# Pretty In Pink and the ugliest dress in the universe **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 21, 2005, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-in-pink-and-the-ugliest-dress-in-the-universe/300374 "2005-04-21T05:03:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hedda\_Rosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hedda_rosa/32/1204_2.png) [@Hedda\_Rosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hedda_Rosa)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-in-pink-and-the-ugliest-dress-in-the-universe/300374/1 "2005-04-21T05:03:54Z")
Did the costume designers for _Pretty in Pink_ mean to make Molly Ringwald wear the most hideous dress in creation? Or did they actually think that monstrosity was attractive? I know it was meant to look amatureish but did it have to be so shapeless and fugly? Seriously. ---
**Author:** ![torie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@torie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/torie)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-in-pink-and-the-ugliest-dress-in-the-universe/300374/2 "2005-04-21T05:16:13Z")
Maybe the dress just didn’t age well. In the 80’s maybe it looked good to the average teenage girl viewer. Or reflect her eclectic style. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-in-pink-and-the-ugliest-dress-in-the-universe/300374/3 "2005-04-21T05:30:58Z")
I saw P in P in the '80’s, at a time when I was thinking about my own prom dress. It was fugly then. It’s fugly now. I remember being horrified that Molly took the lovely vintage dress given to her by whats-her-name and hacking it into that abomination. It made her look like a sausage, and I swear the girl only weighed 98 lbs. FUGLY! ---
**Author:** ![look\_ninjas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@look\_ninjas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/look_ninjas)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-in-pink-and-the-ugliest-dress-in-the-universe/300374/4 "2005-04-21T13:41:00Z")
I didn’t watch Pretty in Pink until quite recently, so I have no idea whether that dress would have been horribly uncool in the 80s or not. It is, however, devastatingly ugly now. I can’t believe she destroyed a lovely vintage dress for that absolute monstrosity. But I don’t think it was meant to be ugly in the context of the film. All movie long, we’re told what a sharp dresser Molly Ringwald is, and how cool she is for being able to design and make her own clothing. I think they honestly wanted that to be the coolest, freshest, hippest prom dress ever. Apparently, they failed. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-in-pink-and-the-ugliest-dress-in-the-universe/300374/5 "2005-04-21T13:45:24Z")
I caught this on cable last night also. I was just waiting for Charlie Sheen to walk in on a scene, smack Duckie in the back in the head and say “Alan, what the hell are you doing!” and drag him home. ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-in-pink-and-the-ugliest-dress-in-the-universe/300374/6 "2005-04-21T17:16:45Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > I was just waiting for Charlie Sheen to walk in on a scene, smack Duckie in the back in the head and say “Alan, what the hell are you doing!” and drag him home. Naw, he was in a police station at the time, hitting on Ferris Bueller’s sister. And, yeah the dress is ugly now and it was ugly then. I was 16 at the time, so I know. Other than the prom dress, I loved her clothes and I wanted Duckie to be my boyfriend. Too bad he was closeted (which I can’t help but think after a recent viewing, anyway). ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-in-pink-and-the-ugliest-dress-in-the-universe/300374/7 "2005-04-21T18:14:00Z")
Others agree on the dress being ugly! > **[IMDb: Ratings, Reviews, and Where to Watch the Best Movies & TV Shows](https://www.imdb.com/)** > > IMDb is the world's most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content. Find ratings and reviews for the newest movie and TV shows. Get personalized recommendations, and learn where to watch across hundreds of streaming... ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-in-pink-and-the-ugliest-dress-in-the-universe/300374/8 "2005-04-21T18:34:11Z")
And for so long I’ve thought that I was the only one who was repulsed by that boat anchor of a dress! The chains have fallen from my limbs! BTW, Ringwald (alledgedly) designed the dress herself, demonstrating why her fashion design career hasn’t flown any better than her acting career. There were truely some fashion disasters in the Eighties, though, so I’m sure it looked good to someone at the time. Totally off-topic, but waybackwhen in college I had a roommate whose television would buzz obnoxiously whenever _Miami Vice_ (repeated incessently on the USA Network) was on and Don Johnson came on-screen in some of the eye-poking pastel pyjamas he wore. We got quite a few laughs out of that (and it was the only reason to watch the show) before the TV finally gave up the ghost. Talk about your hideous fashions. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![chefjef](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e480ec/32.png) [@chefjef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chefjef)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-in-pink-and-the-ugliest-dress-in-the-universe/300374/9 "2005-04-21T19:47:35Z")
