Pin Me Up Buttercup

Business Pin Up: powerdressing without giving up your curves

2019-04-14T08:00:00.000+02:00

No, you do not need to go full Angela Merkel and wear curve-hiding pant suits in order to dress professionally and powerful.

Because even though pin ups are depicted as playful and a bit silly, you can also use this style to bring out your ambitious career driven side.

In this post we'll look at why female professional fashion has been an assimilation of male silhouettes since the 16th century and how the pin up silhouet is slowly shifting female power fashion to a curve embracing statement.

Disclaimer: Don't take this as a lecture on how I think all women should dress. Wear whatever you think is beautiful, occasion-appropriate and makes you feel confident.
But since you're here, I have a feeling my views and tastes in fashion might resonate with you ;-)

Open your history books to 16th century England...Or the 2018 Fifa world cup...

Queen Elizabeth the 1st wore a masculine doublet to use fashion as a power statement, saying "I'm playing with the big boys" in 16th century England.

Angela Merkel, Margaret Thatcher and Hilary Clinton are modern examples of women in powerful positions who also dress in a masculine way. You'd see them in pant suits and never in a pencil dress or wearing something that would accentuate their waist.
And they will not be the last to assimilate the male silhouet so as to state their authority (hello 80ies shoulderpads).

Why did they do that? Surely this isn't relevant anymore with so much feminism and equal rights.

Sadly, women still get asked and judged about their appearance rather than their actual work and merits. Not just by old men, they get judged by men and women, old and young alike. Be it vocally or internally.

Of course you're gonna listen to the guy in the suit and not to the guy in sweat pants if you're at a bank. That's just knowing how to dress for a particular occasion or setting.

But we're talking about how, regardless of occasion-appropriate attire, women who wear more masculine silhouettes blur the target that's on their back for being both a woman and in a position of power/authority.

In fact, this look has even been described as matronly, because of it's lack of female sexuality (curves). Famous stylist Michele Oppenheimer said "Clinton and Merkel look like grandmothers, which might help them to not appear threatening".

Can't you just accept a compliment?

Don't get me wrong, I'll happily accept a genuine compliment or talk about 50ies fashion when we're at the coffee machine.
Just not when we're discussing other subject matter that relates to my job or skills. Digressing to how somehow looks is often an ad-hominem attempt to discredit the speaker, and not a compliment at all.

We still see a lot of this happen in 2018 in Western supposedly equal societies: female sport commentators being told to go back to the kitchen during the Fifa world cup. And not just by some lone sheep that's sexually frustrated and older than 50.

Women who dress more feminine will always be viewed by some (wo)men as "misplaced" in a position of authority.

But frankly, that's the intimidation and bigoted view of the past. I think it's high time to explore the rise of a new form of office/power fashion for women:

The fabulous fifties pencil models.

Royal Blue (subtle) pencil dress by Juffrouw Jansen

Be it a pencil skirt, or a pencil dress. Both are elegant, accentuate curves and combine the hyper femininity of the pin up silhouet and the modern day I-kick-ass-at-my-job-woman.

You can still insert a lot of personality and occasion specific up- or downdressing options. Go for a classic black/white dress, or opt for the brightly colored version. Add or lose the pearl earrings and necklace to change the formality of your look.

Brands and inspiration:

If you're looking for inspiration or style icons to emulate, you can turn any of the following people into pin ups by adding rep lip stick and a winged eye liner.

1. Michelle Obama doesn't shy away from color, prints or a waist belt.

image by fashion style detroit

2. Claire Underwood, as portraid by Robin Wright in House of Cards, is on the other side of the spectrum with very neutral and muted down colors. Yet her outfits are highly tailored and feminine in a strong but conservative fashion (no cleavage or leg splits).

image by Cinemazzi

3. The legal leading ladies of the hit series Suits, also know how to powerdress in a feminine way: Donna Paulsen, Jessica Pearson and Rachel Zane are great inspirations to draw from.

image by Pinterest

Aren't those super expensive brands like Ralph Lauren and Armani?

Yes, but you don't need to wear designer labels to have a well designed powersuit.

My favorite brands for talking business are:

Vintage Chic by Topvintage

- Vintage Chic by Topvintage with their accentuated waistlines and bright colors.

-Juffrouw Jansen with their classic silhouets (less explicitedly hourglass) but fun prints and colors

Both these brands are not too expensive (€50 during sales!), but look and feel expensive.

