As the guests arrived, it became apparent that this group was actually deathly shy, and more prone to milling around awkwardly than screaming and bouncing. Twenty minutes in, the party was quiet and I knew I had to change my game plan. I stood on my couch and yelled, "Pair up! I'll be right back."
I disappeared into my bedroom and ransacked my closet, grabbing purple blazers and pink tutus and sequined dresses and about fifty colorful silk scarves. I gathered up high heels and big bead necklaces and an impressive array of sunglasses. Then I walked back out into the living room where the girls were standing, quite obviously under the impression that I had gone insane, and dumped the tangled mass of bright fabrics onto the floor. I ran over to the stereo to turn on the Spice Girls' Greatest Hits and told each pair to decide who would be the model and who would be the stylist. "The stylist will create an outfit for the model using the clothes in this pile," I said. "The model is not allowed to complain about her outfit. We'll have a photo shoot, then the model and stylist will switch places. Ready? GO!"
It totally worked--the stylists pounced on the pile of clothes, laughing madly as the models shrieked, "Please! Anything but that furry rainbow belt!" As you can imagine, the outfits they came up with were pretty amazing:
Favorite conversation of the day:
Me: You actually look like a model!
Girl: Why would a model wear a tutu over jeans with three coats?
Me: You've never looked at a fashion magazine, have you?
Girl: Nope.
33 comments:
I demand to see this furry rainbow belt. It intrigues me.
Awesome fast thinking! It looks like they had a great time, and as we all know, getting girls that age to enjoy AND participate in something is no easy task.
You probably just won "Best & Coolest Big Sister Ever" at BBBS. I know my nieces (who are a bit older than that now), never seemed to get tired of that kind of thing.
Will you be my Big Sister?
You throw the best parties ever.
Further proof of your brilliance. And those girls are NATURALS! Just check the pouty faces ... love it.
This looks like great fun but I would have opted for the nap. I'm old and tired.
Aw, I had a Big Sister when I was little--she was pretty great. This party, however, might beat our cardboard box dice costumes.
Winona, you are a force for good in this world. Take over some corporation or run for office, will you, already.
Haha this was a brilliant idea, and it sounds like the whole party was a hoot! :)
eek!
That's so lovely!
I wouldn't be brave enough to host such a party and you're totally right; Sleeping Lions was one of the best games of my childhood! ;)
And that conversation was too cute! You should put it in one of those children quote books!
Oh, man, most adorable pictures EVAR. Sounds like the perfect way to get shy girls moving, grooving, and having fun.
Too bad you didn't have the full-body sparkly leotards that have been in Vogue recently. Those are REALLY a party. :)
Ummm... is it bad that I am totaly considering doing this for my 24th birthday now?
what ensembles, a great idea! and the quote should be archived in fashion history.
Your closet sounds like it replicates the one Cyndi Lauper had in 1985. Didn't she also wear yellow tights?
Seriously though - that looks like the best party ever. I want to have one of those (except my bitter little closet includes mostly practical pants suits from Ann Taylor and some Target t-shirts...that's what you get for having 3 kids, a corporate day job and no independant wealth). I would have LOVED this when I was 12.
This is so cute! I would be so afraid that I couldn't entertain that many kids-- heck, ONE kid-- at a party. Good job!
By the way, why haven't we seen you wearing all these tutus?
You totally rock, my dear.
I have no other words!
Luv
Poochie
Alright.. so I'm pretty sure that your closet opens up into some strange magical mess that is MY closet ahaha. I own soo many of these clothes that were pictured it's fabulous!
:]]
- The Other Lindsay
(PS: Party City has a great selection of glasses!)
Fabulous idea! You are the hostess with the mostess!
Wonderful, wonderful photos. Total hit. LHC approves!
Totally adorbs, and they are all fabulous :) I'd probably hand them a bunch of saris and see what they come up with.
Oh and yes, yes you can have some of my shiny hair. As soon as it grows out again that is LOL! That comment made my morning...thanks, Winona :)
Aaaw how adorable! You should obviously follow your natural calling as a fabulous party planner xx
this is epic, and i am appropriating this plan for a grown up party. you rock.
That is soooo cool. Way to think on your feet, well done!
I've been considering doing this kind of Big Sister thing for a little while.. I'm just worried that I'd bore the kid to tears!
You're truly an inspiration! Keep bein you & workin that magic!
Genius. I think that's basically what my friends and I did after school when we were 12, but we didn't have as good a closet to pull from!
Speaking of sisters, my little one is coming to visit me and have a "sweet sixteen in LA." YIKES. What do I DO to celebrate? What do 16 year olds DO? I am getting her backstage passes to some gross music fest she wants to go to, since a friend of mine's band is in it...le sigh.
ALSO, re: that workspace meme thing, check out this:
http://www.ltdmag.com/
What a cool idea, I want to have a party like that now! Dress-up never gets old. You must have quite a huge closet to have accumulated such a vast array of different items.
I miss dress up - I mean, I still do it now, but it's not quite the same as the brilliant dress ups you get involved in as a kid!
I distinctly remember one particular session where I was instantly converted to sea goddess through the simple wearing of a long shimmery green skirt as my hair.
Ever since then I have never looked as cool.
I teach middle school in Memphis, teenagers today are hilarious! What a sweet idea to do a fashion show and to document through photography/ the blog. I will show it to my students.
aw good quick thinking i wish i had a big sister me and my friends are definatley not camera shy.
mustardandmisfits.blogspots.com
xx
Aw, so cute!
I wish my sister did that for me when I was 12! Or, you know, now... =p
aww so funny pics! great! :D
such a good idea
i am going to do something like this for guides next week
:)
Beth-
Not sure that you could handle the furry rainbow belt. It's pretty epic.
kiita-
Awww that's the sweetest comment ever! Thank you!
Kate CH-
My closet actually is a replica of CL's circa 1985. Pretty much exactly.
Kat-
You would certainly not bore a kid to tears! Seriously, send me an email if you want to know more about being a Big Sis. It's super easy and super rewarding and I know you'd be great!
Mel-
Awesome! Let me know what your students thought of it!
Good post.....
Beautiful photos........
thanks for sharin with us......
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DyanaDevis
Online Marketing of your brand
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