I am terribly sorry for the absence of blog posts recently. Adjusting to a new school year, apartment, and new responsibilities has consumed most of my time. That being said, I do intend to write new blog posts whenever I can. Today's blog post is a fun flash back for my 90's girls! Recently, I stumbled upon some old Mary-Kate and Ashley videos. The "You're Invited!" videos are absolutely classic, ranging from a beach bash to a homework party. I highly encourage you all to watch these videos as a young adult, because they are not only hilariously cheesy, but also wonderfully reflective of the 90's girl charisma. As a gawky 10-year old girl with too many freckles and an unfortunate eye patch, my favorite Mary Kate and Ashley video was You're Invited to A Fashion Party! As I watch it in the modern day, I am made painfully aware of its ridiculousness. Consequently, I am starting to realize how it has shaped me in awkwardly personal ways. Without furthur ado, I have compiled a list of reasons as to why I have been so deeply influenced by the Fashion Party.
( Just as a note, this list will make more sense if you watch the video)
1. I definitely thought that boys just "showed up" at your doorstep to say hi. This was always a source of pain for me. Cute boys never showed up at my doorstep and told me they liked my hats.
2. There is a random red-haired girl in this episode who is OBSESSED with boys. I find this a little extreme, even for middle schoolers. This doesn't really influence my life, I just wanted to make a comment about it.
3. At the beginning of the episode, the girls sing a song about fashion junior high. I was in love. I thought that somewhere in the world this existed, and then I hated real school for quite some time. I was bitter that I did not get to study History of Purses and Accessories 101. It was then that I began to sketch outfits and models instead of line graphs. There is a moment when Ashley expresses how learning about math and science are boring, and she'd rather just study fashion. I too felt this frustration.
4. The girls are given a tour of FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising) by Cute Boy's sister. I found this tour to be quite exciting as a pre-teen. For the day I watched that video, I swore that I would go to FIDM, because that is what fashion designers do. I think I actually told others that this was my plan, up until about senior year of high school, when reality set in.
5. Remember the boy-crazy girl from #2? She wishes for cute boys to show up at FIDM. And then they do. WHAT?! As if there would really be a surplus of cute, straight, boys at a fashion design school. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? However, at the tender age of 10, I thought this was entirely possible. Sure, I would go to fashion school, and date a multitude of attractive men studying fashion. I am sure some of you will like to argue that I am being stereotypical, but I once looked FIDM up on college prowler.... It is a fantastic school, but they did get an F- for available men. Just a friendly observation, made by a dreaming realist.
6. Mary-Kate jokes about how using scissors is "cutting edge" and explains mannequins as "standing room only." This is about as far as my humor has evolved. I may or may not have actually thought those quips were funny.
7. According to the video, enormous black clogs go perfectly with a light pink dress. I cannot believe I thought those chunky sandals were cute. Honestly, 90's girls, what were we thinking? The grandma shoes paired with floral capris and tank tops will forever stay in the archives.
8. Every time a song is sung about something, their dreams come true. I sincerely considered this to be effective; I sing a song about a newBarbie, I get a new Barbie. I sing a song about wanting to go to the movies and viola! We go to the movies. Surprisingly, I was mistaken. Singing does not gain you your desires, it just gets you a swift punch in the trachea.
9. Speaking of songs, I am pretty sure I learned all of the music in the show and truly believed it to be high quality. With lyrics such as "A new tomorrow, we'll begin today," I am inspired to follow my dreams. As far as twins' vocals go, Simon Cowell would have pulled these girls off of X-factor faster than you can say a really fast word. Even so, it makes me smile. I still listen to the Cheetah Girls on a regular basis, so obviously my musical maturity has taken flight.
10. The Olson twins design a dress for their tour guide friend that basically looks like an outfit for a lady of the evening. Did anyone else find this troubling? My naive 10-year- old mind loved it. Thankfully my understanding of appropriate dress evolved.
11. At lunch, the girls drink these mystical pastel drinks. To this day, I have wondered what they were, and how I can acquire one. I am actually bothered by this mystery, and I think about it far more frequently than any twenty-something should.