The way I see it, when I'm in the office I have two choices:

I can wear male-inspired silhouettes and say "I'm playing with the big boys at their table".

Or I wear pencil dresses that say "i'm playing with the grown (wo)men at our table" and claim my seat.

Care to join me?

- Buttercup, the imperfect pin up

4 ways to a Pin Up silhouet & the 1 must-have accessory

2019-02-14T12:00:00.000+01:00

4 ways of getting a Pin Up silhouet

& the 1 must-have accessory

Pin Ups come in all sizes, but only in one shape: the hourglass.

Even if you're not a natural hourglass, you can use fashion accessories and targeted exercises to make it look like you are.

In this post, we'll be looking at 4 different ways of getting that coveted shape, be it via exercise or optical fashion illusions - no matter your natural body shape.

Because, even if you're not an hourglass figure, you're already half way there.

You just need to know how to "fake" the other half 😉

1. Natural way: maybe she's born with it?

Maybe it's a lot of crunches, Maybeline.

No matter your body type, doing targeted exercises will make your waist a bit smaller and more defined.
Try finding exercises you don't hate, that focus on your obliques (= side of your abs), such as salsa dancing and side crunches.
Or have a look at my Pin Up Workouts on IG ;-)

While exercise definitely helps, you do have a given body type that is not likely to undergo dramatic changes.

So first, we need to know what we're working with, in order for you to use method number 3 (clothing) to your advantage.

See if you can spot which body type you are.

Hourglass⌛:

If you're lucky, you came out of puberty with an hourglass figure (ample breasts and butt, small waist ). You can be a lazy pin up, because you naturally have the silhouet we're going for.

Inverted triangle▼:

Your shoulders are the widest part of your body (chances are, you're athletic).

You'll want to focus on your hips and legs to compensate.

Pear🍐:

Your hips are the widest part of your body (J Lo anyone?).

Your focus will be on your shoulders/breasts.

Apple🍎:

You have a full figure and will want to show your curves, while trying to nip in your waist.

Rectangle ▮ :

You have a straight figure, and can use this as the perfect blank canvas to add bulk on top and the bottom.

Here's a great video by Justine Le Conte to help you visualize all the types.

Think about what body type you have, and realize that you're halfway there!

A pear and inverted triangle each have one half of the hour glass, whereas an apple figure has all the curves and only needs to accentuate her waist.
A rectangle is completely free to do how much or little she wants, and can shift to any other body type.

Don't forget that every body shape is jealous of another shape because of their respective strengths and fashion options. It's kinda like curly people who prefer to have straight hair and vice versa. It's about owning your strengths 💪

2. Under garments

If you're not a natural hourglass, and you don't like adding bulk to your top/bottom with clothes, you can still fake your silhouet.
How?
The answer is underwear.

No, you don't need to wear a corset. Though that is the best way of getting an hourglass shape, it is not suited for everyday wear. Corsets are a whole 'nother topic, and since we're focused on the every day pin up, we won't go into it in this post.

Instead, you can wear the "light versions" of corsets, underneath your outfit.

Corselette:

The diet coke of the corsets.

Corselette WKD

It takes in your waist and flattens your belly and any folds/rolls you might have (back rolls due to bra's, anyone?). It also has a bra and suspender straps built into it, so it's a kitchen sink approach that ensures a smooth line across your body.
This does sit on your hipbone and over your slip/thong, so while it is comfortable to wear all day and night, it is not exactly bathroom friendly.

Merry Widow:

The Stevia coke of the corsets.

Merry Widow WKD

Same functions as a corselette but a little shorter, so it's bathroom friendly. The one I wear (from WKD) has detachable bra straps and suspender straps, so it's perfect for wearing underneath strapless items if you have a bigger bust size and need to support the girls👯

Others:

Of course, you might find modern shape-wear to be your answer, particularly if you don't wear stockings. So far, I've never seen modern shape-wear that functions AND looks good when you're undressing. So if you have, share it with us in the comments.

3. Clothing do's and don'ts

If you don't wanna wear shape-wear or do exercises, your best bet is to use strategic pieces of clothing to give the illusion of an hourglass silhouet.

Hourglass⌛:

Lazy cat. You can play around with making your hips seem wider by adding a petticoat, or your shoulders seem a bit broader by wearing halternecks or off-shoulder tops.

