A Glamour Girl's Wish List Part 2

Part 2 of the wish list compiles the November entries from our Facebook fan page.

Between now and December we'll be posting the items we think any glamour girl or pin up would covet for her wish list! Stay tuned because you never know what will show up in your news feed or when!

#7 Hey, we may not be able to really look like Petty Girls in real life (mostly because Petty painted his models with longer legs and smaller heads than normal human beings actually have), but you can sure try! Petty aficianados know that 95% of his pin ups are shown chatting on the phone.

Real vintage phones are getting hard to come by without spending a few hundred bucks, but fear not! There are reproduction versions available for less - both corded and cordless - and some are even available in modern color choices.

Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Teen offer these two cordless options:

Grand Cordless Phone - office model

From Pin Up Finishing School NYC

Grand Cordless phone - bedroom model

From Pin Up Finishing School NYC

They are $129 and $99 respectively. The choice is bigger and less expensive if you want to go with the more authentic corded variety.

The Crosley desk phone comes in a variety of colors including pink and turquoise for around $45:

From Pin Up Finishing School NYC

Crosley Corded desk phone.

You really can't imagine the sensation this little number caused when Bell Telephone introduced it in the late 50's. Oval? Colors? What are they thinking? It's the classic Princess style (wish someone would do this in a cordless). This one can also be found in the $45 range:

From Pin Up Finishing School NYC

If you really want to go authentic there's this awesome speciman from www.vintagephone.com. It's an Automatic Electric 1940's wall phone for $275:

From Pin Up Finishing School NYC

Yes, the picture is the right way around!

If you're one of those little Generation Z (for zygote I suspect ;-)) young 'uns who just think a landline is too L7 there's always this retro-styled headset for your cell phone for $45:

From Pin Up Finishing School NYC

Happy talking!

#8 Want to have yourself painted as a pin up or do something special for your hubby, wife, significant other, mom, sister...ok just about anyone? Well then Miss Anna Cas comes to the rescue! Not only can she paint you as an adorable pin up girl as she did me (see below), she is also offering special paintings of you and your honey, or mom and child. Only $20 for your own personal profile portrait!

From Pin Up Finishing School NYC

From Pin Up Finishing School NYC

#9 Normally when it comes to the holidays I'm a traditionalist; live tree, turkey dinner with all the trimmings, waiting until Christmas morning to open your presents. I could be sorely tempted to make an exception for this:

From Pin Up Finishing School NYC

I can't even begin to imagine the retro glamour this could bring to my living room! I would probably pass out from the overwhelming gorgeousness and the myriad decorating possibilities! Available from Treetopia.com they come in pre-lit and unlit versions. The pre-lit 6 footer is on sale now for $219.00 and the unlit 6 foot for$169.00. Treetopia has something for everyone from the traditional to the whimsical and offers trees not only in pink, but in black, orange, purple, blue, silver tinsel and the red/white/blue Stephen Colbert National Treasure tree and all in a variety of sizes!

A Glamour Girl's Holiday Wish List Part 1

In case you missed them on our Facebook fan page, here are October's entries in the Glamour Girl's Holiday Wish List.

Between now and December we'll be posting the items we think any glamour girl or pin up would covet for her wish list! Stay tuned because you never know what will show up in your news feed or when!

Wish list item number 1:

The Josephine Corselette by What Katie Did Named for the legendary Josephine Baker, the Josephine line is both sexy and practical, and no piece more so than the corselette! It's a supportive piece of shapewear that will give you a smooth, curvy figure under your sexiest frock, yet its beautiful black satin and leopard panels make it a beautiful addition to your shapewear wardrobe. Priced at around $90 (it will vary with the exchange rate).

See it (and the rest of the Josephine line) here: http://www.whatkatiedid.com/fes_php/fes_usr_sto_product_display.php?fes_action=DisplayProduct&fes_prd_id=580&fes_uid=fes_4adca94a904b4

A Glamour Girl's Holiday Wish List #2

The. Most. Adorable. Sailor. Suit. EVAR! From Nicole Katherine Designs comes the Armada Belle. This one is sheer perfection. Take it from someone whose whole entire life has been one big preparation for a Sailor Girl pin up shoot! This has the added plus of working as separates! Pair the blouse with a pencil skirt or the slacks with a silky top from www.ablegrable.com. AND, it comes in plus sizes. BONUS!

