Promtacular!

Enchantment Under The Hoop

Posted on March 21, 2011 by promtacular! in 1970s prom, Aquanet!, Feathering As A Lifestyle Choice, Group Prom Pictures, Homemade Goodness, On The Plantation | 7 Comments

Year: 1974

Just the other day I was thinking, “I wish I had more prom photos from the 70s.” And then I discovered I had this picture, which is like 40 photos from the 70s all rolled into one, glorious group shot in a gym with no magical backdrop whatsoever. But WHO NEEDS IT? There is so much 70s farm-girl/checkered blazer action going on, a “backdrop” would only spoil the majesty.

Lan writes: “Here is my mom’s grad class. She is the flaming redhead in the bottom corner. Love her prairie brown dress.”

Which is awesome because she totally stands out. Her tablecloth is only rivaled by the one standing behind her, and there is no equal for her amazing hair. (Although props to the SUNHAT girl for trying.)

It’s hard, but if I had to pick three of the most amazing parts of this photo, they’d be as follows (barring the basketball hoop, of course):
5. Cinderella dress and hair, which seems totally unlike everyone else – first row, 4th from left
4. The girl who looks like a teacher – first row, 2nd from left
3. Dueling tablecloth dresses, as noted – bottom right
2. Sunhat, in the gym, as noted – middle
1. AMAZEBALLS SIDEBURNS DUDE OMFG! – 2nd from top row, 4th from left

What’s yours?

Shiny, Happy People

Posted on March 10, 2011 by promtacular! in 2000s Prom, Group Prom Pictures, SEQUINS!, Shine On! | 2 Comments

They can’t all be complete trainwrecks, you know.

Year: 2007

Tali writes: There were ten of us in our big Prom group that year. Seven of us were female and somehow, four of us managed to be wearing blue. I’m not exactly sure how, but we did. I’m the one in the middle and was rather proud of the fact that there was not a single square inch of that dress that did not have half a dozen beads and/or sequins on it.

Fresh-faced, smiling, pretty, and sparkly. I DON’T HAVE A LOT TO WORK WITH HERE. Okay. Yes. The sparkles are…everywhere. And it’s amusing that these three accidentally chose to wear pretty much the exact same shade of blue. But what else? Maybe their footwear was horrible? Maybe their dates all had laughable, Bieberesque hair? It’s kind of funny that this photo op was in front of a hallway door, sort of?

I would like to see the “after” shot, when everyone’s makeup is droopy and Tali has left a trail of sequin dust everywhere. Otherwise? I got nothin’. Which is nice for a change.

The Rainbow Connection

Posted on July 20, 2010 by promtacular! in 1990s Prom, perms, Tacky Backdrops | 1 Comment

Year: Your Guess Is As Good As Mine. Let’s Say 1991.

As I’ve pointed out before, the early 90s was a confused year for hair. Women were gently, slowly moving out of the Decade Of Perms, but not without a good fight. This girl here is Exhibit A in the “But I LIKE Perms” Department of Pre-1995. Her perm is not totally in your face, it’s not 17 miles high off her head, there are no corresponding bangs jutting out into purple-scented Aussie-spritzed waterfalls. The permed beast has been tamed.

Meanwhile our gentleman friend here has the same haircut my boyfriend had. Parted in the middle; longish all around, practically with bangs; but with shaved sides. Because why? Because the “Party in the Back” mullet stylings had become so gauche, I guess, that men decided to kill the party altogether. The only thing to do was to shave the party off. (I can’t explain the middle part/bang situation. Blame “Friends.”)

The thing I like best about this photo, perhaps OBVIOUSLY, is that it is clear this couple dressed to complement the wallpaper. Which is a thing of beauty. Notice how the swirly flower bits of her dress are echoed in the faux gold leafing of the wallpaper! Notice how his rainbow vest picks up the teal and peach in the flowers of the wallpaper border! And that one white-pink bud creeping up from behind the guy’s left shoulder? Is that not the same flower that’s on his date’s wrist?

I do believe it is.