But your waistline will always be the narrowest part of your body, giving you instant Venus vibes.

Inverted triangle▼:

Avoid off-shoulder tops and halter necks, as they will emphasize your shoulders and draw the eye to your widest part.

Try to even out your shape by wearing a swing skirt or dress, ideally with a petticoat underneath. This will give you some bulk on the lower side of your body, filling up the bottom half of the hour glass so to speak.

When in doubt: go for a long dress with a fabulous leg split!

Pear🍐:

As opposed to the inverted triangle type, you do want to go all out on off-shoulder tops and halter necks, as they will balance out the width of your hips.

Add a belt on your waist and some bulk at the top (like subtle shoulder-pads), and you're good to go.

Apple🍎:

You either take the attention to your breasts and shoulders (try cleavage or big necklaces or broches). Or you draw the attention to your waist by adding a wide waist belt or wearing peplums skirts/dresses.

Rectangle▮:

You can switch to any bodytype you like, because a rectangle is the perfect blank canvas. So when going for an hourglass silhouet, just add bulk on the top (halter necks, off shoulders, necklaces/broches, cleavage) and the bottom (skinny jeans, swing dresses or skirts, especially with a petticoat) while nipping in your waist.

4. The absolute must-have accessory for any pin up

If there's one item that'll instantly turn every body shape into an hourglass (that you can wear on a daily basis) it's a waist belt.

A belt or sash worn at your waist accentuates the slimmest part of your body, while simultaneously making your curves look bigger.

If you have an apple, rectangle or hourglass figure, you can go all out with tight and elastic waist belts. If you have an inverted triangle figure, try to go for a looser belt or sash or add some bulk to your bottom half, to make sure you're not accentuating your shoulders too much.

While these are all tips for creating that hourglass shape, remember to love your natural shape and just be healthy 💚

Let me know in the comments:
which type are you + what works for you?

- Buttercup, the imperfect pin up

inspiration: Justine Le Conte her styling tips for different body shapes

Pin Up Bingo

2019-01-14T08:00:00.000+01:00

If I had a penny for every time someone said...

Just a fun little post on the most common reactions you get, when out and about in your pin up style.

Personally, I get number 5 and 7 a lot.
But I don't mind, they make me laugh and are meant as compliments.

If every reaction = 1 dollar/ euro, which one would be your money maker? ;-)

- Buttercup, the imperfect pin up

Review: velcro hair rollers

2018-12-13T12:00:00.000+01:00

I woke up like this, really.

As a clumsy pin up with short hair, I felt I lacked the technique to create a controlled curl, as opposed to my natural mixture of uncontrolled curls and waves.

I threw caution to the wind when I saw a bunch of velcro rollers at a local store (HEMA) for only €2.50. I googled some tutorials/tips for and got to curling.

The big idea of the product:

Idea is that you take sections of your freshly washed hair and roll it around the velcro rollers.

It's a simple product that gives you a lot of freedom and room to experiment, as the direction of the curl depends on the direction in which you roll your hair around the roller.

You can use the rollers to just get volume (lift your hair roots by rolling the rollers as close to them as you can), or get a head full of curls, or just go for some waves - or a mixture of all those things.

The reality of the product:

Get ready to experiment with the different sizes of rollers, knowing that the smaller the roller, the tighter the curl, and the bigger rollers tend to give more waves rather than actual curls.

I had no issues putting the rollers in, but I struggled with releasing the rollers without hurting myself at first, but after a few strands of hair, I found the right technique for me.

The curlers are lightweight but take up a lot of space, so have a shoebox or 2 available.

The morning after:

I see a direct result, good and bad, of the choices I make (size and direction of rollers).
This makes you feel like you're really learning and can learn a go-to style on which you can rely when you need to do your hair for a special occasion.

Since I don't brush out the curls on the first day, my hair looks freshly curled and styled the next morning.
The curls stay for about 3 days without using any hairspray.

1 day after

During

After

The verdict: Clumsy proof "I woke up like this"

This is my new go-to style, and it takes me about 15 minutes to put the rollers in.
I'm currently looking for a good product to put on my ends before rolling my hair, because they come out a bit frizzy sometimes.

Other than that, I can go to bed and just wake up with a bunch of cute curls, without any effort or product. Lazy pin ups, rejoice!

