look like horse-race-winning-ribbon bouquets are secondary. And also maybe 4 feet all. YAY, PARENT!

But Gillian writes: “After looking through your wonderfully entertaining site, I noticed a dearth of the spectacular tackiness that is Homecoming in Texas. Instead of normal corsages, dates exchange “mums” and “garters” they make (or often in the guy’s case buy) from fake flowers, ribbons in school colors, cowbells, and just as much crap that you can hang on there with Christmas ribbons to make it as ostentatious as possible.

Ours here, if you can believe it, are really very tasteful. I like to think that’s because I made 1/2 of the mums/garters in the group (Manzur’s garter, his date Julie’s mum, and my date’s garter). If you don’t believe that these are leaning towards the tasteful side – I present a picture of a mum I made for my younger brother’s date this year that leaned towards the norm of mums at my school, glittery disco ball included.

Overall I think we cleaned up pretty well, though Manzur’s got some sort of Zorro thing going on and we’re dismally (and unplannedly) monochromatic. The fact that we were all going as friends more than on awkward dates helps. Also the mums really do help to hide awkward posture since you have to hold them up (as they weigh around 5 pounds, pinning them to a formal dress would really just ask for a bunch of ripped polyester satin or lace).

My only regret looking back at this is that my dress (borrowed from Vanessa) is obviously too long for me, as she is about 3 inches taller than me and I was probably only wearing 1-inch heels.”