Style & Hair Thru the Years…A Birthday Retrospective
It is with great trepidation that I invite you Interpeeps on this stroll down memory lane with me. Because I am not all that comfortable with putting myself out there. My words are one thing, but pictures of me cause an entirely new level of anxiety.
However, the pictures that I’m posting were given to me in an album after my Grandma passed away. I did not even know that she had made this album, and it was such a nice surprise to see that she had kept so many things as memories of my childhood. She had pictures, letters, cards, school programs, newspaper articles; just a ton of stuff that I couldn’t believe she kept. And I’m so happy to have it.
So let’s take a look.
Here I am. A 2 year old dressed as a 65 year old bank teller. How festive.
Do you think this dress could be any shorter?
Well, at least my coat was as short as the dresses I wore. Although, I don’t really understand the logic behind a coat this short. Because if it is cold enough outside to need a velvet trimmed wool coat and hat, don’t you think it is cold enough to need you legs covered?
Clearly, I have always put fashion before function.
And here is a shot of the required ‘I grew up in the seventies’ sailor garb. Because you never know when a city kid from Chicago will suddenly need to rush off on the high seas. Or ride around in a stylish silver Oldsmobile.
So, as the end of the seventies approached, short dresses were obviously out. Full length, quilted dresses in. And I am right on the cusp of the trend. 65 year old bank teller blouses are obviously still the rage.
I was so excited about this smocked frock I received for Easter one year, that I threw it on right over my pajamas. Because I knew good clothes when I saw them. What I did not know was how to brush my hair before having my picture taken. I must have been really excited to open up the box with the smocked frock in it.
Let’s hear it for fashion during the Reagan years. Oh my. Good thing I remembered the ribbon tied around my collar. I obviously started accessorizing quite young.
I almost didn’t include this picture. Because the hair is that bad. Awful. The hair is awful. I cannot tell you the amount of tears this catastrophe caused me, the night before picture day.
This is when Fantastic Sam’s happens to good people.
Thankfully, I had the prescence of mind to accessorize with the ribbon, so you don’t notice the hair that much.
My hair grew out. And I learned to feather it. A very important skill to have in 1985.
Let’s just skip right over this one. I’ll just call it the Junior High Years in Guess overalls. Bad times…bad, bad times. I think I was trying to hide the fact that my chin was all broken out behind my collar.
This picture is from the height of the stirrup pants era. 1987. And even though I look it, I never did drugs.
I must have been really, really cold. I don’t normally wear turtleneck sweaters and turtlenecks together. It looks like I’ve ditched the ribbon around my neck in favor of a puffy silver heart. And at least my chin has cleared up. It must have been all that Sea Breeze Astringent that did the trick.
The bangs. The Sun In. What can I say? I had a serious addiction to Sun In. I must have thought blonde freshman had more fun. It took a lot of work to make the bangs stay like that; to achieve optimum heightage day in and day out.
And seriously, why didn’t I realize that I wasn’t fat? Because I was seriously obsessed with my weight in high school and this was the year it started. The Slim-Fast diets, the binging and purging cycles…I can’t believe I was so stupid. Look at that hand with the pretty nails. And the upper arm. It is not fat. Fat is having wings under your upper arms like I do now. And the girl in this picture clearly has only one chin. She could however, use a little eyebrow grooming.
That’s it for now. I have more, but my scanner can only take so many seventies and eighties flashbacks in one day. And the next phase,the sophomore years and beyond, bring pictures of the cheerleading years and also the famous Senior Picture, complete with my reflection in a golden mirror. Yes, a golden mirror. Don’t ask.
You will be glad to know though, that right after my freshman year I did give up on the Sun In. Well, I didn’t give it up, I just toned it down. But my new obsession, the one for bottles of self tanner, was in full force.
Don’t worry though, my orange skin will distract you from all the bad hair.
Posted: February 29th, 2008 under It's All About Me.
Comments: 33
Comments
Comment from chickadee
Time: February 29, 2008, 6:14 pm
oh hilarious. i think that white shirt you had on in the first picture is the same on you had on later. the sleeves look a bit too short.
Comment from Leslie (snaphappyinkymomma)
Time: February 29, 2008, 6:48 pm
I had those Guess overalls, too!
I call my Sun-In phase “the summer my hair turned into a pumpkin.” Sun In and brown hair DO NOT MIX.
