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Sunday, November 06, 2011

The High School Me

This week, the Lovelinks crew selected a fun (read: embarrassing) topic for Monday Listicles. This week's lists is all about our HIGH SCHOOL YEARS.

Ladies, you asked for photos, but, see, that's sort of like asking someone to unearth a fossil on short notice. Yes... I'm THAT old. Okay, not THAT old, but old enough that all high school photos were taken on film that is likely in the bottom of some dusty box in an attic somewhere.

However, I did take pictures of some pictures I found in a photo album in my closet. I really had to dig. You're welcome. Please keep the laughing to a minimum.

1) There's just no point talking about high school without talking about hair. As I look through these photos, I see that I could just as easily have called this post Ode to My 80s Hair. Good friends from that time will tell you that I spent an irritating amount of time coiffing. Impressive, no? Note also the HUGE shoulder pads. With this hair and those shoulder pads, I was well protected from any kind of assault. With the added fog of hairspray that followed me wherever I went, it's a surprise anyone wanted to come near me.


2) Second only to the hair was the makeup application. Very important. Very precise. Very heavy, compared to my now five-minute-make-me-look-less-dead standard. NO WAY would I leave the house without full makeup back then.


3) Most of these pictures are from the latter part of my high school days. I may have been slightly more focused on spending time with friends than studying. Uh-oh. Is that a glass of wine in my hands? (I looked quite mature for 17, no?) Check out the earrings.


4) Good Lord, what am I wearing? Anyone remember what these pants are called? Balloon pants seems to work. Teal shirt. Salmon pants. Wide white belt. Tres chic, n'est-ce pas? Bonus points to anyone who knows where I am in this picture.


5) Graduation. Poufy dress? Check. Corsage? Check. Going nowhere, big hair? Check. Heavy blue eyeshadow? But, of course!


6) Ahh. My relaxed style. I wore a lot of oversized garments back then. I'm not really sure what that was all about. But it seems I was OK with it.


7) Uh... I'm not really sure I can explain this one. Let's see. Oh, yes. This should clarify. Alcohol was involved. Note the waist-high jeans. HAWT! NOT! And, of course, the billowy shirt.


8) Homemade bridesmaid dress? What could be lovelier? Okay, it's certainly not any worse than some others I donned - I was especially happy to wear this one to my sister's wedding. Happy day! Could the sleeves on this dress BE any bigger? (Channeling my inner Chandler there.)


9) I was pretty goofy. Despite the fact that my homelife was crumbling to bits, I had a lot of fun in those days. This picture makes me look sort of psychotic though - the knife in my hand doesn't help.


10) Now THIS hair is spectacular. A lot of hours spent with a curling iron in my hand in the high school days. Oh, to have that time back! This whole look with the big shirt, big earrings and funky ski glasses really does wonders for my image.


It's unfortunate (or not) that I didn't find a photo with my hair in a scrunchie. Gawd awful invention, that.

BONUS photo) As I was perusing my photo album, I came across this photo. My parents separated but were still alive when I was in high school. Here I am with dad - a fellow goofball when he wanted to be. Miss him. And my mama. Much.


I haven't looked at these photos in such a long time. All I can think looking at this series of images is, Wow! Is that really me? It's like we live many mini lives, isn't it? Reinventing ourselves decade after decade.

It's going to be fun to see what the next decade brings. We've already seen the comeback of wide belts, leggings, rompers and jumpsuits. Someone please tell me we'll never see scrunchies, shoulder pads or 80s hair again! Please?

For more on high school in the 80s, check out this post by Ally of Two Normal Moms. Can SO relate to everything she shared.

37 comments:

  1. You are so beautiful. And for the record I wore ballon pants in my ballet class last year. MC Hammer must be properly remembered.
    All my photo albums were lost during our move 4 years ago. I contacted friends on FB but nobody has anything of me during high school. I so wanted to show my son and you all my shaved head :)
    This is a lovely list Sue. Perfect mix of funny and nostalgic. Thank you!

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  2. I love that you shared so many pictures - they are awesome! Great list. And we channel Chandler all the time in this house :)

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  3. So true about the mini lives bit. might have to steal that phrase!

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  4. I agree w. Stasha - you are quite the looker (under all that hairspray).
    In photo no. 4 - good lord, those balloon pants! And all the pastels - enough to make a person pass out! You really did the 80s to a T!
    Love these photos.
    The hair in no. 1 - soooo Farrah, you are so "foxy" to use an 80s-era adjective! Totally.

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  5. Oh my, this made me laugh out loud! Especially the O.K. shirt/comment. You actually pulled off the big hair, high-waisted jeans, shoulder pads, corsage, balloon pants look EXCEPTIONALLY well.

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  6. Wow. That hair reminded me of Charlie's Angels. It's so nice and amusing to look at old pictures isn't it? Enjoyed your list and photos Sue!

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  7. Hammer pants! I never had any but my dad did. So fun to look back on high school pictures and see what we used to think was cool.

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  8. You were gorgeous! Would you believe that balloon pants re in fashion here in France. I cringe every time I see them!

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  9. Thank-you, Stasha. Ballet class? You are a woman of many talents! I have to admit, I do miss Hammer Time. So, so sorry your photos albums were lost. Would have loved to see the shaved head!