this is the best thread EVER. first of all, i still listen to the pretty in pink soundtrack. i have it on cassette. wa BAM. if it’s true that molly designed that dress, no wonder she stuck with acting. I thought the original prom dress before she hacked it all up was fine. okay, i’m off like a dirty shirt! ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-in-pink-and-the-ugliest-dress-in-the-universe/300374/10 "2005-04-21T20:40:29Z")
Anyone got a JPEG of this horrid dress? ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-in-pink-and-the-ugliest-dress-in-the-universe/300374/11 "2005-04-21T20:54:39Z")
Well, a GIS for “pretty in pink” gave some very interesting (NSFW) results, but no pics of the dress. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-in-pink-and-the-ugliest-dress-in-the-universe/300374/12 "2005-04-21T21:03:11Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > Anyone got a JPEG of this horrid dress? The Ministry of Information seems to have eliminated all photographic evidence of the dress, as no search engine is turning up any positive results. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-in-pink-and-the-ugliest-dress-in-the-universe/300374/13 "2005-04-21T21:23:21Z")
[Here it is](http://www.hollywoodteenmovies.com/GirlsInPink.html), second image down on the left. [Here’s the trailer](http://www.retrojunk.com/media/86/showall/). Can’t watch it at work, but the dress seems to be in evidence. [Here’s a screengrab](http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/8762/pg/four/nine.jpg). No full-length shots. My google-fu indicates that the dress is almost universally hated. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-in-pink-and-the-ugliest-dress-in-the-universe/300374/14 "2005-04-21T22:51:52Z")
Eh, it was the 80’s. People wore some fugly-ass shit back then, especially to prom. I don’t remember thinking it was especially atrocious _for the period_ when I saw the movie. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-in-pink-and-the-ugliest-dress-in-the-universe/300374/15 "2005-04-21T23:01:41Z")
I watched the trailer. If it’s the same one, you only get to see about the upper 2/3 of the dress. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-in-pink-and-the-ugliest-dress-in-the-universe/300374/16 "2005-04-21T23:08:27Z")
Good god, I see what you mean. Is she by any chance wearing it inside out or backwards or something? ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-in-pink-and-the-ugliest-dress-in-the-universe/300374/17 "2005-04-21T23:33:51Z")
> [@vibrotronica](#): > > [Here it is](http://www.hollywoodteenmovies.com/GirlsInPink.html), second image down on the left. > > [Here’s the trailer](http://www.retrojunk.com/media/86/showall/). Can’t watch it at work, but the dress seems to be in evidence. > > [Here’s a screengrab](http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/8762/pg/four/nine.jpg). No full-length shots. > > My google-fu indicates that the dress is almost universally hated. Thanks for the sound warning!! The first link contains really loud terrible midi. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2005, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-in-pink-and-the-ugliest-dress-in-the-universe/300374/18 "2005-04-22T00:34:37Z")
I was a teenager in the '80 and saw the movie when it came out. I thought the dress Annie Potts gave Molly Ringwald was gorgeous. I stared in horror as she cut it up into the ugliest thing I’d ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2005, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-in-pink-and-the-ugliest-dress-in-the-universe/300374/19 "2005-04-22T00:42:43Z")
I’m sorry, I probably had the sound muted on the work box. I fucking hate web page with sound Actually, I’m at home now and I’m not getting any sound (or anything else) out of the link. ---
**Author:** ![Susie\_Derkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Susie\_Derkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susie_Derkins)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2005, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-in-pink-and-the-ugliest-dress-in-the-universe/300374/20 "2005-04-22T01:00:44Z")
OK, when I was Googling around for a full-body shot of the Dress of Fug, I found [this](http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds20375.html). > [@](#): > > Director John Hughes has announced that classic '80s movie Pretty In Pink is to get a sequel…The movie’s original stars - Molly Ringwald, Andrew McCarthy and John Cryer - have all agreed to appear. Could it be true?? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pretty-in-pink-and-the-ugliest-dress-in-the-universe/300374.md?page=2)