So it's the summer before year twelve and, naturally, I'm doing what all year twelve girls do just before the final year of school starts - freak out over ball ;).
Actually, I haven't had a lot to freak out about. Everything is set. The way I like it.
But seriously, ball is just a hormonal signal to the female brain that says GET YOUR BITCH ON.
They've gone crazy.
There's a page of facebook now dedicated entirely to posting a picture of your dress for the whole grade to see to 'prevent doubles'. I'm sorry, but isn't that kind of meant to be a surprise? The only person who knows exactly what I'm going to be wearing is belephant, and she hasn't even seen me all dressed up. It's my little secret that I've literally kept in the closet for years.
Luckily, I haven't had to bow to peer pressure and spoil the surprise because absolutely nobody will have my dress. It's that ugly. No, I had a beautiful gown custom made in Shanghai - and yes, that was back in year nine. And seeing as it is my own personal design, and I have been branded a freak of nature by just about everyone in the grade, it is pretty impossible somebody will show up looking exactly the same as me. Actually, it's probably never occurred to them that the grade skipper might actually show up looking half-decent.
At any rate, even if they did, would they look exactly the same? Would they be Asian, 5'3", 54.5kg with the exact same date, makeup, hair, shoes, etc? No. I like to think that individuality transcends apparel, but apparently nobody agrees with me on that. They're all like 'if anybody gets anything similar I'll kill you' followed half heartedly by 'rofl lol luv ya'. I mean, how do you think the boys feel? All suits look the same! It's just mean to be so self obsessed for something like this. Is it copying if you find something that looks breathtaking on you and somebody else thought it was lovely, too? So what if someone looks similar to you? As long as you yourself look good, it doesn't matter. I will look exactly the same in my ball dress even if everyone else looked the same as me.Because I'm me, and it takes more than a dress to become the kind of person I am. Individuality is not stopping people from doing what you do, but doing things nobody else would dare dream of.
I just would have thought that friendship and keeping the peace is more important than making sure you look like the odd one out.
On a side note, there are absolutely rubbish resources for people trying to organize a ball. My friend and I had to sort through what felt like the entire world wide web to find the best deal on the limo, etc. After the ball I'll post what I did, and tips, etc.
1 comment:
"Forearmed is forewarned," I thought when I read about your dress from Shanghai, which you would have had about 3 years to get used to. Yes, it is important to be proactive and to plan the things which you can control.
(And, yes, going through the dress shops and making modifications! Balls are good when you can have some flexibility in colour and shape).
Girls can be very co-operative about hair and make-up, though it is important to get someone you know and trust through the changes.
"Individuality is not stopping people from doing what you do, but doing things nobody else would dare dream of."
(or doing things that everyone might dream of but adding flair!)
Trying to remember all the meetings and committees involved.
(Why can there be reasonable resources on studies involved, but not on balls? Travel in particular does seem problematic).
And, yes, the snarkiness! And the brutality and the brittleness.
Are there any Ball Bibles? It would have to be a stunning piece of theatre/performativity. That you could hand on to the next class and make it open and transparent? Good wishes to the Committee.
(One of Shanghai's big strengths in trade would be dress and textiles, as well as education. Remember Shanghai in the PISA and TIMMs).
So what are the protocols with jewellry? Do the dates give them to you?
Best wishes for the Ball.
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