Dressed up all Dressy, in a Dress

"4th grade school picture. Hmmm. Nice Hair. Nice dress. Mother, what were you thinking?" (via)

Straight hair sure can be a curse.
parts don't lie flat and can look worse,
when paired with polyester dress,
Oh My Goodness-what a mess.

I wore a dress like this one day,
For a Bar Mitzvah,
Oh, Oy Vey!

Ruffled neck, clown suit I think,
and in a lovely shade of pink.
Satin ribbon at the edge,
The shoes? I wish they had a wedge.

Arms crossed in front,
Such a good girl,
and in the 80s-I bet a curl.

Perms back then were all the rage,
if you and I are the same age.
My friends all made that mistake too,
but none for me-except a tattoo.

That was later,
enough said,
But there were better times ahead.

Planning Ahead

"The most awful posed portrait ever. Sorry, Mom, Dad, but I have always hated this portrait. And yet, I'm sharing it with the world...Let me count the reasons - the baby fat, the bad hair, the pink frilly dress, the orange sport coat paired with a yellow shirt, the ugly "antiquing", and the syrupy smile. Basically, it's just not me." (via)

I love this Victorian-style photo, which I can easily picture in black and white or perhaps a daugerreotype. And I think this young one is misreading the orange sport coat. This was simply a case of parents looking out for the child's future career opportunities.

Century 21 anyone?

This lovely men's jacket, for Century 21, is full polyester, for only $59! What a bargain!

The women's jacket is even more flattering, but alas, only available to Century 21 realtors and agents!

See? These parents weren't dressing their children badly--they were looking out for their future!

Me and Mr. Chips

"Me and Mr. Chips in the 1970's. I hated this outfit-my mother made me wear it!" (via)

Hide me, Mr. Chips! Let me scrunch down behind you and hide me before Mother catches me on film in this sailor suit!

Oh Mr. Chips, I'm just a poor prepubescent boy, forced to do whatever Mother wants. What if she tries to take me to the club in this outfit? I'm doomed, Mr. Chips, doomed! The fellas will never let me forget it!

Alas, Mr. Chips, can you save me?

Welcome to a Welcome to the Dollhouse moment

"Yeah. Ummm...does my aversion to pink now make sense to everyone?

Okay, seriously...it's not bad enough that I am the dorky kidd who won the school final in the French-Speaking contest and earned a trip to the provincial championships in lovely Edson, Alberta? Do you have to send me up on stage looking like A) a librarian chaperoning a junior prom, or B) an Easter pageant entry from hell?And what, my legs weren't white enough already? How hard did you have to look to find me a pair of nylons whiter than the natural albino tone I was already brandishing? Man, it's no wonder that my grade-six heart throb H*** K***, featured here to my left in some classy sneakers that must have made his mom proud, never batted an eyelash in my direction." (via)

Here's what I think of when I look at the photo on the right:

Dawn Weiner anyone?

What the hell is a Kipper Tie?

"Yeah, yeah, kipper tie!...can't believe my mum dressed me in a shirt and tie to just PLAY!....But, look closely, (I'm 4 or 5 here, back in 1972/3) at that train tunnel...upside down!!" (via)

At myparentsmademewearthis, I am all about your education. Thus--what is a Kipper Tie?

"A Kipper Tie is a type of necktie primarily fashionable in Britain in the mid 1960s to late 1970s. The primary characteristics of the kipper tie are its extreme breadth and often garish colors and patterns." (via)

How did these ever go out of fashion??

Bahamanian Bell Boy

"I'm not really sure why they decided to dress me up like a Bahamanian bellboy, but apparently this is my easter outfit, a great look for me." (via)

I am a fan of the concept here--instead of the belly shirt, the belly suit. Always cute with mint green and orthopedic socks.

And clearly, this family loved their suits--here's another.

"Me in Suit.

So with this outfit it is apparent that my parents thought I should be a CPA or some sort of banker. Wow that's a horrible haircut." (via)

Alex P. Keaton, with irregular bangs, and a god-awful fireplace, clearly the preferred backdrop for all special family photos. Was this one induction day for the Young Republican's Club?

There she is, Miss America

"See what my parents made me wear?" (via)

Girl in a corner,

No one puts baby there.

Dress to the floor,

And some crazy ass hair.

Pink and a palm frond,

just right for debut,

but I'm thinking Bat Mitzvah,

is what's happening to you.

In that chair do they carry you?

Above the crowd?

Singing hava nagila in voices quite loud?

Banquet hall memories from all of our pasts

The dress and that hairspray,

and a photo that lasts.