A 40-Year Journey of Sisterhood In Photos!
An Expectant Sister? – 1992
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and this next photo could be hiding a clue. While their personal life remained a mystery, the brilliant photographer always had the sisters communicate something to the audience without being apparent about it.
Mimi seems to be cradling her belly, leaving us to think she was pregnant. In addition to that, Heather is looking and holding her sister’s stomach in such an adoring manner, while Laurie also seems to be gazing in the same direction. Well, we will never know if our assumptions were right or wrong because the Browns preferred to keep their personal lives private.
Mix And Match – 1976
1976 was an exciting year; for several reasons, ‘BBC’ managed to convince the world that the gravitational pull on earth would reduce with planetary alignment occurring. That aside, it seems like the Brown sisters caught up on the humor, and for the first time decided to wear matching dresses.
While it could be a coincidence, the siblings tend to dress in the same patterned or style outfits, which makes us think that they’re more playful than they usually look. Also, with Laurie and Bebe wearing the same striped dress in this image, we believe the whole idea was perfectly orchestrated.
Did They Watch Star Wars? – 1977
When ‘Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope’ hit the big screen back in 1977, it became a phenomenon in pop culture worldwide. Interestingly, we have no idea whether the Brown siblings caught up on the craze too, and if they did, then they did an excellent job at hiding it.
Considering that there is no ‘Star Wars’ merchandise visible in the image makes us doubt that they even watched the interstellar flick. Even so, it could be they’re not fans of the science fiction film franchise, and there’s nothing wrong with that; the photo stands out either way.
Grease Fans Maybe? – 1978
For the most part, yearly fashion trends are influenced by films and music, and 1978 was no different. With the release of the famous movies ‘Grease,’ which starred John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, and ‘National Lampoon’s Animal House,’ it wasn’t surprising that people would don their favorite leather pants.
We can’t tell whether the siblings are wearing any leather pants or skirts in this picture, but chances are at least one of them did. Hopefully, there is a full image in Nixon’s album that shows their complete outfits, and if so, maybe it could be released for us to see whether they were ‘Grease’ fans.
New Decade Incoming – 1979
Like the past three years, the sisters were set to welcome the new decade with their yearly routine, taking their family photos. The song of the year was The Knack’s ‘My Sharona,’ and since most of us love to listen to some music during a photoshoot, we think the tune was on blast when they posed for this picture.
Safe to say, the Browns set a fashion standard with their picture series, with different outfits for every year, and have you noticed how immortal some styles are? We have seen people still donning some of the clothes the sisters have on in this decade, which shows that fashion sometimes doesn’t really change that much.
Joy To The Girls – 1980
This must have been one of those days the girls were having the time of their lives. Everyone was smiling and having fun which has been a rare sight so far. Maybe Nixon decided to change things up and target a more dynamic approach, and we love it.
Nevertheless, it’s hard to imagine what could have made the girls so happy that everyone is beaming in the image. All four of them understood the assignment too well for the moment to be a manufactured one. We must say, Nixon did a great job bringing out sentiment here and he is definitely the man for the job.
Growing Up – 1981
By this time, most of the girls had already clocked their 20’s except Bebe, and that’s where things started getting sketchy. The youngest would soon be saying bye to her teenage years, signaling the end of an era. That’s perhaps probably why everyone has a scowl here as they think about how time flies.
On the other hand, being an adult comes with all these expectations and responsibilities that one can’t just brush off and avoid. It’s hard on us all, and we can’t blame the sisters for not hiding their disdain for their new lifestyle. Plus, even their youngest sister was about to join grown-up life – Tough times indeed.
A Cool Image – 1982
On this day, the weather seems to have had a different idea. By the look of things, it was the ideal weather for most of the sisters as they smiled through their layers of clothing. We don’t know about you, but the cold weather is a no-go zone for us.
We wonder why Nixon chose the outdoors on such a chilly day, but maybe he knew how much the girls loved the cold weather. After all, he has been their faithful photographer for several years, so he would have a better idea about what would be the perfect day for the girls’ annual family portrait.
