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Sparkly Curtain OF DEATH

Sparkly Curtain OF DEATH

Posted on January 19, 2011 by in 1990s Prom, Blame the Photographer, Say No To Canes | No Comments

Year: Late 90s

I decided to start with this photo, because, well, for a lot of reasons. First off — and this happens a whole lot — Why make the couple stand in front of a tree? It just doesn’t make sense. They didn’t go to prom in the yard. It’s also very sunny (not “romantic evening”) and probably grossly hot. Plus it’s not doing Mr. Tux-With-Cane any favors — hard to look truly dapper when you’re standing on sun-scorched grass with dandelions at your feet.

Gotta love a cane.

Do you notice that Meg is sort of hunching? She writes: “Chad (aka “Choods”) was my date for every.single.dance in high school. We started dating October of my freshman year and didn’t officially break up until I left for college. I don’t even remember why we started dating; we had absolutely nothing in common. But we had a lot of fun together…Our “official” dance pictures were the best — we always stood side by side and held hands, instead of the preferred “doggystyle” pose with the guy behind, because Chad was 5’6 and I was 5’9. You can tell I am always strategically slouching in photos with him.”

HA!

Meg also sent this photo, which makes me LOL:

What? This dance took place in the gym/cafeteria??? I TOTALLY couldn’t tell because of that amazing sparkly curtain!!! It’s absolutely TRANSFORMATIVE!

Meg looks very happy (though I notice she’s wearing flats; perhaps she is there with Choods?). The girl all the way on the left looks happy, but not quite as happy as Meg, and due to the camera angles and amazing jewelry worn by the woman in the middle, it sort of looks like the girl on the left might possibly be trying to strangle the woman in red. With the sparkly curtain as her weapon of choice.

I also must question the footwear of girl on left.

The woman in the middle looks gorgeous, but also like possibly she’s in a pageant. And a teacher. Maybe?

All That Shimmers

All That Shimmers

Posted on June 29, 2010 by in 1980s Prom, Pairing With White, Say No To Canes, Shine On! | 2 Comments

Year: 1988

We’ve actually seen Anita on Promtacular! before, when she was pictured with a dog in pink satin. And I couldn’t make this stuff up if I tried.

But here is Anita in all her prom-going glory, unhindered by a dog in formalwear.

Her dress is soooooo shiny. And green. And dark. And paired with black (velvet?) gloves. As though going to a Christmas Ball. Except she’s not going to a Christmas Ball, she’s going to prom. Which we can verify by the iridescent silver and pink balloon trellis. That’s the sort of thing only found at proms, made even prom-ier by the silver curtain behind the trellis.

So. Definitely prom. Anita is perhaps simply partial to winter colors. And fabrics. And accessories.

You know, though? If this WERE a Christmas Ball, I think Anita’s date would’ve fit right in. I mean, all that white! It’s so…white! Like um, snow! Yes. Very Jack Frost-esque. (Jack Frost would use a cane, right? For all his holiday tap-dancing routines?) (I don’t know, work with me here.)

I’m not sure where the pink in his boutonniere comes from. It matches the balloons, at least.

Not the most cohesive-looking couple. And yet they both do a heckuva job at reflecting light.

Like She Belongs In The Painting Over Her Head

Like She Belongs In The Painting Over Her Head

Posted on June 01, 2010 by in 1980s Prom, Prom or Costume?, Say No To Canes | 5 Comments

Year: 1982

Amy writes: “My cousin always brought his prom dates to my house. This is my cousin, Wayne and his prom date. I like how they have coordinated their pink ruffles. It may not come through very clear but his shirt is, in fact, pink with ruffles.”

Typically I’m opposed to canes as part of a prom ensemble, but in this case, I’m quite disappointed that there appears to be none. Wayne’s date has clearly chosen to attend prom as Little Bo Peep and I am wondering where her sheep staff* is.

No, seriously. I do not think I’m making a giant leap here. Her huge pouffy pink dress is huge and pouffy and pink. And no, okay that alone may not be cause for me to make Bo Peep claims, but have you seen her hair? That hairdo is straight out of a Mother Goose picture book.

As for Wayne and his ruffles, I kind of love them. I mean, way to commit! To pink ruffles!

Aww, at least they look happy. I just wonder if her shoes are pink…or white.





*I don’t know what a sheep staff thing is actually called. Probably not a sheep staff. Or a cane. But you get my meaning.