Days of 47 Parade Beauty Queens

July 24th is called Pioneer day in Utah.  It is a state holiday and many businesses close.  They also have a parade every to year to commemorate the Mormon migration here in 1847.  On July 24th of that year, Brigham Young led a group of pioneers into the valley and stated "this is the place."

The parade boasts many floats, some of which are littered with beauty queens from towns throughout Utah.

Here is what a typical beauty queen looks like:

This queen has two attendants, a tiara, a sash and heels.  They stand upon elaborately decorated floats.  The sash adorns here with the name of her town or city.  Murray is a township located south of Salt Lake City.

Many attendants wear matching dresses.  Here are two from South Jordan wearing red dresses.  Notice they are also wearing tiaras, indicating that they give these to not just the queen.

Miss South Jordan has a more elaborate crown however, and frills to boot.

Utah Valley University was the only college to regale a queen.  The other universities present did not present a queen on their floats.  

Not always do the attendants match, as is evidenced by the bold city of Tooele.

Miss Bluffdale seems to have put some thought in matching her float.

Miss Draper

Miss Riverton is wearing a shirt under her dress, in July, in hot weather.  This is probably not for functionality, but modesty.  To much shoulder perhaps.  Nice tiara.

Miss Lehi was audacious enough to bring four and one half attendants.  She looks like Sailor Moon with all her scouts.  

 The attendants had no trouble showing off their youth by posing and interacting more than perhaps graceful royalty.  

Matching shoes.  Nice.

Miss Sandy matched her attendants unless you count the cat statue of liberty or whatever that thing is.

I like the bangles and belts.

Double shirt, long skirt and ballet flats - fashion faux pas?

Well, here starts the debate.  The look that has become a staple in ward houses everywhere.   You know what I'm talking about, the double layered tight shirt top, long skirt and ballet flats.   Sink or swim?  I'm not sure.  Sometimes I think this combo is amazing, and other times its like torture.  Here are some examples of the look:

I'm not sure these colors match at all- and therefore faux pas...

Hmm.  Again the colors seem off-kilter, and the non-matching purse doesn't help either.

This dress is shorter, but colors flow much better.  Bag matches shoes matches top layer.

Gentlemen at the University of Utah Institute

Last week, at the avenues ward, I saw many gentlemen wearing non-white button up shirts.   Today, I nearly all (I dont recall seeing one non-white shirt, in fact) men sporting the classic look.  So what can you do with the white shirt?  Answer:  pick colorful ties and an accessories.  This greaser was one of the only ones with a bow tie.  Nice matching belt and shoes, nice glasses, man bag, and confidence.   Hipster win.

Cant go wrong with a buzz cut, suit, lanyard for keys, and scripture bag.   This guy looks like business ready and no nonsense.

Grey and classic.  Classic haircut, classic look.

Add some green and blue with a nice tie.  An easy look.  Also, roll up the sleeves for a more casual look.

A vest makes you look more formal than just a simple white shirt an tie.  

The skinny tie and hipster shoes.  Win.  No bag for scriptures.  

Ladies at University of Utah Institute

The temperatures have been nice and summer like the past couple of days.  It's still a little chilly at times, though.  Overall, nice weather.  I rode up to the Institute and scoped out the west doors, primarily to capture some nice bears.

These ladies actually woke up in time and got to church fifteen minutes early.  Carrying scriptures can be an art in and of itself.   Put them in your purse?  Or just carry them in?

Everyone showed up to church between 8:56 am and 9:10 am (church standard time).  Not many ladies where wearing nylons or leggings today.  The one in yellow said she got here duds secondhand.  Nice shoes.

Ballet flats are quite common among the LDS women, as are balero jackets.  Below we see two jackets that are tight, cover the shoulders and go to slightly longer than elbow length.  

 Cardigans also popular always.  They conserve skin while also providing a layer against potential cold weather.   The cardigan can button over the dress, unlike bolero jackets.  Note the scripture bag used to help carry.

Great color combinations from this lady.  Purse matches shoes.  

Scarves provide function (cold weather) and fashion!

Rock those wedges!

A cell phone can be an accessory--with the right case.  I ordered a bunch of generic case colors on amazon for like one dollar each.  I routinely change them depending on the season and I get lots of compliments.  

Toddlers in the Avenues Ward

I took photos today in an avenues ward.  Nearly all members walk to church.  There were only a few parking at the ward house.  This was an interesting first outing.   I switched my camera to continuous mode after realizing that taking photos of moving people was difficult.  Also, I got a suboptimal vantage point initially since I did not spy a hidden entrance to the church.

This parent said grandma purchased the child's clothes at a yard sale.

The cardigan top (below) suggests it may get cold later.  It was overcast today.  Yesterday was the hottest day of the year, and felt much like the first summer day and night.   But only two days ago it was cold, cold cold.   

This proud mother bought her daughters shoes and dress at old navy. 

  

Walking to church in the avenues ward, men don't strictly wear white dress shirts and ties.  This to me was interesting since I'm used to seeing nearly all white shirts and ties in Utah county.  More on this debate to come, I'm sure.

 

Carrying scriptures to church, in the traditional white shirt.  Notice that he matches the belt and shoes.

Learning to shoot photos of Polar bears...in Utah

I love the weird and subtle world of Mormon street fashion.  I grew up in Salt Lake City, and enjoy the styles of churchgoers on sunday.  I have decided to start a street fashion blog posting the latest trends and fashion with members of the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter-day saints (LDS).  These folks are colloquially known as Mormons.

My motivation for this blog also has personal reasons.  I wish to use it in an effort to learn how to create and maintain a blog as well as to enhance my photography skills.  Both of these skills will develop and be used for an upcoming blog and photo experience in June.  I applied and was selected as a National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellow, and will go on an expedition to the Arctic Svalbard in Norway.  I was chosen because I am teaching geographic literacy in my high school physics classroom in Salt Lake City.

While in the Arctic, I will be photographing nature and wildlife--predominately polar bears.  So in order to combine my love of LDS fashion and impending expedition, I've decided learn how to shoot photos of polar bears.  By capturing Mormons.