The world is on a retro kick. Arguably, nothing is ever new (as Sherlock Holmes so snootily points out), and we're merely recycling things over and over again. Lumberjack chic from the 90s (thank you, grunge) re-emerged a few years ago. Coloured leggings from the 80s are threatening to overwhelm the modern world.
But there are some styles that aren't recycled – they just never go away. A very good example is the "pinup girl" look. It's as classic as classic can get. From time to time, we find celebrities and fashionistas going for the retro pinup look: tight corset, coiffed hair, and red, red lips. Glamour, after all, never goes out of style.
Indeed, there is something enticing and almost mysterious about the pinup girl. Dita von Teese – burlesque dancer and pinup extraordinaire – is a very good example. Plus, there's the Marilyn Monroe-centric show, "Smash", and the deliciously retro "Mad Men".
Apart from these celebrities and television shows, vintage chic continues to influence even beauty products. Both Benefit and The Balmmake use of retro, pinup glamour for their packaging philosophy. All these are just examples of how popular the iconic pinup girl continues to be.
Betty Grable as the ultimate pin-up girl (photo from Wikipedia)
History
But what exactly is the "pinup girl"? Everyone knows the retro look: the woman in the tight dress; gratuitous showing of ample cleavage; perfectly curled hair; and bright red lips. The history of the pinup isn't quite as popular, though, and few people can pinpoint where the icon actually began.
The term "pinup" is actually quite straightforward. It refers to mass produced posters of glamorous models that are meant to be "pinned up" on the walls. The term was used as early as the 1890s to refer to illustrations meant for informal display, but now refers exclusively to the sexy symbols who graced posters during the Second World War.
This is why the iconic pinup girl reflects 1940s and 50s era fashion. Interestingly, though the highly sexualised images would normally have been frowned upon during the era, the war changed how people viewed the pinup girls. Since their posters appeared on nearly every soldier's locker or wall, the girls were viewed as patriotic inspiration.
Philosophy
What's very interesting is the pinup girl philosophy. Whereas in recent years, the trend has been to find anorexic models the epitome of beauty, the pinup girl bucks the trend by flaunting those serious curves. For the pinup girl, it's not about losing weight to fit the mould. It's about flaunting and loving what you have. Obviously, it's a very liberating philosophy, especially for modern women forced to conform to rather unnatural standards of beauty.
Another thing about pinup philosophy is that there is the emphasis on glamour. It's all about looking good all the time. It's not an act: it's a lifestyle. Dita von Teese, the living and breathing pinup girl, never steps out of the house without getting all dolled up. She looks every inch the pinup icon even if she's just walking her dog or going shopping.
Dita von Teese on the Daily Mail
Feminist take
Obviously, the pinup girl – her image and everything she stands for – has had a difficult effect on feminists. On one hand, the very idea of women in sexual poses and capitalising on their bodies to gain popularity is anathema to the feminist movement. Viewing women as sexualised objects is unacceptable to feminists.
On the other hand, taking the era of their rise to popularity into context, these pinup stars were actually quite ahead of their time, gladlyembracing and flaunting their femininity. Where women were usually forced to conform to social standards of the "good" woman – who stayed home and accepted her husband's every whim and order – these pinup girls were independent and beyond any man's control.
Pinup face
Modern pinup enthusiasts have great interest in recreating the glamourous, old Hollywood look through their makeup. It's not difficult because there are certain key points in the pinup makeup look that are easy to emulate. First, keep everything matte. These days, there is the option for dewy makeup (which is most popular with East Asians) that looks more natural. Since pinup is very emblematic of the 40s and the 50s, the makeup is all matte. Your foundation should not just be matte; it should also be pale. Try to use the exact shade match or go lighter, never darker.
Groom your eyebrows but refrain from getting them too sparse. In fact, darken brows with an eyebrow pencil. The idea is to make the brows stand out on a pale face. Add definition with winged eyeliner. Use shimmery eyeshadow in any colour, though nothing too dark. Smokey is ideal. The cheeks should have a healthy flush. Just pick a blush that gives you that natural, healthy glow.
Finally, the lips. Go rich with your reds. Think Anne Curtis, for example, with her old Hollywood glam. Check out this tutorial for the modern pinup look.
Fashion a la pinup
When it comes to the modern take on pinup fashion look no further than pop star Katy Perry. The woman has appropriated the retro look for her public appearances and performances, wearing tight-fitting bombshell dresses in various prints.
If you're interested in vamping up your personal style by adding a few vintage touches, start with prints. The thing about pinup fashion is that it's loud and colourful. You have prints, polka dots, stripes, etc. The colours are bold and definitely pop out of a crowd.
Go high-waisted with your skirts and pants. As for the top, well, everyone knows that the pinup look is all about the cleavage. Halter tops are bound to bring out your inner pinup girl, though do try to keep things classy. You're trying to look sexy, not trashy.
Conclusion
The classic beauty and sex appeal of the pinup girl will not fall out of favour even as the modern world gains new icons, mostly because this throwback to a bygone era touches the human need for nostalgia. Or, perhaps, it's just because the pinup girl really has looks worth emulating. The red lips, coiffed hair, curvy body – these all point to a certain degree of boldness in beauty and fashion. If there's one thing to take away from the pinup girl philosophy, it's that timidity isn't sexy, but tenacity is.
