By Abigail Bird, Clarion Staff reporter
For those of you living under a rock at this school, it may excite you to know that coming up on October 12 is our very own HOMECOMING DANCE!! In a school this boring, it’s important to appreciate the few big events we have. And the theme for this year’s dance is Wizard of Oz!
Hearing this you may be thinking to yourself,
What the hell am I supposed to wear for a theme like that?
And I, my friend, am here to save you from this narrowmindedness with a plethora of creative, unique, and stylish outfit inspirations for you to dress to impress at this year’s Homecoming!
In truth, I’ve literally only watched the original 1939 Wizard of Oz movie twice… or once... so my knowledge on this franchise and its lore might not be the sharpest. But the purpose of this article is not to go on and on about the history of the Wizard of Oz and its legacy.
I’m simply here to give advice to the girlies who may be dumbfounded about what to wear for this year’s theme with some cute and trendy outfit ideas!
As the movie is pretty ancient -- like skin-cancer-causing makeup ancient -- I’m only borrowing the outdated and traditional costumes and elements and incorporating them into modernized looks.
DOROTHY
First and foremost, my personal favorite and the most iconic and well known character, DOROTHY !!
The girl with the ruby slippers! The key elements of Dorothy’s outfit in the Wizard of Oz are her cutesy loose pigtails tied with light blue ribbons, a matching light blue picnic mat-plaid sundress, a puffy white undershirt, white socks, and of course the magical ruby red slippers!
Depending on how classy or personalized you’d like your Dorothy inspired homecoming look to be, incorporating these key elements into an elegant outfit can be as simple as wearing a light blue dress with red heels or as spot on and spirited as a full on Dorothy cosplay. Still though, I think any outfit you decide to go for should be fit for a school dance and not just a Halloween party. Thank me later when you're looking back on those group pictures you took with you and your friends ten years from now and don’t have to shudder in embarrassment.
Personally, I’d go with the simple and classy option with some slight tweaks like blue ribbons in the hair and white socks to match Dorothy more (again, very trendy), but it is really up to you and how you would like to express your style while channeling your inner Dorothy for this look.
THE TIN MAN
The runner-up for second place as my personal favorite character is THE TIN MAN !!
With a rather touching backstory and symbolism (both of which I’m just learning for the first time), this cursed woodsman is meant to represent factory workers during the Great Depression in all his rustic glory. His key characteristics are obviously his robot-like tin exterior and his inability to feel human emotions since he literally has no heart.
From a fashionista's perspective, this tragic backstory gives me a siren, man-eater, emotionally detached, girlboss vibe and that is exactly what I feel an outfit inspired by the tin man should embody.
An all-silver outfit complemented by intimidating siren makeup would most perfectly execute this concept. Consisting of a silver slip dress with matching silver heels and an abundance of silver jewelry, I can assure you that everyone you walk by in this outfit will be in awe of your badass aura and fall hopelessly in love with you. If you don’t arrive with a date, you’ll surely have one by the end of the night (you know, only if you want to, since the Tin Man doesn’t really feel anything for anyone)
GLINDA, THE GOOD WITCH
My third and most enchanting favorite character of this franchise is GLINDA THE GOOD WITCH !!
This look I am most excited to share as anyone who knows me knows I love a good baby pink and that is all that Glinda’s character embodies. Her aura in the film is a blinding baby pink with hints of fairy godmother. Which is exactly what her character serves to symbolize; a mother archetype that guides Dorothy home in all her pure feminine beauty.
Her signature look consists of a most elegant puffy baby pink dress bedazzled with tantalizing star-shaped details, a stunningly tall silver tiara, and a matching silver wand topped with a shining silver star. Literally a younger, cuntier version of the stereotypical godmother minus the wings and gray hair.
A look inspired by this charming woman would have to include a staple baby pink dress with all silver accessories and glitter everywhere of course. Specifically though, the type of dress again depends on how simple and classy or straight out of a fairytale book you would like your look to be. To truly channel your inner Glinda and go all out, I’d suggest a puffy, sparkly, airy dress that almost looks like some princess dress you would’ve worn to play dress up as a kid to correctly personify her fairytale princess aura. Along with voluminous curls and a tiara fit for a queen for the hair.
A simpler classier look could also radiate the same pink, it-girl, fairy energy but in a way more similar to traditional homecoming looks. A simple baby pink mini dress and dainty silver jewelry to match just screams Glinda to me as well, as a safer and more affordable option of course.
THE EMERALD CITY & THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD
These last two Wizard of Oz-inspired looks are a little more outlandish than the character inspired ones but I believe will still create fantastic homecoming outfits that are STILL ON THEME so that’s all that really matters.
The first concept that really appealed to me as something that would make a great classy outfit was the EMERALD CITY !!
Even the name sounds expensive- there is just something about it! In the Wizard of Oz, the Emerald City is said to represent “the place where dreams and hopes could be fulfilled”. Behind all this glory though, lies a dark tale of manipulation and fraud at the hands of the Wizard of Oz, representing the dark side of this ambitious concept.
Anyways, from a fashion point of view, the glitz and glamor of the Emerald City would be most perfectly encapsulated in a lavishing emerald green dress (preferably velvet) with staple gold jewelry to complement the rich emerald green and give an even more glamorous vibe. Some gold or emerald shoes and a matching clutch would further this chic aura. Finally, to top the look off, an old-money fancy nancy makeup look and a clean hairstyle would complete this outfit.
Finally, the last homecoming look I have the energy to report on before running out of time is inspired by the YELLOW BRICK ROAD !!
The path at which leads Dorothy and the rest of the main characters on their journey to find the Wizard throughout the film. Apparently, it is meant to symbolize the path to enlightenment and freedom for both Dorothy and the American economy during the gilded age. The Yellow Brick Road is a much popularized concept and has many different interpretations today. I even remember seeing it at Fairytale Town a couple times as a kid! So I guess that means it has to be popular.
A vibrant look embodying this hopeful path would have to obviously include a BRIGHT yellow dress, gold jewelry to emphasize the vibrancy of the dress as well as bring a little of the symbolism of the American economy in there, and an optimistic attitude on what is to come on your Yellow Brick Road!
I hope these looks find all you confused girlies well and inspire you to go all out for this year’s homecoming- especially our senior class as it is our very last one!
Let’s make this a night worth remembering with stunning outfits and confident aura coming from all directions! Slay away queens! I can’t wait to see what everyone decides to wear!
Kennedy Homecoming Dance is Saturday, October 12
Tickets available at Casey's Corner all week
Price: $15 (w/ ASB); $25 (w/o ASB)
Guest Pass available for students with ASB: $15
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