THE BACKSTORY

Walking up to a movie theater counter is something I’ve done hundreds of times. Buying your ticket, getting your popcorn and enjoying your movie are all part of the routine. So how would it feel to attend the reality-horror flick “Prisoners” on a normal Saturday morning in a Homecoming gown with my four best friends?

AND THEN

I felt like an outcast. The mothers with their children and the elderly couple pointing in the lobby didn’t help my self-confidence. I mean, I would probably point at some weird teenage girls completely overdressed for a movie theater too but that didn’t make me feel any less self-conscious. It didn’t help when the theater’s employee taking my ticket request decided to mention my attire.

“That’s an interesting outfit. What’s that about? You know, I like your dress. It really pops in the eyes.”

I scanned him over, looking for his name tag. “Thank you Jared. I like your lanyard,” I said, ignoring his question about why I was dressed in such a manner.

After that little encounter with Jared, no one really said anything to our faces. No questions or comments were asked directly towards us. Of course, I could hear people talking to each other about us, but none of them had enough courage to come ask us themselves. They would feel more comfortable making inferences about our appearance rather than just asking us for the truth.

“Honey, look at those girls. I just don’t understand how the new generation dresses. You would have never seen me dress like that when I was that age.” said a blonde soccer mom who looked like her years of parenting had gotten to her.

In all honesty, even though people looked at us weird and sure some pointed, the theater’s employees sported much more judgemental looks than the customers. The customers gave us more “What are you wearing?” looks whereas the employees looked at us with “Why are you wearing that here? How dare you?” faces.

I don’t understand why my choice of attire had such an effect on other peoples days. How my outfit made them look like I was stopping them from living their lives normally. I now understand why they have those shows like How Do I Look? or What not to Wear. Those shows were created for those who dress outside the status quo. They help those people fit in, while embracing their personal style so that they aren’t stared at and made fun of.

THE VERDICT

If you’re looking forward to spending your Saturday blending into the walls, don’t wear a Homecoming dress because you will most definitely get unwanted attention.

by OLIVIA GRAHL