Xanadu

As most of my long-time readers know, I go to 80s Prom at McMenamin's Kennedy School every year.  I usually talk more about it in the weeks leading up to it, but was I busy trying to figure out how Polyvore works (I've almost got it) and it kind of snuck up on me this year so I didn't mention it.  But, it was last Friday, and it was fabulous.

Those of you who saw sneak peeks of my look on Instagram may have already guessed, but this year's theme (in my head) was Xanadu:

Yep.  Nailed it.

As usual, I went with my partner-in-crime, Alex.  Her theme was polka dots:

She too nailed it.

Also per usual, we practiced our best Billy Idol sneers:

What's that?  You think we nailed it?  Thank you, I do too.


And that was basically my weekend.  It was wonderful.


I hope you all had a fabulous weekend as well.  And a Happy Monday!

Gracey

Gracey and Friends Go to Prom

Last night I went to 80s prom at the McMennamin’s Kennedy School.  It was epic.  The band, RadicalRevolution, was fantastic.  They played everything from Bon Jovi to Journey to Def Leopard to Joan Jett.  I danced until I was sweaty and then just kept on dancing.

We’ll get to my oh-so-very-pretty prom pictures in a minute.  But, first, I want to share some pictures from the amazing and awesome bloggers that responded to my call for prom pictures of their own.

Are you ready?  Okay then, here we go.

Vivienne of Thrifted Shift

We’re going to start with the fabulous Vivienne of Thrifted Shift who was awesome enough to give me the idea for this post.  This photo is of the lovely Vivienne and her lovely date who, 10 years later, became her lovely husband.  Here they are at pre-prom dinner which is the same restaurant where they had their wedding reception:

Yes, that is the sweetest thing you’ve ever heard.

Taylor of It’s My Cardi

The year was 1998.  The date was then-boyfriend Andy.  The dress was a “lovely iridescent shimmery spaghetti strap sheath purchased from the Leggett Outlet Center.”  No, you can’t get your own; they are, sadly, no longer in the business of selling such gems.  The unseen shoes are glittery (!) pewter sandals from Nine West.  And the hairstyle was a neck-ache-inducing up-do that Marie Antoinette would have approved of. 

Please to enjoy:

Mia of Reading in Skirts

The year was 2006.  The date was her brother’s best friend, Andrew.  The dress is a simple affair from City Triangle’s via Macy’s because for whatever reason, Mia didn’t want to look like a parade float.  (Don’t worry, there is plenty of parade float coming later on).  Mia was kind enough to grace us with not one, but two prom photos:

"...me and Andrew smiling awkwardly for the camera before we all left in the limo."

"...getting home at 2am, taking a picture in our horribly be-butterflied bathroom for my online friends."

Grace from What If No One’s Watching

The year was 1996 and Grace set out to prove that the 90s were just as sartorially awesome as the 80s.  To wit?  A “Blossom” hat and butterfly cleavage stickers.  Yes, it’s all kinds of good:

Ally from Shybiker

Ally didn’t go to prom in high school because she couldn’t go as she wanted.  However, now she can wear what she wants and she wanted to wear a flirty little strapless number.  The dress, which has glittery (!) blue flowers and a blue satin sash, is paired perfectly with a complimentary blue scarf, patent heels and major bling.  Me-ow:

Lynn W. of Frivolity of 40

Lynn was fabulous enough to also send two prom pictures.  For the first, the year was 1988 and Lynn rocked a bee-yoo-ti-ful blue floor length number with a velvet bodice, that she actually modeled in a prom fashion show:

In her 1989 look, Lynn takes dedication to 80s style to a whole other level.  The dress, handmade by her mother, is pink satin.  And the hair.  The hair was not permed; no, Lynn spent hours hand-curling her coif with a teeny, tiny curling iron.  Again, that’s dedication, folks:

Terri of Rags Against the Machine

The year was 1971 and we have another lovely handmade dress.  Terri’s was lavender Swiss dot and was complimented quite nicely by her date’s snazzy white blazer:

Molly of More Charming in Person

The year was 1995 and we have Molly and Dan attending prom in “Cache” and “Rented” respectively.  I personally have taken a magpie-level liking to Molly’s sequined dress and covet her satin shoes:

Last, but hopefully not least, are my photos from last night’s prom.

The year (in our heads) was 1985.  My date was Alex.  I wore a black and blue velvet and taffeta number.  Alex wore what is quite possibly the ugliest hand-painted, acid-washed jean jacket/dress ever.  We both wore a LOT of make-up and giant hair bows.  We were sooooo pretty last night, y'all:

Alex and I

 

We were joined at prom by some friends and family:

My little brother, J, and his wife.

My little sister and her boyfriend.

My little sister and brother and my brother's dead-squirrel mullet wig.

Seriously, I can't tell you all how much fun 80s Prom is.  If you ever get a chance to go, either here in Portland, or in your city, I suggest you do it.  It's brilliant and you can wear giant hair bows without anybody looking at you funny.

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend!  And a special thanks to everyone who shared there prom pictures with me!


Gracey

 

Will You Go To Prom With Me?

As you all know, because I won't shut up about it, I am going to 80s Prom at McMennamin's Kennedy School again this year.

Here is our group photo from last year:

Yes, we're very pretty.  I promise to share more photos from this year, but I want to see your photos from your proms too.  And I want to post them on my blog.

So, if you want (and I hope you do), please email me your original prom photos, your recent 80s prom photos if you've attended one, or you in your old prom dress if you still have it and can still fit in it (keeping in mind that no one likes a showoff).  Email your photos to fashionforgiants @ gmail (dot) com and give me a little background.  Your name (if you want), your date's name, the year, who you're wearing, etc.  And, if you're a blogger, provide your link so I can link back to you.

Prom is on the 11th (next Friday), so if you can all get your photos to me by the 10th, I'll post yours and mine on the 12th.  When I wake up from partying all night.

Let me know if you have any questions!  And I hope you'll say yes!

Gracey

Happy May Day

First, the good news.  My friend Kendra, is having a May Day Sale at her Etsy shop, House of Heirlooms.  You can get 20% off by entering the code MAYDAY when you check out.  And you don’t even have to have a Paypal account; Kendra has direct checkout so you can use your credit or debit card.  She also has adorably awesome vintage stuff, so go check it out.

Now for the less good news; it’s May 1^st and I’m wearing tights.  I resisted returning to tights as long as I could, but it’s only been in the low-50s lately and that’s still a bit cold for bike riding.  However, it’s not too terrible because they’re hot pink tights:

I paired my Macys-clearance hot pink tights (Hue) with one of my several vintage day dresses (thrifted) that got taken up during the Great Hemming Spree of 2012.  I added wedge booties (Nine West “Peekaboo” via Piperlime), hot pink drop earrings.  And my vintage bracelet (Ray’s Ragtime):

I have to say, I love the cut of this dress, but I also love how very 80s the white triangles on the black background are.  Also?  Pockets:

Speaking of my love for the 80s, 80s prom is in 10 days!  I am so excited!!  I promise to share pictures of my velvet, off-the-shoulder dress, but, the lovely Thrifted Shift gave me a fabulous idea for you guys to share some prom photos too.  If you all (or just a few of you) are interested, I’d like to do a post that includes your prom pictures as well as mine.  I’ll either figure out how to do a linky-thingy or, and this is more likely, I’ll have you all send me photos and I’ll post them here. 

In summation: Visit House of Heirlooms.  Let me know if you want to share prom photos with me.  Have a happy Tuesday.

Gracey