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A Bit of Pin Up History for you:
“The practice of putting women on pedestals began to die out when it was discovered that they could give orders better from there.” – Betty Grable
When I’m 100 I’ll still be doing pin-ups. Jayne Mansfield
America’s entrance into World War II back in 1941 triggered the golden age of pinups, pictures of smiling women in a range of clothing-challenged situations. The racy photos adorned lonely servicemen’s lockers, the walls of barracks, and even the sides of planes. For the first time in its history, the US military unofficially sanctioned this kind of art: pinup pictures, magazines and calendars were shipped and distributed among the troops, often at government expense, in order to ‘raise morale’ and remind the young men what they were fighting for.
The heyday of the pinup was the 1940s and 50s, but pinup art is still around. To this day, pinup fans emulate the classic style in fashion, merchandise, photography, and even tattoos. (Top Tenz)
A couple of the most notable Pin Ups of the era: (There were many but here are a few you may know) – My Favorite would be Betty Grable, she’s not only beautiful, she is super funny and a talented actress. A Natural in my books.
Rita Hayworth
Ava Gardner
Jane Russell
Jane Mansfield
Veronica Lake
Betty Grable
Betty Page
Norma Jean Baker
A couple of the most famous Pin Up Illustrators/artists:
Zoe Mozerti
One of only a few female pinup artists in a male-dominated field, Mozert had the advantage of being able to use herself as a model, something the male artists presumably never did. In fact, Mozert paid her way through art school in the 1920s by modeling, and would later often pose using a camera or a mirror to compose her paintings. As well as pinups, Mozert produced hundreds of novel covers, calendars, advertisements and movie posters during her career.
Alberto Vargas
Probably the most popular pinup artist of the era, Alberto Vargas was already a successful magazine and poster artist when he signed a contract with Esquiremagazine to produce monthly pinup art in 1940. He worked with Esquire for five years, during which time millions of magazines were sent free to World War II troops. Vargas received piles of fan mail from servicemen, often with requests to paint mascot girls, which he is said to have never turned down.
Unlike Gil Elvgren’s pinup work, Vargas’ female figures were always shown on a featureless plain white background. While Vargas Girls were clothed for the most part, their very thinly-veiled eroticism made Vargas and Esquire magazine the target of censors later in the war.
Gil Elvgren
Pinup drawings were not just limited to planes: many of the most popular pinups of the time were produced by commercial artists. ‘Elvgren girls’ was the nickname given to pinups drawn by artist Gil Elvgren. He began his focus on pinup art in 1937, but his long career also involved advertisements for Coca Cola and General Electric.
Elvgren was well-known for painting his pinup subjects in imaginative situations: water skiing, doing yard work, even skeet shooting. Many pictures featured a young woman in a situation that accidentally revealed her stocking tops and garters. Rather than overtly titilating imagery, Elvgren seemed to go more for personality and even humor.
THE LINDY CHARM SCHOOL AND QT GOLD COAST POOL PARTY SET TO MAKE A SPLASH!
Gold Coast Bulletin: Lifestyle
IT’S a splashback!
Kitsch bathers and pin-up curls make a wet, welcome return to the pool deck tomorrow.
Vintage beauties from The Lindy Charm School will get their classic cossies on to join more than 100 pin-ups, retro babes and vintage vixens for a dip into history at the QT Gold Coast’s Pin-Up Pool Party.
Lindy Charm School headmistress Chrissy Keepance said the modern world could benefit from a good-old fashioned dose of nostalgia.
“Particularly on the Gold Coast, there can be social pressure to look a certain way and fit a certain mould,” she said.
“The pin-up and vintage styling is therefore becoming increasingly popular for women who simply cannot fit the ‘social norm’ but still want to look and feel sexy and show off their fabulous bodies.”
Designed to hold and highlight flattering curves, pin-up swimwear is a treasure trove of wave skirts, playsuits and one-pieces, lace-ups, boy legs and ruffles, full brief/high-waist bikinis and bullet bra tops in everything from plaid to denim, gingham and textured crepe.
“Playsuits that looked like a little flip skirt with pants underneath were very flattering and popular with women who didn’t like showing the tops of their thighs,” Ms Keepance said.
Unlike today’s dressed-down beachgoers, vintage swim style was all about dressing up.
“Women used to wear really ornate bathing caps and cover ups — matching terry towelling robes that doubled as towels — with a matching hat, really pretty shoes, a full face of makeup and a parasol,” Ms Keepance said.
Things were much simpler for men — muscle-man trunks or, for the more adventurous, matching Hawaiian shorts and tops known as cabana suits.
“Pin-up and vintage styling is classic and embraces all body types,” Ms Keepance said.
“It’s a huge confidence builder for women who realise they can flaunt it in their own way.”
Part of QT’s Calypso Sundays event, the Pin-Up Pool Party is a perfect fit for the design hotel, which adopted a nostalgic beach culture theme when it launched in 2012.
The hotel combines kitsch and colourful decor, retro-styled staff uniforms, photos of the Glitter Strip in the 1950s and ‘60s and its very own retro Holden and vintage Kombi Van to create its modern twist on old-world charm.
The Pin-Up Pool Party plays QT Hotel on Sunday from midday. Entry is free.
Til next,
Stylishly Yours, Miss Chrissy
