I Could Have Danced All Night

 Let me start with an apology. I know I've been really silent the past week but if you look at my agenda on face-book perhaps you'll understand why. :) Seriously 5-11 everyday for the last two weeks has been completely consumed with schoolwork. BUT! I'm nearing the finish line! Oh wondrous Summer! Then you'll be practically sick of me. I really don't have time to post now... But I'm doing it anyway cause I'm way to excited to show you all my Jr/Sr Banquet dress!

My school has this thing. Its like prom but without dates. Or dancing. O.k. so its not really like prom. But everyone does dress up like that. So it makes for a nice compromise. The boys get out of awkward prom date drama and the girls still get to dress up. Win/win right? Its a nice dinner and ceremony where the Juniors bless the Seniors. Which means sappy love letters are read aloud, lots of hugging, much need for handkerchiefs, etc... Just kidding its a lovely little thing to do and makes for awesome memories. But everyone knows the real thing everyone is looking forward to is seeing what everyone is wearing. So here's what I came up with.

I should preface with two things. First of all let me just tell you it is pretty much impossible to find a modest formal dress out there. At least in a reasonable price range. Seriously its ridiculous. Everything is either tacky, immodest, frumpy, or way not my style. I know there are things out there. Some of my friends even found them. But I didn't. So I did the next best ( possibly better ) thing. I designed my own. No kidding. It was awesome. My mom and I went to a fabric store went through patterns and fabrics for what seemed like ages and finally came up with something awesome. Which leads me up to the second thing. I am a total sucker for anything that remotely look not this time period. How pathetic is that? The dress pattern I eventually picked was a vintage vogue pattern from the 1950s. And then I did make a few adjustments. I may or may not have modeled it after a Grace Kelly dress... Hey though may as well dream big! ( If you don't know who that is look her up. Amazing old movie actress with AMAZING style. Ala Audrey Hepburn. ) So thats how I came up with my design. And based on that theme I went for a whole old Hollywood actress vibe with pearls, really red lipstick, and even white gloves! (which I forgot to put on in the pictures darn it!) I had an absolute ball getting it all together.

Warning though. In case you get any ideas. Designing your own dress is awesome. Not gonna lie. But it is also pricy! I will be spending a good part of this summer working around the house to pay for my one night as Cinderella. For me, thats worth it. But to someone else it might not be. Just to let you know. =)

Wow. That was not supposed to be that long. Seriously it wasn't. I'm working on my not rambling skills. For real though. Here's my dress. Tell me what you think! <3 <3 <3

Because life is too short to not twirl. 

And Twirl.

And TWIRL!

Dress: Designer =)

Heels: Daisy

Pearl necklace and earrings: Gifts

Jeweled Hair Clip: Kohls I think

Because this was kind of a special night above all nights sort of to-do. I went crazy with my make-up. For me anyway. I actually wore blue eyeliner. Shocking right? I was excited. It was really fun to play around with. You can judge if you  think I pulled if off. That picture there is what I tried to semi-copy with my makeup. Really light shadow. Dramatic but not garish blue liner. Bright coral lips and a bronzed base. I know I don't have red hair and perfect skin like the model but for my attempt I think it worked out alright. :)

And. Last thing I promise. I got my hair done. I told you I went all out. I really wanted a crown twist idea . Sort of like this. But they told be I'd have to get highlights, hair extensions, and a couple more hours of time to do that one. So we skipped it. Sort of. I did have her do a crowning twist but I used alot less hair and relaxed the curls at the bottom alot to make it look a whole lot smoother and more the 50s era I was still shooting for. Like a dummy I didn't have a close up picture of my hair but here's the closest I got. 

 

You can still see the basic idea...

O.k. now that I just took over the entire homepage with my dress, I have an assignment. Of sorts. I want you, providing you have time, to come up with your own dream ball gown type ensemble. If you could wear anything. Do your hair anyway. What would you do? I'm looking for ideas for next year. Just kidding I really want to see what ideas you all would come up with. Dressing up is so much fun isn't it! I love being a girl. Right, now go! Be free! Let inspiration run wild! And call me when you get back darling I do love our little chats. (Bonus points if you catch my reference!) 

And I did get to dance by the way. The after-party was phenomenal. 

I could have danced all night! 

I could have danced all night! 

And still have begged for more. 

I could have spread my wings 

And done a thousand things I've never done before. 

I'll never know What made it so exciting;

Why all at once My heart took flight. I only know when he 

Began to dance with me I could have danced, 

danced, danced all night! 

Laughter and Song.

Elizabeth