Wednesday, October 31, 2007

"Costumes" o' the 70s

Well, I guess it's that dress up day again. Most of us will see lots of little ones today, all dressed up and ready for goodies. While I'm the first to admit that I'm not Halloween's biggest fan, I do have fond memories of costumes and the candy that came our way.

Another type of "costume" came through my e-mail this week. Originally it was from someone who came across a big ol' 1977 JC Penney's catalog, complete with the dapper, fashion-forward getups of the day. The pictures almost defied description. My sister and I were laughing through e-mail (that's possible, isn't it?) about what we used to wear back then, too. I think we can all use a chuckle, so I'm willing humble myself (sigh). In honor of "dressing up" this week, here's a fashion parade from the 70s. Ah, childish, blissful ignorance...


Although grinning, little did I know that I had just been chosen as the spokesperson for Grey Poupon-colored eskimos everywhere.






My sister's plaid coat with its jaunty collar, topped with the ample cap, speak of a quiet elegance.






Remember how thick those polyester shirts were? At night this one stood up on its own in the corner of the bedroom.




And remember wearing fairy outfits to school everyday? ...What--that was just me? Okay, you got me. This was a favorite dress-up outfit,
complete with floppy fairy wings in the back. This one shows my shock that I was actually allowed in the picture by the cool big girls, what with the gauchos, Shaun Cassidy album, Laura Ingalls outfit, and all. Ask me another time about why I have a boy's haircut. (sniff)







I saved the best for last...David and his twin brother, Daniel. What confidence. What haberdashery. I'm sure they were quite the pair with the ladies of their kindergarten class.

When seeing this do any outfits of yours from this decade come marching out of the fashion tombs you've locked them in? Do tell. If y'all like this, we may just have to do an 80s flashback sometime.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Since I know everyone will be asking, I'm the good looking one in that picture, and Dan's the other one.

Anonymous said...

And before anyone else comments, I am talking about that last picture. So, no, it is not me in the fairy wings; I am only in one picture. Now, daniel on the other hand......

Anonymous said...

OK -- let's see if you know which one of the twins you really are?

Anonymous said...

Of course I know which one I am! I read the blog post, asked Alison, and she told me. (true story)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the memories.

Hmmm...Just why is it that you have a boy's haircut?

Anonymous said...

^^Yeah, Alison...care to tell us why? That hints at quite a story...

And just for the record...I think David is the one on our left...but I really don't know for sure.

I must say, that I truly enjoy your blog. Your way of describing things just cracks me up. "Jaunty" is one of my favorite words...ever. LOL :D

Christi said...

Another LOL post...Love it Alison!!! I couldn't tell which twin was which either. smiles...

Anonymous said...

Come on people - it's easy. I am the one on the...

Sorry. My computer locked up. And Dave is the one on the...

(darn computer!)

Alison Bryant said...

Okay, let's settle this once and for all. David is the third from the right and fourth from the left.

And here's what possibly happened to my hair. It could be that when I was about four-ish I had long hair. One day I saw my mom cutting my sister's hair in the living room. I wanted to do that, too, so I went in another room and cut my own hair, except I couldn't reach one section in the very back. Even though I was proud of my creation, it was a pretty messy chop job-- needing professional correction to be salvaged in any way.
This was a Saturday, so I'd be showing this off at church the next day. It also happened to be a day my dad was at work and had our one car. And it also happened that there was a lot of snow on the ground. So my poor mom and sister bundled up with me and we trudged quite a ways to the hairdresser to clean it up. It was as short as a boy's haircut, as you can see. For many months after that, strangers thought I was a boy and said so. (sigh) I was scarred. =) Needless to say, I didn't try to cut my own hair again...until the night before my 7th grade school pictures. Another hair disaster.

Now, please 'fess up. Who else did their own "experiments"?

(And I think David is the one on the left. Am I right, Jacque?_

Anonymous said...

I think that Alison really wants to work at a hair salon. Just ask her what happened to the hair of my Farah Fawcett and Jacqlyn Smith Charlie's Angels dolls.
That ample cap was pretty stylin and might rival Dave and Daniel's "confident" outfits. Alison, you are the cutest fairy I've ever seen!
BTW, Shaun Cassidy rocks!

Anonymous said...

Yes, I believe Dave is the one on the left, but you have to admit, they are both really cute!

Travis said...

See, I told you I commented on this post. So there!

Alison Bryant said...

OHHH. My mistake. Must be the medicine. ...At least I've heard others use that excu --um, reason.