These ten items are the pinup basics that will build a fabulous foundation for your new wardrobe. I’ve tried to find affordable options for each item. Money can be tight when you’re buying yourself a whole new wardrobe! And when you’re a fledgling pinup, you may not want to blow £100 on a dress. Well, you’ll probably want to but may not be able to justify it! Now, enough of this chatting, it’s smudging my lipstick. Let’s go shopping! Here’s what you’ll need…
Retrolicious is a vintage inspired brand of fun and funky dresses for the modern enthusiast. You can find our love for color and fit on all of our retro designs including: vintage inspired swing dresses, sexy little black dresses, 60's inspired mod tops, twirl-worthy skirts, fun jumpsuits, kids' dresses, 1950's style boleros, and even accessories like reusable tote bags. We like to compliment our bright and colorful pieces with vintage inspired staples like our Boat Neck tops, Isabel tops, and Charlotte skirts. Whether you're looking for retro style workwear, geeky inspired clothing like our Science and Space collections, or a classic pinup outfit; Retrolicious has it all!
Trashy Diva: The bright patterns and colors on Trashy Diva’s in-house line of dresses are really special, and the brand also carries a small collection of accessories and jewelry, as well as children’s versions of the adult-sized dresses. The clothing cuts are some of the most accurate when it comes to replicating the styles of the ’40s through ’60s, and despite the shop name, the stuff is totally appropriate for work, too.
There’s never been a better time to bring back those vintage styles from the ‘40s and ‘50s. The pin-up style in particular was all about femininity while also giving luscious ladies an empowered look. Once you slip into one of our stylish dresses or a sassy little ‘50s wiggle skirt, you’ll know exactly what we mean. Showing off your curves is easy when you have the right pin-up girl style, and the impeccable structure of these pieces make them a flattering fit for any body type. You’ll feel fierce, fashionable and feminine all at once when you rock our ‘50s rockabilly dresses and skirts or pin-up style shorts and tops.
Fashion and style trends are a recurring process. The retro pin-up girl look is making its comeback from the 40's to today! Having been popularized by Burlesque models in the early 40’ to 80’s. Those pin-up models pictures were mass produced and attracted a wider audience with the need to spread its appeal as pop culture. These informal posters were found anywhere from walls, poles, posts, and even those cigarette packs from Lucky Strike.
Lipstick "turned into a symbol of resilient femininity in the face of danger"[25] and was seen as a way to boost morale during the war. The shape of the lip was also iconic of the 1940s. The lips were painted on to look plumper, a broad outline of the lip was added for roundness. This fuller look is known as the "Hunter's Bow", invented by Max Factor.[26] The pin curl is a staple of the pin-up style, "women utilized pin curls for their main hair curling technique".[27] Originating in the 1920s from the "water-waving technique", the hair style of the 1940s consisted of a fuller, gentle curl. The drying technique consists of curling a damp piece of hair, from the end to the root and pin in place. Once the curl is dry, it is brushed through to create the desired soft curl, with a voluminous silhouette.[27] Victory rolls are also a distinctive hairstyle of the pin-up. The Victory roll is curled inward and swept off the face and pinned into place on the top of the head. Soft curls, achieved through the pin curl technique, finish off the look of pin-up.[28] As a makeup style, the classic pin-up underwent a revival in modern fashion. The red lip and winged eyeliner made a re-emergence in 2010, with singer, Katy Perry being the most accessible example of modern pin-up makeup. There is a lack of representation in the media of women of color as pin-up models, even though they were influential to the construction of the style and were just as glamorous.[29] As a makeup style, it is simple and sleek makeup, that is noticeable and glamorous.
Read my article Sammy Davis, for complete details, but no fashion designer had more influence on the 1950s fashion than Christian Dior. His influence can be seen in the A-line dress that he introduced in the spring of 1955. Until that point, women had worn fashions with tightly nipped-in waist and broad shoulders. The A-line was seen as radical because of its narrow shoulders, elongated waistline and trumpet-like flared hemline. Take a look at this vintage A-line dress from Rose Wholesale (@rosewholesale_official) to create this look for yourself.
Diamonds may be a girl's best friend, but retro accessories are a fashion icon's partner in crime. These must have retro fashion accessories are all you need to pull off that 50s glamour that icons such as Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor were known for. Wearing you're styling basic jeans and a tea or a fancy ball gown fit for Barbie, Betty Von Chic has the retro accessories you're looking for. Shop today and explore our Instagram for some vintage fashion outfit ideas.
Love these. My butt looks freaking fantastic in these and I'm sure yours will too. Wore these with my black bordello pumps and they looked incredibly cute. Very comfortable too. The buttons were fun to figure out when i needed to pee in a hurry, but the cloth started to break in and get easier. I've got voluptuous legs naturally (cuban) and this gave me a natural thigh gap I've not used to seeing. Thank you magic pants!
Read my article Sammy Davis, for complete details, but no fashion designer had more influence on the 1950s fashion than Christian Dior. His influence can be seen in the A-line dress that he introduced in the spring of 1955. Until that point, women had worn fashions with tightly nipped-in waist and broad shoulders. The A-line was seen as radical because of its narrow shoulders, elongated waistline and trumpet-like flared hemline. Take a look at this vintage A-line dress from Rose Wholesale (@rosewholesale_official) to create this look for yourself.
