prior to this absurd hiatus i had been keeping a list of blog subjects to come, which has since then been lost in the abyss that is the ever-present pile of papers on/under my desk. if i were a 29-year-old journalist/novel-writer, this would be acceptable. but i'm not, so it's not.

prom is strange. even though "pomp & circumstance" characterizes graduation, it should probably play at all pre-prom affairs first. this isn't about to become a "ten things i hate about you" angsty teen reprise, though. i love any excuse to dress up AND any excuse to dance to britney spears, so i'm not sure why anyone wouldn't like the idea of a fancy party like prom. however, i really dislike the corsage-boutonniere tradition. my ensemble was carefully - albeit quickly - assembled, as was every girl's. however, i don't know a single girl who, in her mind, reserved a space on her wrist for a corsage. it's not part of the equation frequently enough - or ever - for a girl to consider it when making choices about accessories. i'm also unaware of any other time or place a corsage is appropriate. boutonnieres are less irregular. and cuter. i think we should do away with this tradition. lying at the foundation of the corsage/boutonniere tradition is the victorian custom of carrying "nosegays," which are small bunches of flowers. even earlier, ladies wore small bouquets in their hair to keep from smelling foul because they bathed so irregularly. in the 1800s, nosegays - synonymous with the victorian term "tussie-mussie" - became popular fashion accessories & were frequently given as gifts, the flowers of which they were comprised indicative of the giver's feelings towards the receiver. seeing as the corsage has been pummeled into american culture & the flowers used no longer represent love, as they are purchased based on colour, we ought to accept its retirement. we have perfume & costume jewelry to enhance our attractiveness & encourage fanciness. i would prefer a prom nosegay. they'd stay alive longer! men used to wear boutonnieres almost daily just to indicate their wealth & respectable stature, which is why i don't think boutonnieres deserve expulsion just yet. perhaps we need more boutonnieres in the world now.

i wore antique beaded lace. my friends & i had many a debate about long vs. short prom dresses months prior to shopping this year. i understand my mother's argument that there are very few times a girl can wear a floor-length gown. i just don't think an organized dance party at the end of june is the right time to seize the moment. i was pleased to be in a short dress, although i can't say i saved myself any sweating because i wore a long-sleeved jacket. i empathized with all of the tux'ed boys even though i had no pants to worry about. (do i ever?) a word of advice, though- the sweating at preprom was worth the warmth in the cool evening air/on the air conditioned bus.


if i discussed all of my beautiful lady friends' ensembles, this post would grow to be longer than that alice post from a few months ago. in lieu of that, i have posted some lovely pictures for your admiring pleasure.




note: kieran's excellently coordinated pocket square
aaaaaand this officially marks the end of high-school-related blog posts. i was considering discussing graduation, but because i am so through with john jay, i am declaring culmination. SEE YUH

I mean...I don't want to brag...but I so picked out that pocket square!!
ReplyDeleteGreat blog though, so glad you're back!