I remember I was about 8 and I was dressing for school. Rummaging thru my clothing, I was searching for the perfect outfit for picture day. "Neicyyyyy"...My aunt Ceal yelled..."get down here so I can press your hair...you know today is picture day"..I stood there debating my outfit..a navy pleated skirt..a sky blue victorian collar button up and a cable knit sweater vest..i pulled out some white tights..and immediately thru down some black mary janes(things were simple and u only had 2..maybe 3 pairs of shoes tops)...and proceeded with the rest of my morning which typically started at 530...i lived a block away from my school..but my aunt and I had a ritual...She pressed my hair ridiculously straight that day...i remember it because I couldn't shake that bergamot smell..I was shoo'ed upstairs and told get dressed..Dressing fastly, I was so excited to get my picture taken..I was more excited because I had on new shoes...Ceal called me again..."Neicyyyyy"...and down the steps I came pristinely dressed...immaculate schoolgirl realness...she fawned over how much i looked like my momma..and what an adorable lil baby i was..she handed me my glasses(yes i wore corrective lens since i was in preK) Oh my god I couldn't wait to get to school. I sat thru the pledge nervously, practicing my smile...and finally my class was called over the P.A. My little heart twitterpattered.. We walked the long hall which always smelled of pizza and corn...i stood and i stood..and i stood..it seemed i waited forever..some name similiar to mines was finally called..Taylor, Chinese...Taylor, Chinese...hmmmm, i thought..wtf? I thought for a moment that can't possibly be me..and i continued to wait till i was properly called...i was the only Shanise i knew..and i wanted my name pronounced correctly..the photographer looked at me "Taylor".."yes" i said.."but not Chinese, Shanise Renee"..but i told him.."maybe we have a new kid"...he laughed and said, "well excuse me Ms. Shanise Renee Taylor," he escorted me to photo taking area. He directed me to put my hands in my lap and relax.."look forward and give a pretty smile",(now as a child u had no idea..u just did what your parents thought was cute..and that included that big ass cheesy smile ) he said...i looked down and frowned.. he asked what was wrong..i launched into a speech about my shoe and how they wont show in the picture because the pics are indeed headshots..i was thoroughly disappointed..u know the way a child can only be..mopping... the photographer said "those are great shoes lemme see what we can do"...I perked up instantly..He took 2 polaroids of my complete outfit.."here's one for your mom and one for your teacher"..i was elated..and spent the rest of the day floating on a cloud..by the time i got home i had to tell my aunty about my day verbatim..she took her picture and said she'd put the pic up at work..my shoes were the bomb! and they needed to be seen at 8..as i recalled this story i smiled and laughed..i dont know what the hell i was thinking..navy blue, skyblue..white and black? OMG Noooooooooooooooooooo
..wool sweater vest over a polyblend shirt..Jesus! I wouldnt dream of donning navy blue at this age...unless it was a uniform or jeans..it's just one of those colors that i cannot effectively match shoes with(black is too harass and some browns look to matronly..and hell no to white shoes with it.)..and further mary janes with a pleated skirt...i just knew i was doing it...today i have to have the precise shoe for the precise cut..length and style of a jeans, pant or skirt...and i think it stemmed from that outfit@8..I'm glad my fashion taste has evolved...and no i dont have those pics but that picture is forever etched in my mind.