Northanger Abbey Cosplay Pinup: Catherine Morland does…Catherine Morland

Hurray, another nifty Retro Lovely cover photographed by Marilee Caruso Photography (who also did the makeup and hair)! This time, it’s in Retro Lovely’s cosplay title, Masquerade No. 26!

You can grab a copy of the magazine or a cover poster via Magcloud, and use code BF25 to get a discount (on these or any Magcloud publication) through 11/28/2022 (the actual discount varies by publisher and issue, btw). Note that I don’t make any money off of purchases direct from Magcloud, just the Tiki issue and posters (I have one mag copy left and a handful of posters if you want to help feed my pinup addiction. I mean, support me as I pursue this noble hobby! Ha!).

This one’s kinda meta, because my nom-de-pinup is Catherine Morland and I’m actually portraying Jane Austen’s heroine from Northanger Abbey, Catherine Morland, in the photo set. As she’s into gothic romances and horrid novels of all kinds, we have Catherine reading novels by candlelight in a spooky forestscape of her imagination. Eat your heart out, Emily St. Aubert!

Retro Lovely Masquerade Catherine Morland Cover
I cosplay as Northanger Abbey’s Catherine Morland…my pinup namesake!

More after the jump…

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Victorian Pinup: Retro Lovely Victoriana Cover

While it’s not strictly pinup, the late 1860s dinner gown pictures Marilee Caruso took of me at the California State Capitol are in Retro Lovely’s inaugural Victoriana issue!

Marilee also did the beautiful makeup and hair, which works well with the fashion aesthetic even though we intended it to be fantasy. The dress is by Kay Gnagey of Originals by Kay and is based on an original ensemble in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s fashion collection. The Chantilly lace shawl is an antique, and the fan is from Amazon with a vintage silk ribbon from Etsy.

Victoriana Cover
Catherine Morland photographed by Marilee Caruso for Retro Lovely’s Victoriana special edition.
Catherine Morland photographed by Marilee Caruso for Retro Lovely's Victoriana special edition
Catherine Morland photographed by Marilee Caruso for Retro Lovely’s Victoriana special edition.
Catherine Morland photographed by Marilee Caruso for Retro Lovely's Victoriana special edition
Catherine Morland photographed by Marilee Caruso for Retro Lovely’s Victoriana special edition.
Catherine Morland photographed by Marilee Caruso for Retro Lovely's Victoriana special edition
Catherine Morland photographed by Marilee Caruso for Retro Lovely’s Victoriana special edition.

Early 1960s pinup inspired by the golden age of Playboy in Retro Lovely #211

Everything happens at once, it seems! Back in September, Marilee Caruso and I shot a set of images inspired by the October, 1962 cover of Playboy magazine. Today, they became a six-page pinup spread in Retro Lovely Issue #211!

Our version of the October 1962 Playboy cover
Our version of the October, 1962 Playboy cover.
October, 1962 Playboy Cover, featuring that month's centerfold, Laura Young
October, 1962 Playboy cover, featuring that month’s centerfold (aka “playmate”), Laura Young.

Marilee did the fabulous early 1960s makeup and hair (and lent me those awesome vintage earrings!), and I supplied my own clothes and vintage copy of the magazine. The playmate necklace (crystal pave bunny head) is a cheapie I got years ago on Ebay, the velvet dress is the olive green velvet Starlet Wiggle from the Vixen line by Micheline Pitt, and the shoes are my old reliable Christian Louboutin Piou-Piou patent stiletto pumps.

Catherine Morland posing with the magazine that inspired the shoot
Catherine Morland posing with the magazine that inspired the shoot. That centerfold is apparently VERY spicy.
I love the simple set Marilee created for the shoot
I love the simple set Marilee created for the shoot. It mimics the original while also adding texture.

As always, you can get the issue straight from Magcloud (when you order a hard copy you get a digital copy for free, immediately). For all of my recent pinup publications, see my Linktree.

More photos from the shoot after the jump!

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Pinup Vampire: On the cover of October’s Bombshell magazine

The fun pinup vampire shoot I did back in May with Marilee Caruso is finally published! The shots are in (and on a cover for) this month’s Bombshell pinup magazine.

