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Enchantment Under The Hoop

Enchantment Under The Hoop

Posted on March 21, 2011 by 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?

Prom Goes Pioneer!

Prom Goes Pioneer!

Posted on February 15, 2011 by in 1990s Prom, Going to the Chapel(?), Lace Disgrace | 3 Comments

Year: 1990

Bejewell writes: “My boyfriend dumped me three weeks before prom, so I asked an older (22!!!) friend to go with me. I vividly remember shopping with him to find the perfect military-styled jacket. We found it at Merry-Go-Round at the mall.

My dress was borrowed from my mom and I thought it was the prettiest thing I’d ever seen. It was a cream-colored lace overlay with slip. I had the shoes dyed to match. Seriously.

Hairstyle brought to you by bendy hot rollers and Finesse.”

But WHY a military-styled jacket? I guess that jacket cut WAS popular at the time (think MC Hammer), but if you’re going to go for it, why not go allll the way and get a giant flat-top (Vanilla Ice) to go with it? Because THAT would have been awesome.

I totally understand why one would find this dress pretty — it is. But mostly in a Laura Ingalls Getting Married kind of way. Those are totally Nelly Olson curls.

Hmm. Or maybe I’m just thinking about Laura Ingalls because of the BUTTER CHURN in the living room next to the television. Just like how the pioneers watched tv!

I mostly love how not only were Bejewell’s shoes dyed to match the cream-colored dress, it sort of looks like the fake wood paneling was, too.

Twofer Tuesday: 80s Homecoming & Prom – Improving With Age

Twofer Tuesday: 80s Homecoming & Prom – Improving With Age

Posted on January 18, 2011 by in 1980s Prom, Aquanet!, Feathering As A Lifestyle Choice, Lace Disgrace, perms, Shared Hair | No Comments

Year: 1984

I just want to hug these teenagers and tell them, “Aww. It’s not YOUR fault it’s 1984.” But it does, really, look like the chess club went to Homecoming together. Bad pants, bad glasses (OH, THE GLASSES) and EVERYONE has the same hairstyle, with slight variations in part location and length.

Isn’t the brick wall cozy?

Anyway, the thing is, yes: if they were still wearing these outfits a few years later, they would be unquestionably unfashionable. But as young’uns in 1984? These looks are entirely appropriate. Bad ties and Mormon-esque, Holly-Hobby-slash-tablecloth dresses included. I KNOW.

But then our brave subject (the man all the way on the right, above) went to prom in 1986. Behold:

Now, on its own you might be blown away by the 80s of it all. But compared to the 1984 picture? This is a breath of fresh, hairsprayed air.

No more Holly Hobby! (Well, the sweet young thing on the left is still maybe clinging to lace tablecloth-inspired getups…) Only two of the attendees are parting their hair in the middle, and feathering has been replaced by perms and product. Well done!

Sure, the girl in the middle looks totally uncomfortable having her shoulders exposed, and the guy on the far left looks so nervous that he might puke, but this doesn’t detract from the improvements over the homecoming shot. Not one bit.