12. The girls were given advice about boys who break their hearts. It was "Tie them up and feed them to the sharks." I find this to be very insightful. It is a shame that I am not in closer proximity to an ocean, because I know a few gentlemen who would make great fish food. ;)
13. According to Cute Boy's sister, boys like girls because they are pretty, smart, and nice. Otherwise, you are doomed.
14. After watching Fashion Party, I really understood my inherent gift and talent of being a great shopper.
15. That clipped up hairstyle from the fashion show? I wore my hair like that until junior year of high school. Mary Kate and Ashley are the reason why I thought having a head shaped like a scared peacock was fashionable.
So there you have it. Mary-Kate and Ashley are very influential; both in style and in life. While sometimes delusional and always cheesy, I wouldn't have it any other way. Take a look at your favorite books, movies, and television shows from the past. You might find out more about yourself than you thought!
Whimsically,
Katie
3. At the beginning of the episode, the girls sing a song about fashion junior high. I was in love. I thought that somewhere in the world this existed, and then I hated real school for quite some time. I was bitter that I did not get to study History of Purses and Accessories 101. It was then that I began to sketch outfits and models instead of line graphs. There is a moment when Ashley expresses how learning about math and science are boring, and she'd rather just study fashion. I too felt this frustration.
4. The girls are given a tour of FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising) by Cute Boy's sister. I found this tour to be quite exciting as a pre-teen. For the day I watched that video, I swore that I would go to FIDM, because that is what fashion designers do. I think I actually told others that this was my plan, up until about senior year of high school, when reality set in.
5. Remember the boy-crazy girl from #2? She wishes for cute boys to show up at FIDM. And then they do. WHAT?! As if there would really be a surplus of cute, straight, boys at a fashion design school. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? However, at the tender age of 10, I thought this was entirely possible. Sure, I would go to fashion school, and date a multitude of attractive men studying fashion. I am sure some of you will like to argue that I am being stereotypical, but I once looked FIDM up on college prowler.... It is a fantastic school, but they did get an F- for available men. Just a friendly observation, made by a dreaming realist.
6. Mary-Kate jokes about how using scissors is "cutting edge" and explains mannequins as "standing room only." This is about as far as my humor has evolved. I may or may not have actually thought those quips were funny.
7. According to the video, enormous black clogs go perfectly with a light pink dress. I cannot believe I thought those chunky sandals were cute. Honestly, 90's girls, what were we thinking? The grandma shoes paired with floral capris and tank tops will forever stay in the archives.
8. Every time a song is sung about something, their dreams come true. I sincerely considered this to be effective; I sing a song about a newBarbie, I get a new Barbie. I sing a song about wanting to go to the movies and viola! We go to the movies. Surprisingly, I was mistaken. Singing does not gain you your desires, it just gets you a swift punch in the trachea.
9. Speaking of songs, I am pretty sure I learned all of the music in the show and truly believed it to be high quality. With lyrics such as "A new tomorrow, we'll begin today," I am inspired to follow my dreams. As far as twins' vocals go, Simon Cowell would have pulled these girls off of X-factor faster than you can say a really fast word. Even so, it makes me smile. I still listen to the Cheetah Girls on a regular basis, so obviously my musical maturity has taken flight.
10. The Olson twins design a dress for their tour guide friend that basically looks like an outfit for a lady of the evening. Did anyone else find this troubling? My naive 10-year- old mind loved it. Thankfully my understanding of appropriate dress evolved.
11. At lunch, the girls drink these mystical pastel drinks. To this day, I have wondered what they were, and how I can acquire one. I am actually bothered by this mystery, and I think about it far more frequently than any twenty-something should.
12. The girls were given advice about boys who break their hearts. It was "Tie them up and feed them to the sharks." I find this to be very insightful. It is a shame that I am not in closer proximity to an ocean, because I know a few gentlemen who would make great fish food. ;)
13. According to Cute Boy's sister, boys like girls because they are pretty, smart, and nice. Otherwise, you are doomed.
14. After watching Fashion Party, I really understood my inherent gift and talent of being a great shopper.
15. That clipped up hairstyle from the fashion show? I wore my hair like that until junior year of high school. Mary Kate and Ashley are the reason why I thought having a head shaped like a scared peacock was fashionable.
So there you have it. Mary-Kate and Ashley are very influential; both in style and in life. While sometimes delusional and always cheesy, I wouldn't have it any other way. Take a look at your favorite books, movies, and television shows from the past. You might find out more about yourself than you thought!
Whimsically,
Katie