Time To Play Jenga – 1983
This is the year Jenga got introduced to the English world, and we doubt the sisters were left out. Going by the image, we can see the impatience on their faces as they count down the seconds to head back to their game. Nixon must have had a tough day with this one.
How the photographer managed to convince the girls to set aside the playful pursuit for a bit must be studied and documented because that’s no easy feat. On the other hand, it’s also entirely possible that maybe the girls were just out for a walk together because they wanted to relax and enjoy each other’s company on a nice sunny day outside.
A Rare Cameo – 1984
On this day, the cameraman made a cameo, and we can finally put a silhouette of the mysterious man behind the lens. Nixon has been doing such a great job so far; perhaps some folks thought the sisters made him up and used props to take the shots. So it’s nice to see their guy in partial glory doing what he does best.
We think the ladies must have known Nixon would make a cameo as they all seem more relaxed and poised than usual. Judging from the sandy background, they are all at the beach for the day, so it’s only fitting; nothing like the seaside on a sunny day for a bit of family photography.
Still At It After A Decade – 1985
We would not be surprised that this was a year that the Brown sisters and Nixon popped open a bottle of champagne to celebrate a decade of their project. It was a feat, mainly because the participants stayed so faithfully true to their goal.
This particular year is significant for people who love the movies because the classics ‘ Back to the Future’ and ‘The Breakfast’ club came out. On the other hand, a much-talked-about book at that time was ‘A Handmaid’s Tale’ by Margaret Atwood. Little did the author know that her masterpiece would become an award-winning television series more than three decades later.
Time For Their Close-up Shot – 1986
In 1986 when Halley’s Comet appeared in the night sky once again was also when the multinational technology corporation Microsoft made its presence first known to the world. For the Brown sisters and Nixon, though, it was the time to try an up close and personal shot.
Of course, the end result looked great, mainly because of the beautiful subjects and the talented photographer. While the siblings took their most personal photo yet for the project, ‘The Cosby Show’ was making waves on television, and a newbie actor named Tom Cruise was on his way to full stardom with the success of his movie ‘Top G*n.’
A Change Of Arrangement – 1987
We don’t know his reason, but for this photo, Nixon decided to change the arrangement of the sisters. Mimi and Bebe got placed in the center instead of their usual location at the back or the side. It looked like the photographer wanted to focus on the two siblings, and we can only guess his reason.
If the sisters were into music, they probably recently listened to ‘Walk Like an Egyptian’ by The Bangles and ‘Alone by Heart. They were the most popular singles that year, along with hit singles from Bon Jovi and Whitney Houston. Additionally, because of Mike Tyson’s fame, Nintendo came out with a boxing game called ‘Punch-Out.’
All Eyes Are On Laurie – 1988
One of the things that the 1980s is notable for to date is fashion. Gone were the traditional cuts and styles of dresses, along with muted colors. Instead, the decade was known for loud shades and bold prints, and an example is Laurie’s cheetah printed blouse. We can only guess the color since the photo’s black and white, but we hope it was vibrant.
If the Brown girls were movie lovers, we bet they’d watched ‘Rain Man,’ ‘Big,’ and ‘Die Hard.’ The latter is a classic one that many people still love watching today, especially when Christmas is around the corner. Those who have seen the Bruce Willis-starring blockbuster guess what we are talking about.
Barely Seeing Heather – 1989
The decade is drawing to a close, and Heather is hiding. Some people assume she was pregnant and did not want to include her tummy in the shot. Of course, it’s possible Heather felt shy that day and wanted to hide in the back. Nixon probably told them to pose naturally and then took the photo.
1989 was significant for Europe since the Berlin Wall finally got taken down as peaceful days dawned. On television, there were many firsts, including the pilot episode of ‘Seinfeld’ and the ‘I Love Lucy’ Christmas episode that got aired for the first time after thirty years.
New Decade, Old Traditions – 1990
It was the beginning of a new decade and, not even the cold weather could stop Nixon from creating yet another beautiful image. Maybe in an attempt to keep the cold away on what looked like a winter day, the four sisters huddled up in a warm embrace for that year’s photo.
