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Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror and decided that you needed a change to make you feel more comfortable in your own skin? Have you ever gone through a transformation just for yourself? I decided I was in need of change a while ago, but life always got in the way. I had school, then a job, then two kids, and now years later am finally taking a step back and following through with changes that I’ve always wanted for myself.
I always wanted to be a red head, so I went and did it. I always wanted to have fashionable glasses, so I went and found a pair of blue designer frames. I wanted to embrace my inner geek, so I went to cons, developed a Doctor Who addiction and started writing for GeekMom. I always wanted to be a pin-up girl, so I…. well I don’t know, how do you become a pin-up girl?
What is a pin-up girl? It is defined as a fashion model whose work is meant for informal display, i.e. pinned or taped to a wall. Many pin ups were photographs of celebrities considered to be sex symbols in the popular culture of their time. Pin-ups are also synonymous with GIs serving abroad, Betty Grable, Bettie Page and Marilyn Monroe. When I thought about the pin-up girls of the past, I saw women that embraced their curves, women that I admired for their confidence.
So I started where any good geek would, by scouring the internet. I must have looked through a hundred on-line sites trying to find lingerie that I liked. I was never really happy with what I found. It seemed like there was only two real categories of lingerie, comfortable or sexy, rarely the two ever met. When I stumbled upon vintage inspired lingerie, the models I saw reminded me of those curvy sex symbols of the past, I saw women that were as sexy in lingerie as they were when they were fully clothed.
Gennia Full Fashion Stockings by Secrets in Lace
One of my absolute favorite finds for vintage lingerie is Secrets in Lace. I’ve bought a number of items from them, and my wish list is twice as long. They have silk stockings and garter belts, bras and panties, lingerie and slips all inspired by vintage pieces from the 40’s and 50’s.
1950s Satin Halter Swing Dress by Baby Girl Boutique
As for vintage inspired clothing, Baby Girl Boutique is my favorite place to look through dresses, skirts and bathing suits. I haven’t actually bought anything from Baby Girl Boutique yet, but I’ve been eyeing a skirt that would be perfect for a friends wedding I’ll be attending in a month.
Along with amazing retro inspired clothing and lingerie, Dollhouse Bettie offers a marketplace for everyday vintage lingerie called the Bazaar. The Bazaar is constantly updated with the latest affordable finds. One amazing aspect of Dollhouse Bettie is its extensive history of lingerie. This was an amazing read, and taught me a lot about the history of being risque.
One last site I frequent is Pin Up Girl Clothing. This is a great site for more affordable and everyday clothes with a vintage flair. For the most part I follow Pin Up Girl Clothing on Facebook for their constantly updated fashions and gorgeous models. I look forward to every new Facebook post for more inspiration on my new style.
Pin-Stripe Corset worn for Corsets2Go by the famous corset Supermodel Jade Vixen
I think it would be unfair to talk about vintage lingerie and not at least mention corsets. Corsets play a big role in pin-up fashion, but aren’t really meant for everyday wear, or comfort. That being said, I love all things corset, and know I need to invest in one soon, but just can’t seem to pick one that I love. My favorite site to browse corsets of all shapes and sizes, Corsets2Go, this has given me lots of ideas of what I want in my future corset.
Benefit by Aerosoles
One last note, being a person who generally lives in flip-flops, I’ve found I love the comfort and styles at Aerosoles for shoes to go along with my vintage style. Just in the last couple months, I have bought (or been given) a couple pairs of boots, and pumps, and could easily buy more. Its hilarious to lust over a pair of shoes when you used to think buying a pair of Crocs flip-flops was a splurge, but I do now, and I love it.