BOMBSHELL Oct 2022 - Catherine Morland Cover
BOMBSHELL Oct 2022 – Catherine Morland Cover

I was basically channeling one of my old Vampire: the Masquerade LARP characters, a dancer from Clan Toreador whom I named Lily after Lily Bart in Edith Wharton’s House of Mirth. Marilee did some very romantic Rachael-from-Blade-Runner-ish hair and makeup, and I wore one of my “Elisabeth” dressing gowns from Catherine D’Lish, a black lace bodysuit from Torrid, garter belt and stockings by What Katie Did, and a pair of signed Manolo Blahnik Campari pumps I got third-hand for like $35. Oh, and the fangs are one of two great custom pairs I got from Kaos Kustom Fangs.

Catherine Morland, pinup vampire!
Catherine Morland, pinup vampire!
Catherine Morland, pinup vampire!
Catherine Morland, pinup vampire!

As always, you can buy this faaaabulous Catherine Morland cover issue direct from Magcloud (price includes a free .pdf copy of the issue, available immediately after you pay!). You can also use my handy Linktree to find this or any of my other recent pinup issues. My Linktree can also direct you to an order page for Marilee’s great 2023 pinup calendar (a shot from this vampire set is the February image!).

More pictures after the jump…

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1805-ish Regency Gown based on the one at Kyoto Costume Institute

So my friend Elizabeth and I recently attended a Persuasion-themed Jane Austen picnic sponsored by The Greater Bay Area Costumers’ Guild. It was an excuse to wear Regency, and in particular to acquire a copy of the beautiful gold Regency gown in the Kyoto Costume Institute collection.

My outfit
Gold silk 1805-ish Regency gown with beret and red silk spencer. I love my pineapple reticule!

More pics and info after the jump…

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Still Moar Pinup: I’m on a cover for Retro Lovely’s 2022 Tiki Special Edition Volume 2!

Catherine Morland, Tiki pin up girl by Marilee Caruso

Tiki pinup incoming! I’m super-thrilled to share that I got one of the Retro Lovely Tiki special edition covers this year (Volume 2)! Marilee Caruso shot me at an amazing home tiki bar in the Sacramento area (Danger Island!). I’m so happy with these images and also grateful to see a few friends in the issue with me, including Miss Melody Noir!

Catherine Morland cover for Retro Lovely Tiki Volume 2
My Retro Lovely Tiki cover, shot by Marilee Caruso!

You can get signed copies of the issue and/or a 12×18″ poster of the cover art direct from me! Prices include USPS Priority shipping to US addresses. If you need international shipping, contact me! Buying these from me doesn’t make me much money, but it does help me defray the cost of bringing you pinup (which I love to do!)…

More images from the shoot (that do not appear in the issue) after the jump…

Continue reading “Still Moar Pinup: I’m on a cover for Retro Lovely’s 2022 Tiki Special Edition Volume 2!”

Even moar new pinup: I’m in the February regular issue of Bombshell Magazine

Check out the latest regular issue of Bombshell Magazine to see me in a cool film noir-themed set photographed by Marilee Caruso. I’m even on one of the covers! Fabulous Rockwell DeVil once again did my hair and makeup, and my wardrobe for the shoot included vintage jewelry, a 1940s robe by Trashy Diva, a basque by Bettie Page lingerie from Playful Promises, stockings by What Katie Did, and shoes by Remix.

(FYI, I’m a nonsmoker, but posed with a cigarette for the shoot because this is noir, people!)

Kali by Marilee on Bombshell cover
On the cover of Bombshell Magazine. Photo by Marilee Caruso.

More pics and how to order print and digital copies after the jump… Continue reading “Even moar new pinup: I’m in the February regular issue of Bombshell Magazine”

New Pinup in Retro Lovely #190…

Yeah, I’m still alive. I recently shot with the wonderful Marilee Caruso, with makeup and hair by my favorite beauty goddess, Rockwell DeVil. The fruits of our labor appear in Retro Lovely #190, freshly minted just this morning! Note that instead of publishing under my real name, I now go by the nom-de-pinup Catherine Morland. Because I like Northanger Abbey, of course.

Kali by Marilee
Photo by Marilee Caruso, MUAH by Rockwell DeVil.

There’s more new pinup to come, but for now, enjoy these nice pics, some of which appear in Retro Lovely, and some that don’t. Just click “read more” to get to the other side… Continue reading “New Pinup in Retro Lovely #190…”