Tag: pinup girl clothing

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Vintage bridesmaid dress styles for retro weddings

Pinup Couture Ava Dress
Pinup Couture’s Ava dress is available in eight sizes and ten colors.

So you’re having a vintage-style wedding and you want some pretty mid century styles for your bridesmaids. If you want everyone to wear the exact same dress, it’s tricky to find a style that will fit everyone and comes in a color you like. If your choice is basic black, or red, you’ll be able to find something easily in one of the better-known pinup and retro lines. But if your wedding colors are a little more esoteric, you may have trouble.

I’ve found two popular styles that come in an array of colors that are perfect for bridesmaids: Pinup Couture’s Ava dress and the famous 1950s halter circle skirt dress by Vivien of Holloway. Both come in dressy satins, and the Vivien of Holloway halter dress comes in cottons and prints for a more casual day wedding.

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Fun Halloween fashions…and other sweet pinup nightmares

Planet Pinup spider bow with interchangeable charms
Planet Pinup spider bow with interchangeable charms.

While gothabilly aesthetics have been strongly represented in the realms of retro and pinup fashion for some time, it takes something truly special to represent the rarified holiday quality of Halloween for this recovering goth girl. Halloween requires something more than black, or bats, or zombies, or skeletons. Sometimes it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what makes something Halloween as opposed to garden variety macabre, and indeed, there is no special formula. For me, it’s a know-it-when-I-see-it kind of thing.

Here are some new, pinup-friendly Halloween-themed pieces that scream Halloween to me…

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A vintage and repro autumn!

Since the weather’s finally turned, it’s time to share some autumnable vintage and vintage-inspired dresses and separates!

Collectif Simone Doll
Collectif Simone Doll Dress in grey houndstooth.

First up is Collectif’s Simone Doll dress in grey houndstooth, a late 1940s/early 1950s-style day dress with a princess-style skirt. First introduced last fall, it’s available in four fall-appropriate colors.

Since Collectif’s measurements are all over the map and their website provides virtually no guidance in this regard, it’s best to ask around to see how a particular style or fabricway fits! On the advice of friends, I chose the UK size 16 and wasn’t disappointed. At 42-32-48″, I had no major fit issues. There is a bit of extra room in the shoulders and the drape of the fabric makes it a good idea to wear Spanx underneath to avoid lines, but nothing to make me run screaming.

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ESO: End of Summer Outfits

Jenny Dress
My Aunt Cynthia, my mom, and me at my cousin’s graduation party. I’m wearing my Pinup Couture Jenny Dress in Harlequin print. Photo by Shelly Donald.

Northern California will probably be warm until Halloween, but Autumn officially starts in just ten days! In honor of the climactic end of Summer, some outfits I’ve worn along the way…

First, a beautiful vintage dress from the 1950s that I bought from a friend. The striking color, mid-century halter-twist neckline, atomic-era buttons down the back, and metal sequin details made me fall in love with this one.

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A Planet Pinup Fourth of July!

Planet Pinup cherry hairscarf and Pinup Couture Cherry Heidi Dress
Planet Pinup cherry hairscarf and Pinup Couture Cherry Heidi Dress.

I celebrated Independence day with some great new American-made accessories by Jean Peplinski at Planet Pinup!

Her pinup-inspired fabric hairflowers, hairscarves, 1940s-style snoods, bows, fascinators, and other fashionable frills are beautiful, filled with personality, and totally original!

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Summer Preview: Deadly Dames Malibu Tiki Dress

Malibu Tiki Dress
Malibu Tiki Dress.

As the weather heats up, so do the summer shindigs. If you’re looking for something cute and festive, Pinup Girl Clothing’s Deadly Dames Malibu Tiki Dress in blue and red is just the ticket! The adjustable straps, structured bodice, sarong-style side tie, jaunty bolero, and vintage Hawaiian floral print give this dress set the style and class of a mid century Alfred Shaheen design. It’s truly worthy of any hukilau, luau, or other tiki-tastic event!
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Cool casual summer outfit toppers: cardigans and boleros!

Heartbreaker Betty Bolero
Heartbreaker Betty Bolero.

Summer’s hot, but that doesn’t mean you’re comfortable baring lots of skin. Whether you dislike your arms, like to maintain modesty, feel like every outfit deserves a finishing touch, or simply want to avoid sun damage, there are ways to top your sleeveless and strapless looks without going all wool crewneck on yourself. Personally, I’m a fan of lightweight cotton cardigans and boleros, but shrugs are another good option for folks looking to maximize ventilation without going sleeveless. Here are some of my favorite options (almost all are available in plus sizes, too!):
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Outfits of the Season: Jenny skirts, Jenny dress, and ye olde Vamp tops

 

Jenny Skirt
Jenny skirt in Harlequin print with Vamp top in mint.

A few months ago a mentioned some of my most-anticipated spring clothing items, among them Pinup Couture’s Jenny circle skirts and dresses.

I’m pleased to report that the Jenny items are vibrantly colored and very full. The cotton sateen fabric is thick enough to stay crisp, yet lightweight enough to help you stay cool in summer heat. The skirts are very nearly a complete circle, and look very authentic over crinolines. They are also tea-length, while the Jenny dress comes up just a bit higher.
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