Nearly a year ago, I typed the phrase "How do I become a Pinup?" into Google and was overwhelmed by the gazillion and one search results that came rushing back to me. It was a scary yet exhilarating first step into the new chapter of my life, and all I wanted was a "To Do List" that I could check off and at the end of it all, wind up being the latest Kiwi version of the ever-stunning Dita Von Teese. But alas, it wasn't that simple, and the more I searched, the more I became disheartened. I quickly learned that there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to adopting a vintage-inspired lifestyle. So, to honour my shaky first steps, and my initial wish for a checklist, I thought I'd put one together now. But be warned, this Pinup Checklist is more tongue in cheek than bona fide.
Rule Number One:
A Pinup ALWAYS wears red lipstick.
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| Betty Grable, Jayne Mansfield and Dita Von Teese all clearly wearing red lippy.... |
Do you own a red lipstick? If so, then good, you're on the right track to being a pinup. If not, just give up now. The rule clearly states that you MUST always be wearing a shade of red on your lips, because, well, that's just the rule ok?!
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| Queen Nefertiti (whose name translates to "the beautiful one has come"). |
So, where did red lippy even come from?
Just as with the winged eyeliner, so too does the red lipstick come from the ancient Egyptians. Mesopotamian women (and sometimes men) would wear crushed up semi-precious gemstones on their lips to give them a shade of red. Cleopatra is also famous for crushing up beetles and bugs to create the perfect scarlet colour for her lips. Early red lippys are often called "The Kiss of Death" because they were made from highly toxic ingredients such as fucus-algin (a form of seaweed) and bromine mannite (found in plants), which caused serious illnesses and even death.
Jump forward to the 1950's where lipsticks are now conveniently non-life-threatening, and with large thanks to cosmetic companies such as Estee Lauder and Max Factor, and celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe and Ava Gardner, lipstick has become so popular that 98% of American women use it. Gone are the wartime days of minimalism, makeup in the 50's is loud, proud and in your face, and women's lips are certainly no exception.
Does a vintage girl HAVE to wear red lipstick?
Short answer; NO!
Did EVERY woman in the Forties, Fifties, Sixties, etc wear red lipstick? No. So why should you have to? Well, you don't. Wear what you like. Wear what suits you. Heck, don't wear anything at all (on your lips that is :P). As long as you feel comfortable and confident, you can do and wear anything you fancy.
Rule Number Two:
There is no such thing as a brunette Pinup.
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| Rita Hayworth, Bettie Page and Ava Gardner are three of the most famous blonde pinups... |
Time to get that peroxide out brunette ladies, there is absolutely no such thing as a non-blonde pinup. You simply cannot be a pinup if your hair is any darker than platinum. It's just the way it is and there's nothing you can do about it.
Well, actually, there's just as many, if not more, brunette pinups than there are blonde pinups, so before you rush out to book in for a blonding at your hairdresser, take a minute to peruse over this collage of brunettes from the 40s, 50s and 60s.
Still not convinced? Well perhaps we should take a little peek into the history of blonde. Blonde hair has only been around in the world for the past 11,000 years or so. Brought about through genetic mutation in Lithuania, it quickly spread throughout the lands, more so in the West. Scientists believe the blonde mutation occurred because lighter hair is able to manufacture Vitamin D more efficiently (which was particularly important during the dark Ice Age) and also, because of it's rarity, blonde females were more sought after by males. Throughout history blonde hair was hated and then loved and then hated again. However, in the 1930's, actress Jean Harlow made the lighter-coloured tresses something to be desired by the men of the world and wanted by the women. Jean reported used straight bleach on her head, which isn't exactly all that healthy, so because of it's risk, it made her snow white hair a bit of a commodity. This look was so hard to achieve, that Howard Hughes (yes the same Howard Hughes played by Leo in "The Aviator") even offered $10,000 (which was a heck of a lot of money in those days) to the beautician/stylist that could copy Miss Harlow's colour. He even penned the term "Platinum Blonde" to describe her. Jean Harlow's death has left a lot of speculation about the cause of it, with some conspiracies blaming her demise on the very hair that shot her to fame. In the 1950s, Clairol released the first ever at home permanent hair dye, and so women were able to replicate the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Betty Grable, all from the comfort of their own home.
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| Jean Harlow began Hollywood's obsession with Blondes in the 1930's. |
So, do you still HAVE to be blonde?
No. But then, choice is ultimately yours. Embrace whatever colour you desire, there are NO rules about what colour a Pinup's hair has to be. You could even be a Neon-Pink-Haired Pinup for all you like. The choices are only limited to your imagination.
No. But then, choice is ultimately yours. Embrace whatever colour you desire, there are NO rules about what colour a Pinup's hair has to be. You could even be a Neon-Pink-Haired Pinup for all you like. The choices are only limited to your imagination.
Rule Number Three:
All Pinups HAVE to have a Beauty Spot.
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| Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe and Dita Von Teese all became famous Pinups without Beauty Spots... |
There is no Pinup alive that doesn't have a Beauty Spot. It's part of the Pinup selection process. If you don't have one, you can't be a Pinup sorry. Unless you're prepared to fake one.
Beauty Spots are somewhat synonymous with the Pinup image and were once the epitome of beauty, even though they're really just facial moles. Throughout history, moles have been used by women to enhance facial features, denote their relationship status, suggest their likes and dislikes, represent their dominant personality traits and some even used Beauty Spots to tell their lovers how to behave (mole by the right eye meant "keep your eyes only on me buddy, or else"). The humble face mole has risen to popularity throughout the ages more times than Britney Spears has arisen from vehicles without panties.
You do NOT have to enhance or show off your natural Beauty Spot if you have one, just as you do not have to create one if you're face is mole-barren. Do what works for you, and if that means putting on a strategic facial spot made from liquid liner, then so be it. And if you want to cover up or hide your natural Beauty Spot, your secret's safe with me and your concealer.
Rule Number Four:
Pinups have to ALWAYS be scantily-clad.
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| Lauren Bacall, Veronica Lake and Esther Williams are all proof that Pinups HAVE to be scantily-clad... |
The very first Pinups were thought to be actresses and Burlesque performers who created advertisements of themselves and placed them throughout theatres in the hopes of getting work. The photos were not necessarily seductive, however even then women knew that sex sells, so the sexier the photograph, the more work a woman was thought to acquire. When the War came about in the Forties, the Pinup was given a makeover. Instead of just being the adornment of men's locker rooms, she became the adornment for fighter planes and was thought of by the men as inspiring and a female patriot that brought about good luck. Being a Pinup became more about being the idealised beautiful woman, rather than a sex object. Actresses such as Veronica Lake and Elizabeth Taylor were sexy, yet still classy, and allowed for a new breed of Pinup to begin. However, with the introduction of Betty Brosmer, Marilyn Monroe and the likes to the Pinup world, the focus quickly shifted back to being that of a sexy woman, rather than just a beautiful one.
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| Betty Brosmer, the highest paid model of the 1950's. |
Some women are quite comfortable disrobing in front of the camera, and some women even make a living from it. However, just because it is somewhat the norm to be more sexy than classy in a Pinup styled photoshoot, it does not mean that you have to follow suit. Learn your boundaries, and do not let anyone or anything push you past them. And if you're finding it hard to decide what is right for you, think about this; one day your grandchildren might find your photos online, will you be embarrassed? If not, go ahead and get naked girl!