You'll also find a lot of tutorials for iconic styles: such as the 50ies Marilyn Monroe waves, 40ies soft curls or 30ies short hair curls, and many more.

What's your favorite style?

- Buttercup, the imperfect pin up

Starting a pin up wardrobe: the essential checklist

2018-11-14T12:00:00.000+01:00

Starting a pin up wardrobe

Essential Checklist

Before you can go on your (window) shopping spree, make sure to do your homework and read the do's and don'ts.

As a rule of thumb:

Basic colors: black and red

Basic prints: polkadot, leopard, cherry

Have a 2 to 1 ratio for even colored pieced > pieces with a print on them. You can combine even colored with other even colored pieces or print pieces. Combining print with print is a lot harder.

Below are some extra practical tips, to complement the visual checklists (press the right arrow to continue to the other ones).

Or download them.

Extra Tips:

Upper body

Have a set of 'pure' basics, that can be worn over/under anything, before you dig into the cleavage, print, lace or otherwise fancy basic pieces.

Get cardigans with long sleeves that end at your waistline.
This ensures the hourglass silhouet even if you wear it with a regular t-shirt and jeans

Try matching the color of your cardigans with the color of your stockings (if you wear them).

Lower body

Whether you prefer the playful swing model or the bombshell pencil style, try and have at least one item in both styles in a basic color.

Pencil dresses/ -skirts are perfectly suited or business or formal occasions.
Whereas swing dresses/ -skirts are more casual (without petticoat), festive (with petticoat) and playful.

Full body:

Invest in some decent waist belts.
Wider belts are great for swing style, whereas thinner belts look more elegant on the pencil model and are better at showing off high waisted skirts/ pants.

I really like the elastic ones, because they take in your waistline a little.

Accessories:

Go for heels and flats without any embellishments, but with a comfortable feel to them.

Determine your ideal heel height and take your walking speed into account when buying pumps (add a T strap if you're a Speedy Gonzalez like me).

If you wear a lot of stockings, a closed toe is much prettier than a peeptoe model.

That's all folks!

Hope you liked it and found it useful :-)

Let me know in the comments if and how it helped.

- Buttercup, the imperfect pin up

Starting a pin up wardrobe: do's and don'ts

2018-10-14T11:00:00.000+02:00

Starting a pin up wardrobe-

Do's and Don'ts

Looking like a pin up can be effortless (disregarding the eyeliner ofcourse), but you need the right wardrobe.

Here are some do's and don'ts that I wish I had when I started updating my wardrobe to a fabulous fifties / pin up style.

Do's:

1. Measure yourself!

I always reached for the M medium size clothes because I assumed I was somewhere in the middle.
Little did I know that I actually have 3-4 different sizes, depending on the body part that gets covered.

Clothing sizes are bullshit anyway.
A medium 10 years ago at H&M would be an XL today.
And different countries have different standards for what a medium, small or large is.
So be aware that certain brands are bigger (German brands like Banned) or smaller (Italian brands) than what you might be used to in your local market (Belgian/Dutch for reference in this case).

So instead of knowing your size, you should know your sizes - plural.

Put on some music, wear your prettiest underwear and measure your bust, waistline, and hips (this includes your booty).

TIP: Don't measure yourself in clothes, but solely in your undies.
The difference between an okay fit and a perfect fit is worth a million dollars. (especially for your waistline, as it determines the entire pin up silhouet)

Oh and don't hold your tummy in, just be your perfectly imperfect self.

You need to feel comfortable in your clothes, otherwise you won't wear them - then what's the point of buying them?

2. Get a supplier

Find a store with honest and friendly service (Seventy One ) or a good website like TopVintage or Unique Vintage that has detailed measurements and fabric information:

Does it stretch?

Which part determines the size of the piece if it's a one piece?

What is recommended for people who are in between sizes?

TIP: Find a nice second hand store to score some vintage clothing. It's better for the environment, and they are unique pieces.

3. So many brands, so little money

It might be a whole new world for you, and (online)shopping isn't a lot of fun if you're not sure you're getting plenty of bang for your buck.

So take note of the most common pin up/ retro brands that offer good quality and have been tried and tested by many a pin ups before you:

Hell Bunny

Collective Clothing

(Dancing days by) Banned

Rock Steady Clothing

King Louie

Vixen

Vintage Chic for TopVintage

Glamour Bunny

Pinup Couture (Deadly Dames)

The Pretty Dress Company

Stop Staring!

