Rock ’n Roll ’50s Prom at Rontoms on Valentine’s Day
February 12, 2010 by karenvitt
Filed under Neat EVENT
You wanna rock this town, rock it inside out? Then you darn well better dress for the occasion. Mod East Burnside lounge Rontoms will host a Valentine’s Day Rock ‘n Roll prom dance this Sunday, Feb. 14 – and we’re here to help you get pretty in pink.
Co-hosted by Potlatch Presents, the V-day prom is basically a more romantic spin-off of the free weekly music sets at Rontoms every Sunday. For the prom, you can dance to live, classic ’50s and ’60s love song cover sets by local bands Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside, Monarques with Alan Singley and guests, and Brooklyn-based Brittain Ashford.
The Potlatch folks are encouring everyone to wear ’50s and ’60s formal attire, and they’ve been so kind as to compile a local list of vintage shops on the Rontoms’ Rock ‘n Roll Prom Facebook page to help you find an outfit. We love their shop selection, and we’ve also got a few neat vintage picks of our own.
We just got off the horn with Liz Gross, owner of Xtabay Vintage on Southeast Clinton Street, and she said her shop is filled with Mad Men-era prom dresses and gowns right now, including this frothy pink prom dress (left). Gross suggests pairing such dresses with rhinestones – they have earrings, necklaces and bracelets from the same era – and vintage silver or gold pumps.
Gross, who reminds us it’s Valentine’s Day after all, has two other bright suggestions. “A Voluspa candle to light while getting dolled up – it’ll make you feel extra glamorous! And a frothy, floaty little vintage nitie to wear later that night for your special someone.”
We also spoke with Hattie at Hattie’s Vintage, across the street from Rontoms, who assured us she has lots of ’50s era men’s suits, and some choice peachy and pinky ’50s tulle prom dresses for the gals. She says they also have a few styles from the ’80s that would work – after all, much of ’80s fashion drew inspiration from the ’50s, right? How else did Molly Ringwald get so pretty?
1950’s Valentine’s Day Rock ‘n Roll Prom
8 p.m. to midnight Sunday, Feb. 14
Rontoms, 600 E. Burnside St.; 503-236-4536
Xtabay Vintage
2515 S.E. Clinton St.; 503-230-2899
www.xtabayvintage.blogspot.com
Hattie’s Vintage
729 East Burnside St.; 503-238-1938?