These types of retro swimsuit bottoms leave much more to the imagination than those itsy bitsy thong bikinis that seem to be “the thing” in this modern-day world, making them mysterious and sexy. And as the saying goes, less is not always more and our high waist retro bottoms are the perfect example of just that. Cinched at the waist before extending slightly above, these retro bikini bottoms will give you a perfect silhouette and all the comfort and coverage you desire.
Finger waves reached the peak of popularity in 1950s. The women of that time fell in love with tight and thin shiny locks and wistful glances. It was easy to meet a lady in a long black dress; the lady who had dark makeup on her pale face and a mouthpiece in her hand. Such a look was very inspiring for the poets and artists of that time. We can only imagine, how pretty was that mystical darkness that enveloped those beautiful women! However, it is pretty easy to reproduce their looks. Even if you take only their hairstyle, you will be already involved into that 50s fashion! You can take the photos below as a little reference.
The hair is elegantly swept back up away from the face and nape of the lady’s neck, and the curls are elegantly dressed out on top of her head with meticulous precision. This style elevates the hair, elongating the profile and creating slender lines finished off with a dramatic burst of curls. Any diva sporting this style in the era of yesteryear would be destined to be swept off her feet by an admiring tall dark and handsome man. And of course they would live happily ever after.
Another great pencil dress by Chic Star! It's made from poly/elastane stretch but the fabric is lovely and soft and smooth against the skin. The design is simple but smart and the black collar and sleeve trim reminds me of a 50's diner uniform. I love the print which is something a little bit different and the colour is great! Definitely a great dress to wear to work or for an evening out. My measurements are bust 90cms (12DD bra), waist 69cms and hips 93cms and the size 8 is a perfect fit. If you have any questions, please get in touch!
Diamonds may be a girl's best friend, but retro accessories are a fashion icon's partner in crime. These must have retro fashion accessories are all you need to pull off that 50s glamour that icons such as Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor were known for. Wearing you're styling basic jeans and a tea or a fancy ball gown fit for Barbie, Betty Von Chic has the retro accessories you're looking for. Shop today and explore our Instagram for some vintage fashion outfit ideas.
The Poodle Do is the style in this photo. It was recreated by stylist Magic Michael Davids and made famous in the 1940s and 1950s on celebrities such as Lucille Ball and Betty Grable. Those were the decades of ultimate feminine style where ladies would go to the hair salon and get their hair set in curls and dressed out using skilled techniques that have nearly been lost today. The invention of the straightening iron may have contributed to this.
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Begin with the fringe area. Create a horizontal parting and brush hair forward. Backcomb the underside interior of the hair. Gather ends and roll under to create your fringe roll. Use a hair donut, padding or gentle backcombing for extra support. Pin under as needed with bobby pins. Smooth the exterior of the fringe with a fine tooth comb and light hairspray.
Fine Frame Edgier Looks. For the edgier side of the fine frame looks, try the opposite of the flowing fabrics and go for a straight tailored look. Pixie length bottoms with a tailored leather jacket over a chiffon blouse make for an excellent look. Pair it with some bold makeup and finger-waved hair and a pair of cheetah print platform pumps and you’ve got a fabulous combination.
One of the icons of this style is Marylin Monroe, who really mastered the art of combining the beautiful details of the pin up style with the gorgeous posture and overall manners and just all the nuances that are necessary to complete such looks. Rita Hayworth is another bright embodiment of total charm having become an icon of the pin up style. Lana Turner, Ava Gardner, and Betty Grable are also included in the list of the top gorgeous icons of this style. As for the modern images we can point out Scarlett Johannsson and Dita Von Teese as the contemporary followers of the pin up style perfectly using it for modernized retro and chic looks.
While some may say that fashion is cyclical, the advanced outfitter knows that the best looks are the ones that never went out of style in the first place! By bolstering your closet with an impressive collection of retro dresses from ModCloth, you give yourself the gift of looks that bypass all current trends and hype thanks to their unwavering timelessness. Vintage dresses have always been a favorite of ours, and we believe that if they haven't already, our assortment of throwback styles will find a place in your heart soon enough!
Pinup Girl Clothing: Leaning a little more mainstream and rockabilly, Pinup Girl has an enormous fanbase that spans a variety of subcultures and demographics, from hardcore pinup enthusiasts to true vintage hounds to Disney fanatics. The shop always features some kind of sale and carries collections inspired by everyone from Audrey Hepburn to Dita Von Teese that go up to a size 4X.
I think this is a great look for a beginner or someone with an advanced skill set. The best advice I can give when it comes to creating rolls is, when you think you’ve teased it enough, tease it a little more. I find that most people are afraid to tease their hair. With vintage styling, I find teasing key. I recommend using a texturizing power like Puff.Me at the roots then teasing with a “C”-shaped motion. Lightly brush out the surface and use a pomade or wax to smooth flyaways.
The Pretty Dress Company: As the name suggests, this is the place to find the dress of your dreams. The cuts are extremely ’40s-, ’50s-, and ’60s-leaning, with tucked-in waists and longer hems and pencil skirts. They aren’t cheap, but the quality is amazing. If you’ve been eyeing a gorgeous vintage blogger on Insta, this is where they got that dress.
That’s where reproduction boutiques come in. Many shops have popped up within the last decade to reproduce items from the post-war time period, some even using original patterns and fabrics. If you’re looking to try out a pillbox hat like Midge Maisel, interested in a classic red lipstick, or thinking of going full pinup, there are lots of options at myriad price points, not to mention styles and sizes for many bodies.