    Katie, I pretty much *live* with Chandler (my hubby). :)

    AMG, go right ahead. I accept many things as royalties for using my words - money, chocolate, time....

    Ado, I had people tell me I looked just like Heather Locklear - remember when she was on "Chips"? Anyway, it's hysterical to me to see these photos now. I find it very hard to believe that I wore that much pastel. Ever.

    Ha ha - thanks Amanda! :) Go big or go home, I guess!

    Thanks G. Ya, amusing was an understatement for me - I just laughed and laughed at how much effort it all took, and how ridiculous the end result was. :p

    Oh, God, Jessica, and the world just crumbled if we didn't have what was cool back then. Thanks goodness for growing up and shifting priorities.

    Barbara, NOOOOOOOOO! Not the balloon pants again! Although, in France, they probably look very stylish, and are probably not in shades of multi-coloured pastel.

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  10. You're gorgeous...80's hair or not. Love all the photos! And for the record, I have a scrunchy in my hair right now. But don't worry...I don't wear it outside of the house.

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  11. We called those 'Hammer pants', like that somehow made 'em cooler? LOL And I still sport-the-scrunchie so 'eek'. You're sooo purty! Yes, even back in the "big-hair", "shoulder-pad" day.

    ~judester

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  12. AWESOME PHOTOS! :)
    rad parachute pants

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  13. Jacqui, I don't want to have to come over there and do an intervention - just keep it inside, keep the blinds closed and no one will get hurt. ;)

    Thanks Jude! Another scrunchie wearer, huh? Sigh. ;)

    PARACHUTE pants! That's the word I was looking for! Thanks Finally Mom!

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  14. I remember calling them parachute pants. I think I had a purple pair! Mini lives is so true. Great pics!

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  15. Please wear those balloon pants and that 80s hairdo for #MotherOfAllTweetUps - I'll buy you a drink if you do! lol

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  16. Sue, you look gorgeous! Here's a secret-as I was in elementary school in the 80's (sorry), I always looked up to the "older women" in my life and wanted to look just like them. I would have envied you!!!! It was hard to look glamorous during the decade of filth, I mean "Grunge"...

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  17. Thanks Jennifer. I wouldn't have believed it if someone told me I used to wear them - not without the footage to prove it!

    Oh, Bianca. I wouldn't even know where to begin. I have a feeling youth was on my side in terms of pulling that look off. Scary to even think of wearing all that today!!! :D

    Beth, thanks... I think. ;) It was a pretty fun time. I never would have pulled off the grunge look. I liked fancy things too much!

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  18. Oh my gosh, girl! You never fail to make me giggle! I love your writing style! I too wore very baggy cloths. The baggier the better!! I've often wondered is why did I wear such figure UNflattering cloths back when I had the figure to show off??

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  19. I fit in that time with Beth and grunge. My hair would never have poofed up anyway so I guess I was lucky to be able to sport the straight and stringy look. My kids aren't old enough to realize they could laugh at me when they see old pictures so that is nice.

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  20. Oh my gosh! You were Blair from The Facts of Life! I couldn't find any pictures to post with my list, so good for you for posting yours! They're great!

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  21. WE SOOOO would have been friends in high school!! I think you were/are gorgeous by the way!

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  22. Amazing photos! Clearly your were on top of the style of the day and how!

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  23. Mommy2¢, thanks for that compliment! Back at-cha!

    Karen, my kid isn't even old enough to realize that I died my hair. One day I was blonde, the next a very dark, almost black, brunette. Maybe it's a 'guy thing'. ;)

    Miss Marina, that is quite a compliment! Lisa Whelchel is gorgeous. She had great hair! :)

    Jamie, thank-you! :) That's so sweet!!

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  24. Thanks Harriet. I did my best to represent! :) It was a pretty fun time!

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  25. I think you were beautiful in high school! OH, and I remember the MC Hammer pants. Hilarious!

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  26. Thank-you Bruna. We thought we were so sophisticated wearing those pants!

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  27. This.Was.Awesome! The balloon pants? The oversized shirts? Puffy sleeves and shoulder pads? Priceless. But the best is that hair shot. I'd forgotten how much time I spent with a curling iron, all those layers, and they combing or brushing through it JUST SO to get that perfect look! Ahh, this was a true trip back in time...

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  28. LOL - thanks Ally. That feathered look was SO time consuming!

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  29. Nice to see all of your pictures!
    Can you guess witch one of them made the dynasty theme song play in my head? :)

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  30. Your pictures are AWESOME! I think I had those pants. And the hair. You can't talk about the 80's without discussing the hair! Great post!

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  31. Mirjam, the first one? Ha ha. Some gravity-defying hairdos on that show!

    Thanks Stacey! The 80s were ALL about the hair! And bad fashion. :)

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  32. I'm loving looking at everyone's high school pictures and memories. You looked wonderful!

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  33. Thanks Rach. I've been having fun too reading about everyone's high school experiences.

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  34. You were SUCH a babe! Even in those parachute pants, honey.

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  35. Aww, thanks Julie! :) Not that I would EVER wear them again!

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  36. LOVE the pics! For Halloween this year I did the whole 80's thing and had such a blast doing it. All I could think is NOW my hair will do the big poofy thing but not back then...so unfair!!!

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  37. Thanks Wendy. Sorry your hair would not cooperate back! But so great that you got a chance to relive the fun!

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