You can see more of this gorgeous design here: http://www.bettybuccaneer.com/index-armada-belle.htmarmada-belle.htm

A Glamour Girl's Holiday Wish List #3

Anyone remember flip books from when you were a kid? Well they've grown up. Dita Von Teese and photographer Sheryl Nields collaborated on this darling little box set of three little flip books each featuring a different striptease number (including the famous martini glass).

Called "Dita: Stripteese" it goes on sale November 3 from Harper-Collins Publishers and retails for $30. Check out the classic striptease book at the link below: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCf1r3OXifo

A Glamour Girl's Holiday Wish List #4

If I had all the money in the world, these two purses from Revamp Productions are some of the first things I'd treat myself to! They come in alternate colors but a glamour puss can never have enough pink in her wardrobe not to mention that both purses are exemplars of retro iconism (is that a word)?

Tragically Chic from Revamp Productions

Vegas Baby! from Revamp Productions

Both are retailing around $260 each on the Revamp website

http://www.revampproductions.com/

A Glamour Girl's Holiday Wish List #5

What retro doll couldn't use a perfect pencil skirt or a peasant top? Well Mode Merr has your answer in sizes from XXS - XXXL!

Mode Merr's Perfect Skirt in the high-waist style and Fitted Peasant Blouse in red.

The Pefect Skirt comes in a low-waist or high waist option in a variety of colors and the Fitted Peasant Blouse comes in multiple colors and prints. Skirt also available in black or red satin! Skirt $62, blouse $48.

Check out their web site for even more great fashion pieces at http://www.modemerr.com/index.html

P.S. If you're in the New York City area come see the Mode Merr Fashion Show and Burlesque Spectacular complete with full-service boutique on Sunday, December 6 at Le Poisson Rouge on Bleeker Street. Tickets should go on sale sometime today at www.lepoissonrouge.com. Oh yes, yours truly and Miss Adriane are among the lovelies modeling this fabulous clothing line!

A Glamour Girl's Holiday Wish List #6

Now, it's an unpleasant fact that in this day and age not all glamour girls can lounge around in silk lingerie getting pampered with manicures and scarfing bon-bons all day. Some of us have to engage in the unseemly task of "working" in order to feed our clothing and make-up habits.If this is your sad fate at least you can try to do it with some style!

Glamour Girl Laptop Case from Notorious Kitsch
Ditch the boring old black laptop case and replace it with this fabulous little number courtesy of Notorious Kitsch! This is the perfect computer accessory; pink, covered in adorable cartoon pin up girls and decidedly un-boring!

Check it out along with the other great finds at http://www.notoriouskitsch.co.uk/!

But They're MY Pictures, Right?

Like it or not, there are some business aspects you need to know about pin up modeling! One is the subject of copyright.

Briefly, a copyright is protection given under the law to artists (using the broadest term) so they may control the usage and reproduction of their work. Generally, copyright owners hold all the rights to their work.

What does this mean to the pin up model?

According to the Copyright Act, a federal law, the owner of the copyright is the person who creates the work. For our purposes this is the photographer or sometimes an artist (in the case of paintings or graphic art).

So despite the fact that a photographer has given you a CD with all your proofs on it, you do not have the right to use them any way you would like. You probably signed a model release at your shoot. This allows the photographer to use your image. Many model releases also grant you, the model, some kind of license to use your photos in consideration of your time or the payment you have made. For example, you may be allowed to use your images on line in exchange for displaying the photographer's watermark or URL along with the picture.

Unless you have come to a specific agreement with the artist you cannot use your photos for any commercial purposes such as selling merchandise using the image, and most high quality photo labs will not produce prints of your pictures for you without permission from the photographer. (Walmart probably won't give a fig, but you get what you pay for).

If you want to have rights to the images yourself, you will probably have to pay for them on top of the fee you pay the photographer. What you are paying the photographer for is their time, effort, studio use, use of wardrobe (if applicable); not the rights to the images.

Copyright is something to keep in mind if you intend to use your photos for something out of the ordinary and remember, never, EVER do anything with your images you do not have specific permission for. To do so is copyright infringement and is against the law.

