Promtacular!

With Shoes To Match

Posted on March 10, 2010 by promtacular! in 1990s Prom, SEQUINS! | 13 Comments

Year: 1997

Laughing? Crying? Dancing? Perhaps yelling, “IIIIIIIIIIII’MMMMM WEEAAARRRRRINGGGG SEEEEQQUIIIIIINS!!!!!”

It matters not. This is an immediate inductee into the Promtacular! Hall of Fame.

And Here I thought Amanda’s dress would never be rivaled.

Sit, Arky, Sit. Good Dog.

Posted on March 03, 2010 by promtacular! in 1980s Prom, Going to the Chapel(?), Pairing With White, Pets, SEQUINS! | 2 Comments

Year: 1989

Aww. This photo comes to Promtacular! via Tiffini on Flickr and features her, her date Andrew, and Arky.

I love Arky. A lot. A lot a lot. From the looks of him, Arky is older than both prom-goers (put together?) and yet is the only one who seems excited about it. Look at him! He is poised and ready to go! I’ll stare right into the flash for you if we can just go! Let’s go! Let’s GO TO PROM! Or a TREAT! I’ll also take a treat! WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?

As opposed to Andrew, who looks like he’s had quite enough of this picture-taking nonsense, and Tiffini, who appears to be pointing at Arky as if to say, “Don’t you DARE fall on my shoe.”

I’m clearly no artist, but I do appreciate the fact that Tiffini’s pointed hand falls in the exact same shape as the points at the end of her dress. Her dress which is AMAZING. It’s got lace. I’m guessing there is some sort of patterned-sequin-ribbon bodice cacophony going on. And that’s not including the circular sequin? rhinestone? circle chestal centerpiece. Plus with v-neck, pouf sleeves, wispy-pointed-Shakespearian-ballerina-fairy skirt complete with lace overlay. Comparatively, Tiffini’s hairpiece is pretty minimalist. But what she’s lacking in hair accouterments, she makes up for in earrings. Oh, that we could see them up close.

I remember when white pantyhose were stylish. That doesn’t mean I can explain it.

Completing this adventure in promtacularity is the home. Which is lovely, but woefully unprepared for the 90s. I’m not sure what’s most fantastic: the color of the walls, the track lighting showing off the color of the walls, or the record collection on display in the bottom left.

That album you see behind Andrew’s knee? That’s BARRY GIBB AND BARBRA STREISAND. (Do not ask me how I know this.)

Click “Read More” for enlarged. You’ll be glad you did.

Do The Bustle!

Posted on March 01, 2010 by promtacular! in 1980s Prom, Backdrop FAIL, Blame the Photographer, Oh Bows, SEQUINS! | 7 Comments

Year: 1989

Sarah writes: My mother made [this dress]. I wanted a bustle. (Who knows why!) And the big hair bow matched the bustle. I was a vision in black.

There’s no question that the dress is beautiful and well made, and perfect for such a stunning girl. But my, that is a lot of detail. You begin with what I believe is lace and quite possibly sequins (something is reflecting the light, anyway). And then you add the bows.

Oh, the bows. The bows on her gloves are fantastic* [see note below]. They are prominent and yet do not eclipse the giant bow in her hair. Which is also prominent and yet does not eclipse the bow-like bustle. Which is amazing. AH.MA.ZING.

My question: how do you sit with that bustle? Do you? Do you just stand? (I mean, at least you don’t have to worry about a photographer snapping a picture of your sitting self.) But if you just stand, does that mean you walked to prom?

Clearly I need a lesson in bustle.

And is it me, or is her hair somehow complementary to the bustle? I don’t understand how that’s possible, yet I think it’s true.

Lastly, I would like to point out the backdrop. I don’t know if this was at the school or at Sarah’s house, but I love the idea that the photographer may have believed it would look like Sarah was in a garden. Despite that she is taller than the image and it’s got visible hinges.

EDITED: Thank you to observant commenter, Jackie, who writes: …are we sure those are bows on her gloves, because they appear on further inspection to be…ROSES which would make for a trifecta of awesome: bustle, bows AND roses! A trifecta of awesome, INDEED.