 |
|
|
Story by
mermaidclaire
Published on August 17, 2008 in Spotlight |
Photo by sumomosuki |
"People are always saying you should be yourself, like yourself is this definite thing, like a toaster. Like you know what it is even. But every so often I'll have, like, a moment, where just being myself in my life right where I am is, like, enough."
-Angela Chase
In the late summer of 1994, I was uprooted from my easy Southern California existence and transplanted to the middle of Appalachia. It might as well have been the moon! My new junior high school was in a multi-story brick building with indoor lockers, a far cry from the sunny open hallways I was used to. Wooded areas replaced the ocean view I saw every day on my way to school, and kids went muddin' instead of surfing. I was a nerd (albeit an artsy, rock-and-roll one) at my old school, but now I was a new kid, too, unsure of myself and dreadfully out of touch.
Luckily any awkwardness I felt was shared every Thursday night at 8pm with the quietly radiant, incredibly relatable Angela Chase. The all-too-quickly cancelled "My So-Called Life" was a television show that spoke the truth! Claire Danes as Angela said, felt, and experienced everything I was going through (Ok, so not the boiler room. I WISH!).
Though it addressed serious issues like substance abuse, coming out of the closet, and violence in schools, the show also tackled typical teen stresses like zits, hand-holding, and getting a fake ID so you could, like, get into the bar where Buffalo Tom was playing.
sumomosuki remembers the '90s as well as I do! Her upcycled plaid ruffle dress is a fresh and grown-up version of Angela's look. Pair it with some thick tights and your new backpack for the perfect first-day-at-a-new-school look. Now just tuck your hair behind your ear and "Go...now...GO!"
Need a daily fix of Etsy Finds? Sign up for the Etsy Finds e-mail! Conveniently delivered to your inbox!
| Tags | back to school, dress, Etsy Finds, My So-Called Life, sumomosuki |
|---|
41 comments Login to add your own!
art4milkbones
replicca
Aaah!!! I loved that show, what a memory! Thanks. :)
I can't believe that Jordan Catalano card!!
SlinkyCalhoun
I loved this show too! What a good idea for some Etsy Finds!
thecomagirl
Oh man that brings back memories. love, Loved, LOVED that show and still do!
dogties
myzoetrope
Ohhh. I should rewatch this show. I loved it so. Beautiful dress!
hobocampcrafts
this was and still is my all-time fav show! Angela Chase Represent!
PearsonMaron
I hate this pen I'm holding, because I should be holding you.
zwzzy
beckynot
I want to know more about life in your new school and why the move? I see you're back in the big city now. Couldn't take it? :)
kmwatkins
foodchic
OK, confession. I joined the HS newspaper, so I could get into clubs to "cover the bands...." haha.
Good times.
I hate TV execs. They cancel all the good one!
topsyturvydesign
MaMagasin
i keep looking at my boxset hoping a new episode i havent yet seen will magically appear... :(
prettyinskulls
i LOVE that show. i remember always looking forward to watching it!
my favorite was Rayanne!
aliaschman
I just discovered all the episodes of My So-Called Life on abc.com and am reliving my teenage years all over again! Love the dress.
MarcellasExcess
I Loved that show! A lovely article to bring back the memories!
spaceoddities
lovarevolutionary
personally i'm glad that plaid is making a comeback, its like neo-grunge! and yes, i loved my so called life and well everything else about the 90s.
ratgirl
these are such great finds!! i haven't thought of m.s.c.l.for a long time but i absolutely LOVED it! i agree with foodchic, all the best shows get cancelled.
allgreen
colorada
nameframes
papermenagerie
In 1994, I cut my hair and dyed it red. My name is already Angela.
LOVED that show.
emibelledesigns
wow i loved that show so much. One of the few I could actually relate to. Thanks for the memory flash back!
And that dress does scream Angela. She gave flannel a whole new meaning...
thecraftykitten
I used to dye my hair red too! I was convinced that the show was partially about my life except the boiler room was actually my basement and he wasn't quite as cute as Jordan Catalano.
Best show ever.
aliaschman thanks for posting that the episodes are on abc.com. I know what I'm doing all day tomorrow.
mksupplies
I saw this article rotating at the bottom of the etsy main page, and flipped out when I saw what it was about.
God I loved that show.
PaisleyChainsaw
I used to feel like my so called life was me too! Fantastic Etsy finds :-)
brownbunnybyiris
themagpiesdaughter
I love My So Called Life! *le sigh* I'm going to get my DVDs out and watch them in honour of this article. Great great article! Thank you so much. :D
LemonCadet
Great post Claire!!! I'm glad you moved to Appalachia.
We used to have marathons of MSCL when I lived in NC. One of my friends wrote his Senior Thesis for UNC on the show.
edor7
ha, I totally remember when that came out. I HAD to watch it... and I thought Clair Danes was so pretty. She still is! She has great style.
mkendall
That was my absolute favorite show growing up!! I am so happy to be included in this!
theHouseOfWorn
LunasaDesigns
I talk about "my so called life" ALL the time and not many people know what I'm talking about... usually makes me feel old. haha! Great article! Great old show!
lionheartvintage
me too, LunasaDesigns!
Best. Show. Evah.
..and I still dream about Jordan Catalano....
ohdear
mylavaliere
mermaidclaire
I'm so glad I've found so many kindred MSCL-loving spirits! I wish we could all hang out and watch every episode. :D
ambergayle
I should have consulted Angela for my psychic reading... after all, Rayanne's mom, AMBER, taught her how to master the tarot:
"Each card has its own name: The Magician; The Empress; The Fool; The Wheel of Fortune; Strength. They represent challenges and tests, twists of fate. No card is all good or all bad. Cards can be positive or negative depending on where they fall. When you read someone's future, they must think of a question. They must hold it in their mind. The cards read in sequence, each card leads to the next. We move from terror and loss to unexpected good fortune and out of darkness hope is born."
Previous Page
Haha, as soon as I saw that dress I immediately thought of Angela. Great story :)