Obviously this list is not complete, but it's a list of the brands that I personally wear and love and highly recommend :-)

Feel free to share your favorite brands, in the comments below.

4. Next level: crack your color code

You might like the quattro stagioni pizza, but you can only be one out of 4 seasons.

You already know that certain colors suit you better than others, or maybe wether you prefer dark or lighter tones.

But you can get real deep into the nitty gritty of what colors and tones suit your skin (undertone), and are a must-have or must-avoid color in your wardrobe.

Here are some good try at home tests to determine your season via color me pretty.
Or take it to the next level and determine your subtype (clear, deep, cool).

Once you have your basics in the basic pin up colors as well as some colors that suit your season, feel free to experiment tho :-)

Don'ts:

1. Don't buy statement pieces

That is, unless you're also buying at least as many, or ideally more, basic pieces.

I know you're tempted to buy that gorgeous dress or pencil skirt with that sexy detail or cool fabric.

But if you want to incorporate pin up style in your daily fashion, you need to have a solid amount of basics to combine and work with.

If you'd rather just be a pin up for a day/night, there are others things you want to check out first.

TIP: Have a system in place where you buy 2 basics for every 1 statement/ special piece. That will ensure a slow but steady build up towards your pin up wardrobe.

2. Don't fall for the cheap Chinese knock offs

Retro style is on the rise, and so are the stores/brands that sell these items.
But also, the knock offs that are trying to get a piece of the action.

When you are starting out your 50ies wardrobe, you want to start with some solid basics.
Once you have a sturdy foundation, feel free to experiment and play around with some Chinese fakes.

The chances of these pieces being qualitative, durable and comfortable are very very small (kind of like the Chinese themselves ;-) ).
It's a fun experiment to do when you have a bit of extra cash on the side, but don't start your wardrobe off with cheap, knock offs.

Pin ups and bombshells were meant to look and feel like a million bucks.

TIP: How to spot a knock off.

Apart from the Google translate English and too good to be true prices.

Chinese knock offs crop out the head of the model who is wearing the original piece of clothing.

E.g. Retrostage is a known knock-off with duplicated pictures and dresses.

Great! Now you're officially qualified to go on a pin up shopping spree 💛
Don't forget to comment and subscribe if you liked this post :-)

UP NEXT: Starting a pin up wardrobe: the essential checklist.

- Buttercup, the imperfect pin up

Review: Rockin'Rollers haircurlers

2018-09-14T16:00:00.000+02:00

Sleeping (curly haired) beauty?

So what if you're a bit clumsy and never went to beauty school (aka youtube tutorials)?

That's where I'll chime in with a few reviews and do's and don'ts that I learn along the way.

When it comes to hair, most pin ups wore curly hair with either victory rolls, betty page bangs or other specific styles. But if you don't have a natural afro, there are a lot of different ways to curl your hair.

My hair situation:

If you relate to my "hair situation" below, these reviews and tips might be for you :-)

I'm a very low maintenance and no styling products - kind of person. I couldn't bother to wash and style my hair every morning before work (I'd rather sleep!).
Neither do I like using heat (curling iron) on my hair, as I have naturally thin hair that I've been dyeing for the last 8 years, so I don't want to damage it anymore than I need to.

In short: my approach to hair is clumsy, minimum effort, minimum products.
Sounds good?

Let's review the Rockin'Rollers haircurlers!

The big idea of the product:

Idea is that you twist your hair around a curler and click/snap it into place. You can link the curlers together to make them more secure, as they hold each other up.
These curlers are meant to be worn to bed, overnight.
So when you go to bed with wet hair, you wake up with beautiful curls the next morning.

Bonuspoint:

The product comes with a little booklet with different hairstyles and tips/ brief tutorials.

Here's also a good video tutorial I've found, so you can see them in action.

The reality of the product:

The curlers are soft and you'll probably get the hang of how to apply them, rather quickly.
I had some issues with making sure that my hair was not caught in the snap lock, but other than that, they require little technique.

I applied them to wet, just washed hair, without any styling product. Aux naturel ;-)

Memoirs of a geisha (2005)

After putting in the curlers, I put a tea towel over my head (for lack of decent breathing hair scarf), so that they would stay in during the night.

