Catherine Morland on the cover of the Halloween 2025 Bombshell issue.
I wanted a retro-spiderweb theme, kind of like the set on the old Vampira show, and Liz totally delivered. She made the bib necklace and the belt, and supplied the dress, hairflowers, earrings, and some of the rings, too. Makeup was by the fabulous-as-always Beauty By Samantha White and hair was by the superb NM Beautybar.
Catherine Morland in Bombshell Magazine’s Halloween issue.Catherine Morland in Bombshell Magazine’s Halloween issue.Catherine Morland in Bombshell Magazine’s Halloween issue.Catherine Morland in Bombshell Magazine’s Halloween issue.
Catherine Morland and Lavinia Laced on the cover of Pinup Nouveau.Catherine Morland and Lavinia Laced do the Moon and Star dance from the movie.
Love Witch.Love Witch spell.Lavinia Laced and Catherine Morland as Love Witches.
Both of us are big fans of Anna Biller’s 2016 horror-comedy film, The Love Witch, so naturally we wanted to portray our own versions of the titular “love witch” from the movie – Elaine. We collected our spell-casting props and planned wardrobe while Marilee put together a great set reminiscent of Elaine’s apartment in the film.
Marilee’s amazing late-1960’s-inspired makeup and hair work incorporated both of Elaine’s eyeshadow looks – vintage turquoise blue for Lavinia and purple for me! In all, I think the three of us captured the bright, saturated technicolor look of the movie, which is visually reminiscent of the colorful Hammer Horror films of the 1950s and 1960s.
Two more pinup publications this year, both with photography, makeup and hair by Marilee Caruso! My Rick’s Dessert Diner images are in the super-duper Social Pin Issue 72 (and on the back cover!) and my Lucy Westenra (of the Coppola Bram Stoker’s Dracula adaptation fame) pics are in Volume 1 of Retro Lovely‘s new Vampyre special edition!
On the back cover of The Social Pin #72!Lucy Westenra cosplay in Retro Lovely Vampyre.
I have a couple of shoots coming in the new year and a set featuring my 1780s chemise a la reine that’s on the way, but now it’s time to share my last two pinup publications of 2023: Retro Lovely No. 231 and Godiva No. 61! Marilee Caruso Photography did the photos, hair, and makeup for both shoots!
Catherine Morland cemetery shoot in Retro Lovely.Catherine Morland cemetery shoot in Retro Lovely.Catherine Morland cemetery shoot in Retro Lovely. That’s Mark Hopkins’ crypt in the background (right).
The Retro Lovely flagship set is another Halloween homage, this time at location in an historic cemetery in Sacramento! This was our third attempt to shoot this set, after tries one and two were postponed due to bad weather. Five months after our first attempt (January), we finally got the weather we needed.
I love the results: black and white, witchy, vintage! The entire outfit is Micheline Pitt, with very cheap (signed!) Manolo Blahnik Camparis I got secondhand.
The Godiva set features Marilee’s boudoir at the studio, freshly-painted green this Summer! I wanted a “New Year’s Eve” afterparty vibe, and Marilee delivered with warm lighting and festive props!
Catherine Morland in Godiva.Catherine Morland in Godiva.Catherine Morland in Godiva.
My outfit consisted of lingerie by Dita Von Teese and a Demi Corset, stockings, and garter belt by What Katie Did Demi Corset. The shoes are my trusty Christian Louboutin Piou-pious.
As always, you can order these issues, my 2024 calendars, and any of my recent issues via my Linktree: https://linktr.ee/strangegirl
Catherine Morland and Gilman in Retro Lovely Bathing Beauties number 4.
The photos ended up being playful and funny, as we very quickly moved away from me playing terrorized victim to the creature himself turning tail and running away. I’m guessing it was my big net and massive Dooneese Maharelle energy that scared him off? The world may never know.
Catherine Morland and Gilman in Retro Lovely Bathing Beauties number 4.
Anyway, a fun way to bridge the gap between hot Summer days by the lagoon and Halloween.
I love the 1992 Dracula adaptation with Winona Ryder and Gary Oldman. While watching the film in a Carson City theater auditorium last year (Fathom Events hosted a set of 30th anniversary showings back in October), I was struck by the idea of doing a pinup shoot featuring the count’s three hot vampire brides. Fast-forward to the end of April, and my dream was not only reality, it’s on the cover of Retro Lovely‘s “Halloween in April” special edition, Volume 1!
Brides of Dracula on Retro Lovely’s Halloween in April Cover.
My friends Miss Melody Noir and Lena Von Noir kindly agreed to be my sister brides for the shoot, and Marilee Caruso – my favorite photographer! – signed on to do makeup, hair, and (of course) take the pictures.
I love pinup, I like cosplay, and Disney theme parks have been my jam since I was a lazy-eyed baby in an eye patch singing “A Pirates Life for Me” like a drunken sailor. So it isn’t a stretch (haha, just wait for this pun payoff!) to assume I’d want to submit something to Retro Lovely‘s Disney-themed Mousequerade special edition.
Since the Haunted Mansion is my favorite Disneyland/Magic Kingdom attraction, I decided to go with a Sally Slater-themed cosplay. In case you didn’t know, that’s the “new” official name used for the slackrope-walking girl perched above the hungry crocodile in one of the stretching room portraits (see? I got PUNS).
Thanks to Marianne of Von Crow Art, I now have a beautiful pinup logo that represents me perfectly!
Catherine Morland logo by Von Crow Art. Spooky, cute, and vintage, all in one!
We based the image on my romantic vampire photoset by Marilee Caruso from last Spring, so there’s roses and all sorts of gothic goodness – perfect for a pinup named Catherine Morland! We added a jack-o-lantern to represent my lifelong obsession with Halloween and a cute black cat to represent my fluffy familiars. Marianne even included some of my favorite horrid novels in the art, namely Northanger Abbey and Dracula.
Catherine Morland, pinup vampire! This is the original photo by Marilee, upon which we based the logo.
I highly recommend Marianne! She works fast, her prices are reasonable, and her artwork is unique and beautiful.
