Currently Listening to:
"A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody" by Artie Shaw
As many of you know, along with plus modeling I also dabble in pinup and I'm a firm believer in that every girl should embrace her inner vintage vixen from time to time!
(Photo taken by my sister.)
I've been blessed with the chance to have had such great experiences in my career ranging from signing with Click Models to working for companies like Mervyn's and to having even been published in
Retro Lovely Magazine back in October. I love being a plus model and a pinup model, because both have room to positively promote full figures. In fact, one of the things I love most about the classic 40s and 50s pinups is the fact they had curves and were praised for it. Back then, before the 60s saw the rise of uber skinny supermodel
Twiggy, what we consider plus sizes now were embraced, loved, and even celebrated! In a world where negative self-image and body issues are on the rise among women young and old everywhere, we should try to remember the words of the great Sophia Loren:
"Sex appeal is fifty percent what you've got and fifty percent what people think you've got." You don't
have to have an hourglass figure in order to be a pinup wonder - a little red lipstick, a smile, and
confidence go a long, long way! But in case you're curious, here are some great resources and inspiration to help you release the time-traveling temptress within!
Right: author Dita looking sweet and sophisticated for the camera, photographer unknown.)
Written by Dita Von Teese, perhaps my biggest inspiration and personal style icon. Dita is a powerhouse of beauty, brains, and business savvy. She has built an empire as a face for
MAC cosmetics and as a voice for
PETA, she is the current spokeswoman for
Perrier,
Wonderbra, and a noted muse for designers such as
Jean Paul Gualtier and even my own favorites,
Elie Saab and
John Galliano! She is hailed as
the modern pinup girl and is hugely responsible for bringing classic Burlesque back into the mainstream. She also puts Cher, Christina, and notorious
faux-lesqueteers The Pussycat Dolls to shame! The thing I admire most about Dita Von Teese though is what she stands for and her message for women of all ages:
love yourself, above all else.
Dita's book,
Burlesque & the Art of the Teese is not only a warm look into the history of early and modern burlesque, but is also an autobiographical memoir and a guide to vintage glamour for any girl looking to embrace her inner vintage vixen. It is available for purchase at your local bookstore or online at her
official website. (
Signed copies are also available!) Expect to see a beauty book from Dita soon, as well, you can catch her performing live at
The Roxy theatre in Los Angeles this Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Tickets available at the
Roxy Box Office or
Ticketmaster.
featuring Johanna, available for purchase on her Etsy store. Right: artwork by Johanna.)
27 year-old
Johanna Ost is an
artist,
blogger, and fellow girl anachronism from Vallentuna, Sweden. In addition to writing and making things, she studies history and is also an 18th Century re-enactor! (You can check out her
18th Century Blog here!) This Blonde Bombshell has talent and style. She is the complete girl power package with Marilyn Monroe's hair, Marie Antoinette's bedroom, and an amazing wardrobe straight from a 1950s McCall's catalog. (And did I mention she had quite possibly the best costume this past Halloween? She was Debbie Jellinsky from Addams Family Values! Check out her hand-made costume
here.) I adore her fanciful artwork and every time I look at it, I just want to get everything tattooed onto my body! Then I remember I'm deathly afraid of needles and how horrible it was just to get my nose done... Anyway! Her long-time beau Henrik takes all of her photos, he also designed and developed her adorable little website and blog. Johanna is another of my biggest inspirations and I'm sure she'll inspire you too!
(Left: Pin Up Girl Clothing "Violet" Dress in Pink and Black,
Right: Pin Up Girl Clothing "Violet" Dress in Pink and Black for Plus.)
A great place to find Vintage and Retro-inspired wear is
Pin Up Girl Clothing! They carry a wide variety of dresses, seperates, swimwear, shoes and accessories (for women and men) in figure-flattering, curve-hugging styles from brands such as
Pinup Couture,
Deadly Dames, and
Dixiefried. Perfect for every pinup girl! Whether you're a cheesecake cutie, a vivacious vamp, or a mad
woman,
Pin Up Girl Clothing has something for you! They are the premiere place to purchase pinup and also one of the few companies to proudly use plus models to promote their products
and stock full figured sizes. Shop their
online store or visit their
blog.
Lucy B. Lingerie
(Left: Bernie Dexter for Lucy B. Lingerie "Sweet Tart" Matching Bra, Panties and Garter set.
Every pinup girl needs the proper under-pinnings and I can't think of a better place to get them than
Lucy B. Lingerie! This woman-owned and woman-run company specializes in vintage-inspired 40s and 50s style lingerie that is affordable, durable, comfortable and cute all wrapped up in one. These aren't your grandma's bras and panties! (Or are they? ;D)
Lucy B. Lingerie's retro reproductions are fit for any Pinup Glamour Girl or Burly-Q queen who is looking for fun, fabulous, and foxy underwear! Also, be sure to check out their
Pinup of the Month section where they feature a pretty new pinup girl every month!
Aaaaand here are some of my favorite simple, easy-to-do hair and makeup tutorials to help you polish off your pinup look. (Perfect for vintage virgins and pinup style first-timers!)
