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.

Happy Birthday USA, circa 1976

"The year was 1976. Our nation's bicentennial. The parents at Center School in Mattapoisett Massachusetts thought it'd be neat to dress their children up as if it were 1776. That's me, front left, in blue. My mum made that dress for me; it was a little too long and I remember tripping over the hem and falling off the bus at our field trip to the little antique schoolhouse, where we spent the day in cramped little wooden desks, writing on slates." (via)


Our fans are the greatest,
It's really quite clearly,
and this photo I really,
love oh so dearly.

Bicentennial fun,
at least for the teachers,
dressing kids up as colonial creatures.

I also went Bicentennial too
(showing my age,No-I'm not scared to do.)
My school photos, however, were not as much fun,
I only wish they'd been this overdone.

With schooling to match-
chalk boards and a schoolhouse,
All of you dressed up,
as cute as a mouse.

Thank you for sharing, our fun little friend.
For post of the year, you will surely contend.

Holy Mullet!

"What was my mom thinking!!!" (via)

Shaggy bits of hair
touch your collar in the back
Hockey hair is nice.

I like the stripey
sweater, gold and blue and red
matches spiky hair.

Mom wanted her boy
to look so nice for pictures,
for laughter later.

Yee Haw, Y'all

"Cowboy up ya'll...This is around 4th or 5th grade 1980 or 1981.

The school had a western theme for photos, and everyone had to have this set, complete with the hat and thing around the neck. My mom got wind of this and behold the shirt. Unbelievable." (via)

You Ride 'Em Cowboy

Casio watch on your arm

Digital is Cool

Where were you in school?

Either South in Bush country

Or on Broadway, Star!

Rodeo clothing

I love your neckerchief, boy

Feather in your cap.

Then and Now

"So there I am, and there i was in 1975. A styling young filipino kid with freakin blonde hair. At some point, my hair went from black to blonde! But more disturbing than being a half asian kid with blonde hair is the corduroy outfit my parents dressed me in for this portrait. I mean, really...Plaid collars, cuffs, and pants? Plaid? Really?" (via)

But oh yeah--he has more to share.

"Horrified. That is my reaction to seeing this picture again, after all these years. Horrified.

There I was in 1981, still a good lookin' kid, ...And on picture day, this is how they dressed me. Blue V-neck sweater vest and that shirt. Oh GOD that shirt!" (via)

In my sphincter, I can feel the sound of that old timey photo album paper, lifting noisily from the stick 'em pages of cherished family memories. Crinkle. Crinkle. Crinkle.

Dear Diary-I hate Mom's hair salon!

"2nd grade.

My mom made me this dress, and gave me this perm." (via)

"3rd grade.

I was so pissed at my mom for making me get this short haircut." (via)

Click to Listen

Dear Diary,

OMG-I HATE HER! I can't believe Mom made me get my hair cut so short. I had my school picture outfit all planned. That cute pink vest that Stephanie has too, and those jeans with zippers at the ankles that kind of look like they're Guess jeans, if you don't look at the back pocket too much. I was going to wear the barrettes I made with the braided ribbon that hangs down and has beads at the end.

And Mom RUINED it, like she ruins everything, because she made me get my hair cut like a boy. Also, she specially told Mrs. Ricca that I had to wear my glasses for my school picture. She wouldn't let me get those glasses tinted, even though I told her that Janine Trufilio has hers tinted. AND she wouldn't let me get Ray Ban sunglasses which I totally needed.

Last year for school pictures, she made me wear that ugly dress she sewed, and when I was on the swings at recess, Jeremy Caruthers said he could see my underwear because the stupid fabric was so thin. (At least they were my good underwear that say the days of the week on the back.) The only thing I liked about that dress were the little butterfly buttons. And she gave me that stupid perm. It's like she wants me to be ugly!

Tomorrow, I am wearing whatever I want--and I am so taking my glasses off for recess. Ok, Gotta Go! Have to call Stef and of course, SHE won't let me have a phone in my room!

Luv ya!

Me

Paint Splatter Background? Yowza!

This photo is small, but packs a punch.

"my mom made me wear this dress." (via)

I am struck by the delicate juxtaposition of the 80s modern paint splatter background (what kind of progressive freaky school did she go to?) and her formal dress-is it really a nightgown-type outfit.

Combine that with the gray carpeting she is leaning on, the lovely pose the photographer insisted on, and the hint of braces and you've got a made-me-wear-this spectacular!

I bet Bandana girl would be jealous of this set of clip-on earrings!

A NOTE: I will be leaving on holiday in about, well, about 4 hours. (Why do I always choose the early flights?) No posts for a week since I will be without e-mail, phone, fax, computer, television, DS, PS2, Computer gaming systems of any sort, Think Pad, I-Phone, or any other form of media outlet. (Can you imagine?)

I know you will all be sad without me, but chin up, I'll be back in action with some amazing items in just a week or so. In the meantime, send your own my parents made me wear this outfits to: myparentsmademewearthis @ gmail.com

And have a terrific week!

An Ode To Bandana Girl

"me, 3rd grade. my mom made me wear this land's end dress i hated, so i sabotaged the picture with a side ponytail, red bandana and clip-on earrings. i don't remember cutting that chunk out of my bangs, though. her best friend loves this picture so much, she still has it framed in her living room."

Oh, Bandana Girl, you've won my heart

With your little bit of art.

Your fashion choice is so perplexing

I'm sure your mother found it vexing.

Bandana shawl, a fashion no-no.

(But you're right-the Land's End has to go-go.)

The clip-on-earrings--ouch, those hurt.

That side ponytail--what a flirt!

Fun with scissors on those bangs.

No telling where this photo hangs!

Coy smirk that tells us where to shove it.

I look at this photo now, and man, I love it.