Comment from Org Junkie
Time: February 29, 2008, 7:20 pm
Okay that was just too fun! Loving the bangs! I sure remember those days, oh the back combing LOL. The turtleneck on turtleneck totally cracked me up.
When will we see a picture of you now?
Laura
Comment from Chrissy
Time: February 29, 2008, 7:58 pm
You’re a brave woman. My mom used to buy Sea Breeze by the gallon. I can still remember that smell.
Comment from Queen B
Time: February 29, 2008, 8:40 pm
What fun!! How hard you must have worked to get the puffy silver heart necklace through the double layer of turtlenecks!
Comment from Ann G
Time: February 29, 2008, 10:36 pm
You are soooo brave for posting pictures of yourself from your childhood! I can’t think of a single childhood picture of myself that I actually liked! Thanks for sharing…..
Comment from Cindy-StillHisGirl
Time: February 29, 2008, 10:56 pm
Hee hee hee. LOVE the Guess overall days. 
So where is the CURRENT hair photo?? Come on, girl!
Comment from Cindy-StillHisGirl
Time: February 29, 2008, 10:56 pm
P.S. I think your blog looks like you want it to now! So cute!
Comment from Heidi
Time: March 1, 2008, 1:49 am
I know about the fatness perspective…..all my pictures from my youth sports me in these massive t-shirts, apparently to hide my chunky self. Except I realize now that I was SKINNY. Gah!
Loving the pictures, Lisa. You were soooo cute as a little girl. And your girls look so much like you! Minus the bangs.
Heidi
Comment from JanMary, N Ireland
Time: March 1, 2008, 2:15 am
Oh thanks for sharing those - I could identify with so much of that.
Looking forward to the next installment.
Comment from Amy @ By His Grace
Time: March 1, 2008, 7:13 am
All of this reminds of the lovely Christmas ornament my brother had made for my parents tree. He took my worst school picture ever and had his photography wife blow it up to 8 x 10 and make a nice little Christmas tree out of it. Lovely, lovely!
Comment from Becky @ Boys Rule My Life
Time: March 1, 2008, 7:23 am
Ok, I have so many of those same bad hair pictures and crazy clothes! The one you had such a bad tie with the night before picture day… imagine that with a permed fro on top and long hair in the back with some awful awful glasses. Oh, and the poofy silver heart hanging just over the collar of the turtle neck and the turtle neck sweater… I did that, too. In fact I still have the poofy heart in my jewelry box for remembrance sake! And the ribbons around the collars as a young lass - oh, I did that, too. Anyway, this was great! Oh the terrible and beautiful memories!
Have a great weekend! Take some pictures of you kids so they can do this someday, too!
Comment from Jen on the Edge
Time: March 1, 2008, 7:31 am
It’s like looking at pictures of me. I didn’t try Sun-In, but I definitely went through the other phases, including the silly little ribbon/tie one.
Comment from nottryingforaboy
Time: March 1, 2008, 8:44 am
I wish I was as fat as I thought I was back in the day.
All those pictures could be me- from the short dresses to the sun in. I even had the permed, sun-in bangs in my freshman year high school picture.
Happy Birthday!
Comment from ValleyGirl
Time: March 1, 2008, 8:50 am
There simply IS no logic for fashion in the 70’s and 80’s, Lisa. You don’t need to feel bad about any of it — you fit right in with your big bangs and stirrup pants! (which, I was disappointed to notice, you didn’t actually post pictures of!!) And let’s not forget the hi-top runners, the leg warmers, the knee-length sweaters and sweatshirts to go with the aforementioned stirrup pants, and FLUORESCENT CLOTHING!!
Comment from ValleyGirl
Time: March 1, 2008, 8:51 am
PS. I can’t believe how much you look EXACTLY like your girls do now in a couple of those pictures!
Comment from Christie
Time: March 1, 2008, 10:33 am
Oh, girlfriend. These are fantastic. You make my 70s and 80s look positively gorgeous. Your feathered hair was much smoother than mine. And your bangs? Way cooler and just what I tried to get mine to do every day with a gallon of aquanet. Can’t wait for installment number two.
Comment from Kelly @ Love Well
Time: March 1, 2008, 11:09 am
I had completely forgotten the turtleneck-with-a-turtleneck thing. Which was a good thing, now that I’m forced to behold the fashion trend again. Goodness to Betsy, I love the 80s, but some of those styles are a HOOT!
Looking forward to installment 2. I’ll cue up some Paula Abdul on the iPod to get me in the mood.
