Tuesday, January 29, 2013

My High School Grad Dress



When I showed you my office overhaul a while back, I mentioned that I still have the Seventeen magazine that my high school graduation dress was featured in. A couple of you asked if you could see the dress. Your wish is my command. Here I am wearing it, above.


I guess when I saw this dress in Seventeen I just had to have it.

Back then, without the benefit of online ordering, we Canadians often couldn’t have the things we saw in American magazines. But Mom made sure I got the dress I wanted. We crossed the border to Buffalo and picked it up there.

My grad date is now my husband. He lived just shy of the wrong side of the tracks…literally. One more house, a roadway and then the train tracks. I wondered how they slept with the rumble of commercial and passenger trains day and night.

Hard to believe over two decades have passed since. His long hair is short now and mine is a less vivid shade of blonde, but we are still the same people inside. I always hope our kids think we’re cool, but I don’t think that’s the case …maybe that would be unnatural.


It’s odd that I picked a white, wedding dress-style creation for grad. I wasn’t the type of girl who ever fantasized about a dreamy wedding. And yet I ended up marrying the guy who accompanied me (and my white dress) to the grad dance.

We got married just about 10 years later.

45 comments:

  1. Ha! I love it! You look a bit like Kate Hudson in that first photo. And you guys were HS sweethearts?! Love that.

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    1. Wow, that's a flattering comparison Ruthie. Thanks! Jo

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  2. So funny the things we hold onto... thanks for sharing this fun snippet of your life

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  3. Really beautiful - the picture tells a thousand words.

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  4. What a sweet pre-Valentine's Day story! Made me smile :-)

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    1. Oh, I'm glad I put a smile on your face. That's nice. :)

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  5. This is so cool and you look so pretty!!! I cracked up at Seventeen's description of the dress (man, I used to -love- that magazine!)

    Your mom is amazing for making it happen. :)

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    1. Thanks Wendy! I know, isn't the description hilarious? I loved that magazine too. My mom was very kind for sure. :)

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  6. Love this post, Joann - what a great Mom to take you across the border for your dream dress - mine was homemade, I remember Mom had the worst time with the puffed sleeves - and I also married that same guy!!

    Great pictures!!

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    1. She certainly was kind about it. I'm not sure if I would do the same. Oh, I probably would. And your mom made your dress? That's awesome. I want to see it now. You married the guy too, huh?

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  7. How sweet. I love your dress and it's so nice to know that you two are married.

    Your mom is very cool too by the way. Coming to the states to get you that dress. :)

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    1. Thanks so much. I'm wondering now if I kept the dress. I can't remember. Yes, she is a cool mom.

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  8. Love it! totally sweet story :) I'd like to know if your husband was moonstruck by the after-dark dress and left breathless! I'm surprised Kylie Minogue is mentioned on the mag too :)

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    1. Ha! I would like to know that too. Such a funny description. I was surprised by the people they mentioned too. I don't even know who Tony Stone is.

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  9. Love this :) That is incredibly sweet of your mom to get the dress for you! In both pictures of you, especially the wedding picture, you are just stunning. You've got a handsome hubby too :)

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  10. Wow! I love it! Sweet!!!

    BTW, I followed you on bloglovin, hope you follow me back.

    http://www.thebexdoctorproject.com

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    1. Thanks a lot! I am following you now on Bloglovin.

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  11. So gorgeous!!

    Oh, and the dress isn't too shabby, either. :)

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    1. Thanks for your very sweet comment Hannah! :)

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  12. I love this post Jo! What a beautiful couple! And that dress looks so lovely on you!And did we not all covet the Seventeen Prom issue back then? I think I chose my dress from a picture in 17 too, but that would have been in 1986. I am just a little older than you! Angie xo

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    1. Thanks so much Angie! What a life eh? Dreaming about the prom dress. We never knew how easy we had it. :) Can't believe how time flies.

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  13. This is great. So wonderful that you've had such a long love story with your man. You two look terrific as teens!

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    1. Thanks for that! I spent too much time worrying about my flaws then. That's the paradox of teenagers -- youthful looks but lots of insecurities. ;)

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  14. Oh, this is such a sweet post. Thank you for sharing the photos. Your Mom is amazing for making sure that you got the dress you wanted. My Mom gave me the money to buy whatever dress I wanted. I found a lovely gown that was only $20.00 off the rack. Err...I won't say what year that was.

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    1. Thanks! You did well getting a $20 dress. Do you have a pic?

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  15. Good memories ... love the high school sweetheart edge to it! I never went to my graduation, not sure why now, but I know there was no way my parents would've bought a dress (I would've had to make it!). I was all over my daughter's graduation though ... a bit of nostalgia for my own missed party :) Wendy
    PS You and your husband make a beautiful couple!!

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    1. Thanks Wendy. I probably wouldn't recommend the high school sweetheart thing to my kids, but when it happens it happens. ;) You could make your own dress in high school? A regular Molly Ringwald! ;)

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  16. Aw, that is the sweetest thing ever! You look amazing in the dress and Iove how soft and wavy your hair looks. So pretty! And your hubby is adorable, love the long hair. Also I love your wedding dress!

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    1. Aw, thanks! Your comments put a smile on my face. I don't know how I got the wavy hair actually. I used to always blow dry it straight and I was short on hair styling skills (still am).

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  17. Oh Seventeen Magazine...that brings back so many memories. I used to keep those and think about what sort of dresses I was going to wear to prom and what not. Gone are those days, now I just hope I am not asked to dress up.

    I love that pic of you on your wedding day in front of the restaurant, very artsy.

    I hope you have having a great day Jo!

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    1. I know what you mean Rachel. Just putting makeup on is a big chore to me now.

      Thanks! Have a great day too. :)

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  18. You were/are an adorable couple. And you probably won't believe me, but I REMEMBER that issue -- the model, the dress, everything!!! My prom dress was very similar...only full length and a bit more ivory than white. My family also teased me that my dress looked like a wedding dress, but I absolutely loved it. Thanks for sharing -- what a blast from the past. Made my day! :)

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    1. Thanks Heather! I DO believe you. I recognize magazine covers too if I see them again because I LOVE to read magazines. And I would believe you anyway. :)

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  19. I love this - thanks for sharing your story. It's so sweet. Your kids will one realize how cool you are. At least, that's the hope my husband and I have for our kid. I mean, just last night I was showing her how to do the roger rabbit dance move. If that's not cool mom, I don't know what is. :D

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    1. Here's hoping we are all remembered as cool one day, Julee. Your dance move is definitely cool. I can't match that one. ;)

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  20. I love that you guys got married! And I LOVED "17" magazine. I had to stop subscribing after the start of college, though. Too many boys in my dorm found my quiz answers and teased me to no end :). So now I subscribe for each of my nieces when they turn 13. Sigh.

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