Mike Nichols’s The Graduate is a true cinema classic. I have always loved this movie, but now it has special significance for me because as of June 6th, I, too, am a graduate! I know I’m just graduating from high school, but I can relate to the scrutiny and pressure Dustin Hoffman’s character feels at the beginning of the movie. All the big questions start coming up in conversation (especially with adults) – What are your career plans? Anyone special in your life? How are you going to set yourself apart from “the competition”? Yeesh!
Well, at least I can answer that last question! All the grads had to wear these huge green gowns that made us all look the same, but I came up with ways to spiff up my look and stand out. I wore a really cool gem necklace plus sparkly flower-gem earrings and a green gem ring. My mom gave me a pearl bracelet that my grandmother had given to her for her graduation. And under all of this, I wore a tie dress my sister made on Jane’s Sew & So.
Chanel rummaged through thrift stores and found a bunch of beautiful men’s silk ties. She unfolded the ties and sewed them together to make the base of the dress and the straps. The top of the dress is a gorgeous red silk remnant. As my mom says, “Stop shopping and start sewing” – the whole dress cost about 8 bucks to make. And, while graduation was a sea of green, I alone was wearing a secret explosion of color underneath the whole time.
After we all threw our caps in the air, I unzipped my gown and was instantly ready to party. I added green sparkles to my hair and the silver shoes I wore to prom then hit all the grad parties. I got tons of compliments on my dress. People said they’d had seen tie vests and skirts but a tie dress was a really original idea. Oh, and remember the Simon and Garfunkel tune, “The Sounds of Silence?” from The Graduate?
. Check out this music video I made using the same song. It won a bunch of student film awards – yep, that’s my career plan!
Aug 2, 2009, 11.37 AMby sugarls
That tie dress is amazing! Now you need to show us how to make it!
Jul 25, 2009, 11.18 AMby BethSch
Loved your prom dress and graduation accessorizing. I can see making a really unique bag from old ties….
Jul 23, 2009, 10.03 AMby gracesamson
Thanks, Spiderlilly. I am at a summer screenwriting program at USC right now. It’s amazing to be around other young filmmakers, doing our thing. A few of my other movies are on my mom’s FB page for Jane’s Sew & So. I also got to direct something for a big studio’s Internet site after winning a student film award – my first professional gig. More on that later – it’s top secret right now! Thanks again for stopping by. I’ll be sure to check out your etsy site, too. Happy Summer!
Jul 22, 2009, 10.28 AMby spiderlily
Your video is awesome! I am really impressed. I could relate to it….I walked out in the middle of a job once too ‘cause I couldn’t ignore the feeling in my heart any longer…..Please keep us posted on anything else you create. You have a great career ahead of you! Congrats.
Jul 22, 2009, 09.46 AMby fishoutofwater
“The Sounds of Silence” is one of my favorite songs! I just graduated from college this spring, and we all wore black robes. I wish someone had done something like this to make the ceremony more interesting. I’ll have to suggest it to a friend and donate all of my old ties!
Jul 22, 2009, 09.28 AMby gracesamson
I was totally going to write about that movie, too. Maybe in the next posting. I love it! I really loved Demi Moore’s whole Madonna thing – the “bad girl” look with the lace gloves and big scarves in the hair. Awesomely retro.
Jul 22, 2009, 09.26 AMby fufusuzy
One of my favorite “grad” movies is “St. Elmo’s Fire” – love those 80’s outfits – skinny ties, shoulder pads, monogram sweaters, turned-up collars!