Pinup essentials

If you caught my last post, you'd know that I've been asked to share a few hints and tips about dressing and being a pinup for girls who are just getting started! This is the second of my articles which originally featured in Red Lipstick Pinups magazine, with a few updates and pictures to help you along.

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Essentials can be different for every pinup girl, depending on why you want to be a pinup (such as looking for change of style, starting to model, competing in pageants pageants etc.) But I’ve put together a list of clothing, accessory and makeup items that should be in your pinup wardrobe!

A circle skirt 
Every pinup girl needs to have a circle skirt (or a few) in her wardrobe. If you’re just getting started, these skirts can be paired with t-shirts and blouses that you already have and still give you a vintage look. I love putting my circle skirts with my superhero shirts for a nerdy touch, or wearing pretty colours and a petticoat.

A wiggle dress
Figure-hugging dresses that show off your curves. They can take a lot of confidence to wear them, but believe me, they will make you look and feel fantastic.

Hair wraps
Brightly coloured hair wraps, scarves and do-rags are a pinup girls’ best friend. Because, let’s face it, some days your hair is not going to cooperate. Scarves and wraps hide a multitude of hair sins and take you from modern to vintage in a matter of seconds. You all know my favourites are from Honey Cub, so if you haven't' already checked them out, what are you waiting for?

Red lipstick and winged eyeliner
Start searching now, because every pinup has her favourite brand and shade of red lippy and preferred method for getting the perfect wing on your eyeliner. Check out some online tutorials for hints and tips on rocking the look, especially if you’re not used to wearing bright makeup!

Brooches
I don’t know one single pinup who doesn’t have an extensive collection of brooches! Vintage brooches are easy to pick up from second-hand stores and markets, and there are also lots of places producing quirky and cute vintage-style brooches. Erst Wilder is an Australian company making some of the most gorgeous brooches ever, and they’re quickly gaining popularity all over the world. But I also love Deer Arrow and Heidi and Gretal at the moment for some gorgeous, quirky and unique brooches.

Fancy shoes
Shoes can be hard when it comes to your pinup wardrobe! Most of us have much bigger feet than our foremothers did, so finding vintage shoes is next to impossible. My advice is to develop an eye for “vintage-style” shoes. Think espadrilles, corked wedges, strappy Mary-Janes and Oxfords. It’s also worth shopping around for reproduction styles as you can pick them up at a fraction of the store price from some retailers.

Mermaid shoes and brooch 

I hope this has helped you get a handle on some essential pinup items! If there's anything you'd like me to go into more depth on, please let me know.

So, you want to be a pinup girl (or just change your style)...

I've been asked to share a few hints and tips about dressing and being a pinup for girls who are just getting started! I'm starting by making some updates to a few of my articles which featured in Red Lipstick Pinups magazine.

This is a piece I wrote about getting started as a pinup, with a focus on things you can do with your wardrobe.

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So, you want to be a pinup girl.

Pinup is a term that can mean a lot of different things to different people. Some girls consider pinup to be a way of dressing, or a style. For others, it is a complete lifestyle, not just a way of dressing. Some girls aspire to become pinup models with portfolios and pictures published in magazines and others do pageants, or dance, or take photos…

For me, it started with changing my wardrobe so I felt more confident and comfortable. Then I tried a photo shoot, then I decided to try my luck at getting into a pageant, and it just went from there.

This was a very early start to dressing retro

Not matter your reason, it's valid! Chances are, once you’re involved you’ll discover more things you’d like to get involved in than you ever imagined. But the best place to get started, is with your wardrobe.

Here are five tips for overhauling your wardrobe so you can get that pinup look you love:

Research: Buy magazines, search the web and start following vintage/pinup/rockabilly girls. Most of them will have Facebook and Instagram and many of them have blogs. It’s a big supportive community, so when a girl finds a product or a shop they like, chances are they’ll share their favourites which will help you discover the best places to shop. Following other girls will also give you a good idea of how to put together an outfit, how to pose (if you’re heading down the photo route) and where the must-do events are.

Incorporate vintage and pinup touches in your everyday outfits: This is a good way of giving yourself a different look without having to purchase a new wardrobe in one hit. Buy a cute vintage bag, or style your hair with victory rolls. Add a brooch at your lapel, a flower in your hair and you’ll instantly transform your wardrobe. You can also look for some vintage-style staples at department stores; go for knee-length skirts, pretty blouses and cute shoes that you can mix and match as you expand your pinup wardrobe. I will elaborate on this point in a few weeks too, so keep an eye out!!

Stock up on staples: Look for things like neutral coloured tops, skirts, shoes and stockings This is especially important if you’re going to buy bright, out there vintage prints. You’ll need to have staples to mix and match to create different looks out of a few pieces.

Practice: If you’re also changing the way you style your hair and do your makeup, this is going to take some practice. It helps to watch tutorials on YouTube and then try and replicate a style and find out which techniques work best for you. You can also take a vintage styling workshop where you’ll learn basic hair and makeup.

It took a lot of experimenting to be able to do this! 

Go to events: If you’re completely overhauling your look, it might feel a bit weird at first to start wearing giant petticoats or looping your hair ten centimetres off your head in everyday life. A good way to ease yourself into the style (or to ease those around you into your style change) is to head to rockabilly and vintage events in your area where more people will be dressed up than not. But once you’re comfortable with your style, you should be able to rock your look wherever you go!

Events are also great because once you've been to a few, you’ll start meeting new people and become a part of the vintage community. And that’s when the real fun starts to happen!

Being in a pageant was a great way of meeting people!

If you've got any questions, or aspects of this post you'd like me to elaborate on, make sure you get in touch by clicking here! I love hearing what you want to hear.