Beginning in the early nineteenth century, pin-up modeling had "theatrical origins",[3] burlesque performers and actresses sometimes used photographic advertisement as business cards to advertise shows.[4] These adverts and business cards could often be found backstage in almost every theater's green room, pinned-up or stuck into "frames of the looking-glasses, in the joints of the gas-burners, and sometimes lying on-top of the sacred cast-case itself." Understanding the power of photographic advertisements to promote their shows, burlesque women self-constructed their identity to make themselves visible. Being recognized not only within the theater itself but also outside challenged the conventions of women's place and women's potential in the public sphere.[5] "To understand both the complicated identity and the subversive nature of the 19th-century actress, one must also understand that the era's views on women's potential were inextricably tied to their sexuality, which in turn was tied to their level of visibility in the public sphere: regardless of race, class or background, it was generally assumed that the more public the woman, the more 'public,' or available, her sexuality, according to historian Maria Elena Buszek. Being sexually fantasized, famous actresses in early-20th-century film were both drawn and photographed and put on posters to be sold for personal entertainment.[6] Among the celebrities who were considered sex symbols, one of the most popular early pin-up girls was Betty Grable, whose poster was ubiquitous in the lockers of G.I.s during World War II.
Pick an era, any era! Vintage dresses have always been a ModCloth styling staple - in fact, it was a love of throwback fashion that gave us a presence on the internet in the first place. While moving forward in the fashion world is important, we take our retro roots around here pretty seriously, as evidenced by our incredible selection of unique vintage dresses. Should you find yourself a fan of 1930s dresses, a devotee of mod shift frocks from the '60s, or an enthusiast of edgy 1980s style, you're guaranteed to discover a nostalgic look that caters to your timeless tastes!
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.
While victory rolls, vintage waves and micro bang hairstyles were ultra-popular styles back when pin-up girls and screen sirens reigned supreme, these same fun, flirty looks can be worn today. It doesn’t matter if you’re wearing it as a style for Halloween or for a special occasion; all of these styles are wearable and fairly easy to create. To look like a bombshell calendar girl in modern times, here are some pin-up styles for long hair that you’ve got to try out:
A great every day dress for when you still need to look stylish but don't want to be too over the top. This new silhouette from Hell Bunny features a full circle skirt with pockets and well designed bodice featuring cute cut-outs at the collar and on the sleeves. The black binding gives a nice finish. My measurements are: bust 90cms (12DD bra) and waist 69cms and the XS size fit me very well. I did originally try the small but it was a bit roomy. Love the side seam pockets!
Though Marilyn Monroe and Bettie Page are often cited as the classic pin-up, there were many women of color who were also considered to be impactful. In the 1920s two of the most notable Black burlesque dancers were Josephine Baker and Lottie Graves. Despite the little history on Black burlesque dancers, Baker and Graves are a good starting point for evaluating women of color in pin-up. Dorothy Dandridge and Eartha Kitt also added to the pin-up style of their time, using their looks, fame, and personal success. African-American pin-up finally had a platform when the magazine, Jet, was created in 1951. Jet supported pin-up as they had a full page feature called, "Beauty of the Week", where African-American women posed in a swimsuits and such. This was intended to showcase the beauty these women possessed as they lived in a world where their skin color was under constant scrutiny. It was not until 1965 that Jennifer Jackson became the first African American to be published in Playboy as Playmate of the Month. And it was not until 1990 that Playboy's Playmate of the Year was an African-American woman, Renee Tenison. Historically, women of color in pin-up are still not as common as their white counterparts. However, the recent revival of pin-up style has propelled many women of color today to create and dabble with the classic pin-up look to create their own standards of beauty. In Jim Linderman's self-published book, Secret History of the Black Pin Up,[37] he describes the lives and experiences of African-American pin-up models.
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.
The Poodle Do is a very versatile hairstyle to achieve as it can be created with most hair types and lengths, from just above the shoulders to hair that is midway down the back. It all depends on your ability to handle minimal hair (perhaps using a few hair extensions to pad the top out) or long hair (hiding excess hair by overlaying the hair as you wind it up into curls).
603 items - Shop a great range of plus size rockabilly dresses online now at DHgate. We offer an unparalleled assortment of Casual Dresses, Dresses, Women's Clothing, Apparel, and more, all at unbeatable prices. Before buying the Night Out & Club plus size rockabilly dresses from a selected rockabilly dress supplier, I would recommend reading 12 vintage style plus rockabilly size dresses customer reviews, to ensure a pleasant plus size rockabilly dresses shopping experience.
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 my favourite Chic Star pencil dress so far! It's made from poly/elastane stretch fabric in a gorgeous midnight blue. The fabric is lovely and soft and smooth against the skin. My favourite feature apart from the lace is the ruched bust. 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!