Most photographers will negotiate on license if you really must have mugs made up for your entire family with your pin up photos on them, or want to plaster your luscious bottom all over a t-shirt for all the world to see; just REMEMBER TO ASK PERMISSION!

Another thing to remember is that there are a lot of people out there who tell you that you will own the rights to your photos once their shoot/makeover/class is done, but the truth is, unless you have something in writing from them stating this, you don't.

Copyright is something you need to be aware of if you itend to seriously pursue pin-up!

Retro hair how to: 1960s casual glamour

We always love to share Miss Marcella Lee's Examiner articles and this one is no exception!

Retro hair how to: 1960s casual glamour

Posted using ShareThis

Starting A Pin Up Wardrobe On A Budget

Having your own retro wardrobe can be a great asset when you're out there looking for pin up modeling gigs. Some photographers might not supply wardrobe for shoots and others, who may not do pin up on a regular basis, may need a model who can fend for themselves in that department.

So how to start building a retro/pin up wardrobe without breaking the bank?

One place to start is the Salvation Army and other thrift stores. In the New York area they've been picked clean of real vintage for years, however, depending on where you live, you may still get lucky. But you don't just have to troll for vintage at the Sal. It can be a great place to pick up basics like a black pencil skirt, black shoes, sweaters, shorts, cute capris...The list is endless, you just have to keep a sharp eye out for the gems among the dross. Look for simple, clean lines. For example, you want skirts, capris and shorts to be very simple, without say, cargo pockets or ornamental zippers. The more classic looking (meaning even though it is modern it could be from any era) the better. Also, stay alert for anything that could be used as a prop since people donate some of the strangest things to their local thrift stores!

With Halloween coming up, don't underestimate the potential of costume and party shops! Of course they have the seasonal witch, devil and black cat, but don't pass up the opportunity to pick up a sexy nurse uniform, sailor girl, soldier, hula girl, harem girl or even a Daisy Duke costume! Most costumes are less than $50 each and the opportunity is there to pick up items half price after the holiday. These shops can also be great sources for props; cigarette holders, hand cuffs, brooms, bunny ears (think Easter), etc.

How about lingerie? While there are some fabulous repro lingerie lines out there like What Katie Did and Secrets In Lace you can also find great buys from old stand bys like Frederick's of Hollywood. 'Ornamental' corsets (meaning the kind you don't want to use to tight lace your waist in by four inches) are a fraction the cost of the real thing and they have great sales in which to pick up odds and ends like garter belts and cute sets (like this one for example).

Do a Google search for "Shirley of Hollywood" (maybe she was Fred's cousin ;-)), and see what comes up. They make very reasonably priced pieces and have great ruffly boy shorts! (Unfortunately they also make some incredibly tawdry stuff as well, but to each his own I suppose).

With just a little creativity and resourcefulness it can be easy to get your wardrobe collection started or put together a look for a shoot without having to go into debt!

Inspiration is Everywhere

Pulp Fiction. It's not just the name of a movie. It was that peculiar mid-century phenomenon that was a precursor to what today is called "the mass market paperback." Generally sold in drug stores and train stations for 10 cents, they were considered cheap and disposable. Fortunately for us in the early 21st century, some people were too cheap to dispose, and we are now blessed with a collection of covers from these sensationalist tomes!

Why do I bring this up? Because as a pin up girl not only should you be doing your basic 101 course and study all the great pin up masters like Varga, Petty, Elvgren, etc., but you need to be aware that great inspiration can come from any source; even the covers of cheap drug store novels.

The cover of a pulp novel was generally brightly colored to attract the eye, usually sensational and/or lurid and, for our purposes, featured a scantily clad or scandalous B-Girl type 90% of the time. Just take a look at the examples below and see what they did to 1984 and Animal Farm. I'm betting if they handed you that copy in high school you wouldn't have groaned so loud about having to read it! Wow, I LOVE masterpieces of 20th century literature, you would have thought.

Pulp novels are very collectible now and are well out of the 10 cent range these days, but you can pick up covers reprinted as post cards and collected in books (check out my Amazon box at the bottom of the page).

Just check out these babes; those lips, that hair, and hips that won't quit! Look at how the satin clings as she swoons over his arm or the side of the bed. There is a plethora of inspiration to be had here from hair styles to poses!

Enjoy!

(Click for the larger versions).

Workshop Pics and Our Lovely Graduates!