But that was not the only thing keeping the siblings warm. In what we will never know if it was a coincidence or something they had planned, two of them had worn fleece jackets while the other two looked stunning in denim. We are glad the sisters kept their tradition going in the new decade.
Aging Gracefully – 1991
It is easier to tell siblings apart when they are younger, but as they get older, you start seeing the family resemblance, and it becomes harder to distinguish between them. Probably because as they grow old, the familial features start becoming clear, as was the case for the four sisters.
For over a decade, we could hardly see any family resemblances between them. However, for that year’s photo, we began to see how similar they looked as they began to age gracefully. We can hardly tell who is who. It seemed like the cold days were long gone as the four opted for light blouses and, yet again, Nixon captured a masterpiece.
An Expectant Sister? – 1992
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and this next photo could be hiding a clue. While their personal life remained a mystery, the brilliant photographer always had the sisters communicate something to the audience without being apparent about it.
Mimi seems to be cradling her belly, leaving us to think she was pregnant. In addition to that, Heather is looking and holding her sister’s stomach in such an adoring manner, while Laurie also seems to be gazing in the same direction. Well, we will never know if our assumptions were right or wrong because the Browns preferred to keep their personal lives private.
A Night Shot – 1993
For almost two decades, the talented photographer has been capturing his magnificent images during the day. But for that year, he went for a night shot because they seem to have used a flash to get the perfect lighting. Probably because the sisters’ lives had gotten ever busy and, they could only find some free time in the evening, or maybe it was a creative decision by Nixon.
Either way, it turned out to be a good decision as the sisters looked gorgeous in the night light. And can we talk about their fashion sense? In their trendy sweaters, we are willing to bet the Browns’ were fashion icons in their hometown.
The return of the close-up shot – 1994
In 1994 the sisters decided to return with yet another close-up shot like the one they had done eight years ago. While we are used to seeing them pose like professional models in front of the camera, we have rarely seen them pose for such an in-depth photograph. Although it was different from the rest, it still turned out to be a great picture as always.
An interesting event that happened that year was the ‘Green Day’ performance at Woodstock. Do you think the Browns’ decided to have a great time and attend the concert? We wonder if it was taken at the show, and that’s why Nixon opted for such a close-up photo.
Simple Beginnings – 1995
This year’s photo has no noticeable jewelry or even a ring; just a watch is worn by one of the sisters. The plainness of the sisters and the monochromaticity of the picture are what get one’s attention – as if to hide the bravado the colors bring and give them this timeless feel.
A fun fact about 1995 is that this year was when the internet became truly global, and the ‘dot com’ companies began to rise. Just like the feel of this year’s photo, the thought of the internet in its early time is so grounding because it shows us that big things start from the smallest ways.
A Shadow Is Featured – 1996
Other pictures had shown lovely poses and the season when the photograph was taken, but the shadowy concept takes the prize for being interesting. The sisters in sweaters and the cozy feel of the photo all agree with Nixon’s shadow as if to protect them from the chilly weather.
In 1984 he also cast his shadow on their picture, which may indicate a pattern. Yet, no matter how annoying the shadow may be, one cannot compare it to many parents’ chagrin at the frustration caused by the highly demanded toy, Tickle Me, Elmo, in 1996. Nonetheless, just as the toys brought joy to children, this photo brings joy to us too.
The Wind Beneath Their Hairs – 1997
This picture was taken at the beach on a sunny and windy day like it was a day out for the girls, and they decided it was a good pictorial opportunity. The photo resonates with the times as it was the year that we lost the loved royal – Princess Diana. As if to commiserate with the family, the women are all wearing black and holding their hands in solidarity.
At the time of this snapshot, ‘Titanic’ had just hit the cinemas, becoming the highest-grossing movie of its time. Its soundtrack, ‘My Heart Will Go On’ by Celine Dion, is a moving ballad about star-crossed lovers that dominated radio. We can imagine the tune playing as these sisters took their pictures on that windy day.
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