When it comes to getting a vintage inspired dress and channeling your inner Grease Lightning character, the bigger the poof the better. There’s something so fun and flirty about a high waist thrills skirt, and the spring and summer season are the perfect time for both of those things. The best part? Our High Waist Thrills Skirt even comes with pockets just like the real retro deal. So, our thrills skirt is definitely a must have you’ll want to be twirling in this year.
Do you or did you used to work in an office environment? Then you're bound to own a pencil skirt. The classic pencil skirt is a key piece to bring to a pinup shoot as it's very usable and can be worn with shirts and cardigans or even just with your favorite bra. It is reminiscent of 1950s wiggle dresses that made the wearer walk with a little wiggle in their step.
I think this is my favourite Chic Star pencil dress so far! It's made from poly/elastane stretch fabric in a gorgeous midnight blue. The fabric is lovely and soft and smooth against the skin. My favourite feature apart from the lace is the ruched bust. 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!
While women still wore their big Victorian pieces in the first part of the 1950s, soon jewelry trends became smaller and more refined. Every girl wore a brooch on her shoulder with many wearing more than one at the same time. In the first part of the 1950s, gold- colored jewelry was found many places especially in big bold bracelets. In the later half of the decade, however, copper and plastic started to reign. Modernization allowed pieces to be made in mass quantities bringing down prices considerably. Many women brought jewelry in sets. Add these fashion pieces from Sweet and Spark to your jewelry box.
Rockabilly and pin-up are two separate styles. They are often mistaken for each other, as these two are distinguished with bright makeup, colorful clothes, and mysterious smiles. However, rockabilly was formed later, under the influence of rock-n-roll, as this music genre demanded a new way to self-expression. Thus, rockabilly can be called a son of pin up, which inherited the bright colors and free behavior from its mother, but added a bit of sass, tattoos, and insane dancing into its style. If you recognize yourself in this description – rockabilly was definitely created for you!
New to pin-up clothing altogether? Your wardrobe is in for a treat! Pin-up style dresses are super flattering and fun to wear. Start with the classic fit and flare style, which effortlessly defines your waistline and twirls beautifully at the hem. Looking for something with a little more va-va-voom? We'd suggest a wiggle dress without a second thought! This style hugs your curves and accentuates your silhouette. Similarly, the sheath dress is a fitted style that creates a gorgeous, streamlined look. Pair with a statement accessory and ruby lip for maximum impact. Our selection of pin-up clothing includes elegant underpinnings, too! These contouring shorts and high-waist panties will help create the perfect foundation for you look. Vintage-inspired vivacity doesn't get any better than this!
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.
My friend and I are in a vintage girl band called Diamond Darlings. When we first started out, we wanted to conduct a photo shoot in order to use the pictures for our publicity materials, such as our business cards and our website. Luckily my uncle is a professional photographer so we enlisted his help to take vintage style photos of us on our local beach and harbor. Although I wouldn't technically call it a pinup photo shoot, we definitely had elements of pinup girl glamour within our snaps. We even managed to use items that were already in our wardrobes so we didn't have to spend a ton of money on costumes and props.
Next, brush hair smooth in the back area. Backcomb the interior for extra volume and keep the surface smooth. Create soft curls with a medium barrel iron. Curl hair from the mid-length through to ends in a horizontal fashion. Set curls using pin curl clips until all hair is curled. Allow hair to cool, then release curls and allow to fall softly. Backcomb gently for a soft, voluminous finish.
For the makeup, I put a warm eyeshadow color like a brown in my crease with cream colored shadow on the lid to make my eyes pop without stealing the show. I used a brown liquid liner for my cat eye. Black looks harsh on me, so I prefer the softness of a dark brown. A structured brow is important for pin up looks, so I used the Anastasia Beverly Hills brow pomade. Blush is important for pin up looks to make you look lively. I also softened the look by going with a nude/pink lip rather than the typical bright red.
Bettie Page was a stunning woman. She looked fabulous wearing an easy pinned up hairstyle – well, then there wasn’t such a definition, women only did their best to move with the times. Bettie did her best to become an example of how sexy a girl can look. She was pretty bold, wearing a perfect hairstyle and nothing more – we mean, she was often spotted almost naked. However, the modern ladies can inherit only the hairstyle from her, adding it to their regular outfits. Here we have some examples of hairstyles that remind us miss Page and her ability to combine a feminine hairstyle with an aggressive hotness.
Begin with the fringe area. Create a horizontal parting and brush hair forward. Backcomb the base of the section. Sweep hair back and away from face to create a soft 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.
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.
Retro high ponytails also look amazing on longer lengths, especially since they deliver a polished and sophisticated finish. To achieve your high pony, start by applying the Nexxus Exxtra Hold Sculpting Gel to your hair to tame stray hairs. Next, flip your hair upside down. Proceed to brush your hair into a high ponytail that sits on top of the head. Secure your style with an elastic, and spritz on some strong hold hairspray.
