#nordstrom prom dresses

[toongrrl-blog]

My Style Analysis: Cyclical Iconic Fashion and a Missed Prom

Originally posted on Reddit

Anyone notice something about Devi's prom dress? Something retro?

The chiffon, long flowing dress, the neckline, the ruffles, the florals and pinks feel very retro. Like very 1970s (look I know per ShopYourTV that it's a recent find from Nordstrom's) maybe 70s does 30s...

In fact Devi's dress slightly reminded me of Marge Simpson's prom dress in "The Way We Was" which was set in 1974, 49 years before Nalini almost had a heart attack seeing her daughter and Ben in bed together (albeit with clothes on). It's all there: the pink, the apparently lightweight fabric (chiffon or rayon or polyester or a combination, that was a staple of the era), the ruffles around the neck. Marge's pink dress (surely from Gunne Sax, which was fondly remembered by Boomers and Gen Xers alike) and Homer's baby blue tuxedo were so iconic that they were made into figurines.

In fact Devi's dress falls into good company with some other examples I listed in a old post on Tumblr about this frilly, utterly feminine aesthetic in fact I want to show another Mad Men example and one from the 1930s period piece The Group (1966).

Every outfit looks so floaty here and these were promos for episodes set in 1970, thankfully our girls up there have much happier endings than the former Mrs. Drapers.

Here is your 1930s example with The Group, which focuses on graduates of a Seven Sisters college as they navigate adult life in Depression era America and the patriarchy (it's rough as hell). The brunette in black is future Lucille Bluth, the late Jessica Walter. Bonum est mulier.

Eleanor's look sort of reminds me of: Cher, Selena, and Liz Taylor. All very iconic women who followed their passions boldly and became icons without blindly following trends set for either fashion or for their gender.

(EDIT: Much better example)

As for Fabi? Well the tuxedo is pure androgyny. Calling to the OG ladies in a suit, Bessie Smith (EDIT: Gladys Bentley) and Marlene Dietrich and Annie Lennox

All these women flouted restrictions regarding gender expression admidst the jeers of conservatives, pearl-clutchers, white supremacists, Jim Crow, fatphobia, and one even told Hitler to go fuck himself (okay maybe not those words but you get the gist).

The red may be a call back to predominantly African-American men in the media donning a red suit, as noted in u/eve_salmon's "A Cinematic Guide to The Weekend Pt. 3", Rat Pack member Sammy Davis Jr. (known for a flashy yet very traditionally masculine sense of style) donned a red suit for the film Poor Devil, whom like Fabi, was Black and queer in an era that was even more racist and queerphobic than the present. We also see Richard Pryor (comedian for those not in the know) donning a red suit along with Joe Pesci in Goodfellas and Casino. The red is likely a sign of pure confidence and defiance, keep in mind that Pesci's characters and Pryor (as well as Davis) grew up in eras where looking a white person in the eye can get a Black person made past tense to use a TikTok phrase and where Italian Americans were still looked down upon, so dressing well and in a manner that commands attention was a act of resistance.

Both examples of Marginalized Men in Red Suits and Gender-Bending Women Looking Sharp-Dressed, speaks well to Fabiola's own development as a character and taking ownership of her identity in a world that tells you to be a laundry list of things to be acceptable (be girly, be outgoing, be into pop culture, be straight, listen to your parents, focus on what boys like, fade into the background, wear uncomfy formalwear that ain't you) and points for the series highlighting HBCUs as up there with the Ivies; where the Ivies represent mainstream power, the HBCUs represent how a community managed to carve their own space to let it's members thrive and accomplish more (also while Princeton waited until 1969 and Columbia until 1983 to accept women, Howard been doing that since it's founding!), what better place for Fabiola whose journey is about owning her sense of self?

What can Iconic Lady Joan Holloway say, well I can think of her Bonwit Teller shopping spree where she decides what to take with her fabulous black dress with ostritch feather cuffs: "I'll take the boots, the tan heels, the chiffon (in a cooing voice), the red (even more cooing), and this (to her flamboyant dress)", in other words, she approves.

[ginagirl808]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Nordstrom All Stars L blue teal silky long sleeve dress w/ slit prom wed….

[fashionfox41-blog]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: AVEC LES FILLES Tiered Formal Lace & Tulle Cocktail Dress 10.

[micro-expressions]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Lulu's Beach Blue White Striped Off Shoulder Button Down Midi Summer Vacay Dress.

[kroseposh]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: 🖤 Dresses.

[ilovelisasstuff]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Zhivago Sexy Sexy Raise your hand Mini dress in black and gold - Size 6.

[jazspot]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Tahari ASL Sleeveless Faux Wrapped Prom Dress.

[retropolitanllc]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: NWT Womens Size 10 Laundry by Shelli Segal Tiered Chiffon Halter Neck Mini Dress.

[datainteg]

Check out this listing I just found on Poshmark: Dress the Population Corey Chiffon Fit & Flare Cocktail Dress Dark Magenta.

[loispevars-blog]

Check out this listing I just found on Poshmark: NWOT La Femme Gown Dress Navy Blue Satin Structured Bodice Trumpet 6.

[fowardfashionfindz]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Evening/Special Occasion Strapless Red Satin Formal Y2K Vintage Gown/Dress.

[iljewelrylover]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: bp Nordstrom Polka Dot V-Neck Jersey NWT Dress Size Large.

[ginagirl808]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Nordstrom All Stars L blue teal silky long sleeve dress w/ slit prom wedding.

[fashionfox41-blog]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: AVEC LES FILLES Tiered Lace & Tulle Dress 8.

[micro-expressions]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: NWT Off Shoulder Burgundy Ruffle Fit Flare Dress.

[thisislizheather]

Summer Saturdays Vol. 4

EATING

The heavenly latkes at Modern Bread & Bagel on the Upper West Side.

DRINKING

Cappuccinos in the sky at Manhatta. Love that this place doesn’t need a reservation for an evening drink anymore.

Above Photo: Manhatta, July 2023

COOKING

I made some veal meatballs out of some Costco ground veal I found in my freezer, then I baked the meatballs, some marinara sauce and melted fresh mozzarella balls on top. I’m friggin Emeril over here.

BAKING

Black bean muffins and yes they sound gross, but they’re so dark-chocolatey you don’t even taste the bean.

CRAVING

The vegan chicken parm from VSPOT in Brooklyn.

LISTENING

Heart of Stone from Six on Broadway on repeat.

WATCHING

The new season of The Summer I Turned Pretty and it’s so, so good. Love a good teen summer love triangle. Using a pumpkins song in a prom scene? The key to my heart.

WEARING

New favourite thing to do: try on insanely expensive dresses on and take photos. Stay tuned.

Above Photo: Oscar De La Renta at the Nordstrom Sale

EXPERIENCING

My dear friend Marla came for a visit and we did everything. Saw the new wing at the Natural History Museum, the Kusama exhibit in Chelsea, stargazing on the High Line, pizza at Rubirosa, rented row boats in Central Park and saw Six on Broadway.

Above Photo: Marla & I

LOVING

All things Barbie. The movie was phenomenal. Margot Robbie was stellar, Ryan Gosling was so funny, I can’t wait to see it for a second time.

SHOPPING

My favourite bra of the past ten years (Natori) is half-off on sale at Nordstrom right now, so I had to buy a new one.

You can read Summer Saturdays Vol. 3 over here, and you can see my summer highlights on Instagram over here.