Comment from New Diva on the Blog
Time: March 1, 2008, 11:15 am
So much fun! We were all so fabulous back then weren’t we?! I have to know though, were you wearing high top Reeboks with the Guess overalls, cause I was!
Comment from Jess
Time: March 1, 2008, 11:55 am
So funny, Lisa. I, too, had similar fashion “sense” growing up, including the big bangs and Guess overalls.Your descriptions were hilarious, and just perfect. I’m excited to see the cheerleading and sun-in pictures!
And your comment about using sea breeze….between sea breeze, oxy pads and clearisil, you would think I would have had great skin growing up. Not so much. So, I totally did the same thing you did in pictures, either wearing tutleneck sweaters or trying to hide under a shirt collar. Good times. Not.
Jess
Comment from Chrissy
Time: March 1, 2008, 12:40 pm
OMG!! I can relate to it all, the short dresses to the long ones, did you have plaid pants too? The curling irons, and the hair spray and the endless teasing!!! all of it! How brave of you!! Great post I look forward to more.
Comment from Jen M
Time: March 1, 2008, 3:11 pm
I am laughing so hard my hubby had to come see what the fuss was…
Thanks for a walk down memory lane. I think I’m just a couple years younger, but still did almost all this things. GO Sun-In!!
Comment from Mary@notbefore7
Time: March 1, 2008, 8:30 pm
OH if I had a scanner I’d totally join in with ya on the feathered hair
Oh, and let me tell you, Sun In turns brown hair to a lovely shade of ORANGE which apparently looks COOL when it is just your bangs
Comment from sheila
Time: March 2, 2008, 12:01 am
i just might have to copy this idea - we’ll just see if i can out do you on this one. you do look much like your little girls. i fully expect to see a current update with in the week.
still waiting on the babe - i am on call and will be flying high (literally; in a plane of course) as soon as i get word, hopefully within the next day or two - i will post as soon as something exciting happens.
Comment from Jul
Time: March 2, 2008, 10:51 am
Happy Birthday, Lisa!
Love the pictures! It is amazing how Choppy is the exact image of you when you “2″ but then totally see Fiona by the Easter picture How cool!!
The Sun In brand lost big money once I opted for perms instead of color back in the day!
Comment from jesslev
Time: March 2, 2008, 10:42 pm
That was great entertainment! I just wonder what brilliant mind came up with the ribbon-bow thing? gosh knows, I had a ribbon in every color! Did you ever tie a 2 inch gross grain ribbon around your waist, or put it thru your jean loops? that was a fad in the 80’s too!
Comment from Jennifer
Time: March 2, 2008, 10:57 pm
Loved memory lane! I can SO relate to the clothes and the hair… unfortunately. And you’re so much braver than I to release pictures. I can’t even look at my very own pictures of me without having anxiety attacks! HA!
Smiles,
Jen
Comment from Jenny from Chicago
Time: March 3, 2008, 12:59 am
I had that sailor dress, and the broken out chin hidden by a collar, and several of the hair-dos. I think we must be related.
Comment from Martha
Time: March 3, 2008, 7:30 am
Happy Happy Happy Birthday to YOU!!!!!!!
Oh my god. We ARE sisters. Look at my post from last night - I hadn’t even read your post yet!!!!
Your girls look just like you!
Ahhhh. The coveted Guess overalls….those were the days.
This was AWESOME!! Great Post Birthday Girl!
xoxoxoxoxox
Comment from Jill
Time: March 3, 2008, 12:26 pm
Oh, thy brave one posting pictures of your bangs…I mean yourself. Love this!
Comment from Deb - Mom of 3 Girls
Time: March 4, 2008, 8:15 am
Oh those are great! And I can say that because I have albums filled with pictures from the 70’s and 80’s that are eerily similar, LOL. Can’t wait to see the rest!
Comment from Elaine
Time: March 4, 2008, 10:24 pm
Those are great! I had the same puffy heart necklace and I.LOVED.IT! ; )
Comment from Ok, Where Was I?
Time: March 14, 2008, 9:30 am
How did I miss this the first time around?!!! I love old photos. 65-year old bank teller is perhaps the funniest thing I’ve read all week. I love that first photo. And I love small touches in photos that make you go, OMG, I remember that! Like the necklace that hangs out of a turtleneck just in the front. Hope you feel better (your post today is about a little house on the prairie fever).
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