Feeling nostalgic about dressing up.

Remember when prom dresses used to be fun and age-appropriate? This season of dresses is once again, way too sexy for 16-year-olds. Call me prudish at my ripe age of 32, but what is the advantage of looking like a hooker?

Supposedly whoring yourself out to be able to pay $400 for homecoming dresses.

Dresses today appear to be too much for a high school girl. Most seem to be more appropriate for black tie charity events or a greater age or even beauty pageants. Nothing screams, “It’s only high school! You have forever to be OLD!”

I wore a teal blue number to my junior homecoming. It was SHORT. Like, can’t-believe-the-school-let-me-enter short. I guess when a girl is short herself (and super-tiny), there are certain rules that can be broken. It’s not like I broke any other rules. *snerk* That said, it covered my butt and did not show off any cutouts of abdomen skin. And at least I wore nylons.

In high school, there were better things for which to ask my parents for money — a sexy dress was not a priority. I mean, I was lucky if I got a $100 budget for my DREAM senior prom dress from my Nana. You know, the red satin one with the open back that THREE OTHER GIRLS were wearing that very night. (One of whom HSS cheated with… or broke up with me for. Whatevs). *sigh*

My step-aunt made my junior prom dress for me from my vision of a magazine tear-out — another long slinky number (this one in black) — and it looked almost exact. It also went well with my WEAVE. You know, those hair clips with the long, curly hair attached. Yes. FOR PROM. Granted, I went to an inner-city school, so weaves weren’t all that uncommon, but today, the thought makes me cringe.

That same aunt took in a friend’s dress for another prom night for me — from like a size 16 to a size 2. I don’t know how the hell she did it. But it fit well. Except for the top, of course because we all know I didn’t grow breasts until age 30. Although I can’t remember whose dance that was.

HSS’s school also had a winter formal, and I wore some conservative black/white dress. I imagine I borrowed that as well because I don’t remember what happened to it.

That said, homecoming gowns are apparently in fashion — the designs that were typically saved for the Big Night of Prom. I remember homecoming dresses were short and cute, and long dresses were for prom. Again, this is going over 15 years ago, so I imagine trends (and apparently, sexuality) change.

Now I have to find more old pictures.

What were some of your favorite (or horrifying) dress choices for your high school formal dances?

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