The Fashion of Modern Pinup

Aside from the fact that they contain pictures of beautiful women in charming poses, pinup art is interesting largely because of the clothes worn by the models. Those seductive and elegant pieces from the 1930s to the 1950s look downright sinful when worn by the sultry pinup girls. The modern pinup girls of today go to great lengths just to be faithful to the fashion of the classic pinup era. Thanks to the growing interest of women in pinup fashion, more and more designers are producing clothes fit for the most earnest modern pinups. The number of specialty shops selling vintage and fetish clothing have increased considerably.

Admittedly, dressing up to imitate the classic pinup look will take a lot of patience on your part. Aside from the clothes, you also have to perfect your hair and makeup. Attention to detail is a must if you want to pull off the pinup look. Modern pinup models should always look divine, with perfect makeup and every hair in place. Then there are the poses. Cheesecake poses are always sexy, but not overtly so.

For women who would like to dress like a modern pinup, several items are essential to perfect the look. First is the corset or bustier. Remember the infamous bustier Madonna wore to her concert? It was inspired by the traditional bustier and corsets, which are worn to shape the waist and push the breasts so that it would appear fuller. To give you an idea on the perfect pinup look, take a cue from Bettie Page. This 1950s goddess set the standard for pinup queens, with her full curves and trademark bangs. What sets her apart from other pinup models such as Marilyn Monroe and Betty Grable is her preference for darker fashion.

Bettie wore pieces that were more revealing – such black leather lingerie and spiky high heels. Just like Marilyn, Bettie also had the distinction of being one of the first Playboy Playmates. She served as the inspiration behind the vampy looks of some of today’s young artists who made use of the modern pinup look, such as the Pussycat Dolls.

Bettie’s look inspired Dita Von Teese, who is the most famous burlesque artist today. Her fascination with classic retro style helped launch her modeling career. She is now considered as the reigning Queen of Burlesque. Dita is known to use elaborate costumes and props for her performances, as well as complicated choreography. She was the one who popularized the Martini Glass routine, which was also used for a scene on the movie Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle. Other celebrities have used the classic pinup look to boost their careers.

Singer Katy Perry channeled Betty Page in her raven hair with bangs, red lipstick and 1940s and 1950s clothing. Without the influence of Bettie Page, the careers of artists such as Dita, Katie and the Pussycat Dolls will not be possible.