I've slept with these curlers more than once, and while it feels a bit weird at first, they are soft and foamy, so they don't hurt.

The morning after:

I could tell that my hair had volume and curls, albeit weird curls. My hair had loosened up during the night and was set in a sharp and weird angle.

I also wore the curlers during the day, and just air dried my hair over 3-4 hours, so as to avoid this mistake.
But I had to be really careful in my movements (no vacuum cleaning or stretching), so as not to have my hair loosen from the curlers.

The verdict: Not short-hair proof

The curlers seem like a good fit for someone who has, at least, shoulder length hair.

These curlers might be short hair-proof if you put in a lot of extra pins to secure the curlers.
If you have longer hair, your hair will naturally hold up the curlers on its own.

So if you'd like to put in minimum effort and simply sleep your way to the curly pin up hair, and have at least shoulder length hair, then this might be the product for you.
But it is not the product for me/my thin hair.

Let me know in the comments what you do to curl your hair, and if this review was helpful :-)

- Buttercup, the imperfect pin up

Pin Up for a day/night in 8 simple steps

2018-08-14T07:30:00.000+02:00

Being an occasional pin up is easy,

Even for total tomboys who don't know the first thing about styling.

Got a wedding, reunion or other special occasion coming up?
Or maybe you just want to experiment and dress up (for someone special)?
Stick with me as I go over the 8 simple steps that will transform you into an effortless pin up for a day/ night.

via GIPHY

TIP: To get the majority of the pin up look with the least amount of effort or budget, look for a dress first (#3), then get a black/white/color matching waist belt (#4) and hair flower (#7).

Our starting point

Starting from your undies, we're working our way up.
You don't need a Madonna bullet bra or 50ies suspender belt, just wear your favorite underwear that's comfortable and pretty.

It's all about feeling extra beautiful AND comfortable, while looking like a pin up.

1. Your favorite pair of heels

You don't need to wear killer stiletto's, in order to be a pin up.

Kitten heels, sturdy pumps or even flat ballerina's are a perfect substitute.
It's even healthy to switch out high heels for flat shoes every now and then (to prevent back and knee pain, muscle and ligament weakness).

Though a little heel does give you that extra pizazz, as it pushes forward your butt and breasts, accentuating the curves of any body type.

So if you're just dressing as a pin up for a special day and or night, a classic black or red heel will instantly zhuzh up your outfit.

2. Seamed tights to give the illusions of stockings

polkadots seamed tights by What Katie Did

Moving up to your legs.
A seam on the back of your legs is a classic retro fashion from the 30ies, 40ies and fabulous 50ies.

If you're just dressing up for a special occasion, and don't plan on incorporating the pin up aesthetic into your daily wardrobe, it might not be worth investing in a sturdy suspenderbelt and figuring out how to wear and care for stockings.

Luckily, the fabulous brand of What Katie Did, provided the perfect solution for you:

Tights that have a seam, be it black or color.

3. Wiggle dress, pencil dress or swing dress

Go for a skintight wiggle dress, or a classy pencil dress.

Swing dresses are playful, but really only come into full effect when you wear a petticoat underneath.

However, these are the most playful and festive dresses, and as an occasional pin up, you might not feel confident enough to wear petticoats.
So don't be fooled by models that wear a petticoat underneath their swing dress, and make sure that the dress has pictures of how it looks without one.

Wiggle dress by Unique Vintage

Pencil dress by Unique Vintage

Swing dress (without petticoat) by Hell Bunny

4. Waist belt (color matching)

Narrow waist belts by Banned

Wide waist belt by Hell Bunny

To make your outfit pop and give you (the illusion of) an hourglass silhouet, wear a belt on your waist.
Try to color match your shoes/ seams of your tights or other chosen accessory with the color of your waist belt for that picture perfect look.

5. Red lipstick of course!

The bow on top of the present that is your beautiful self, is thé fashion staple:

red lipstick.

6. Mascara and, perhaps, a winged eyeliner?

If you're not afraid to take it to the next level, feel free to do your brows in a slightly arched way, draw a winged eyeliner or put on fake lashes and all that jazz.
But if you're a klutz like me, some regular mascara will do just fine.

7. Hair flower or hair scarfs

Clip on a hair flower (don't be afraid to go big) in a neutral color like black or white.
Or if you can color match the flower to your shoes/seams/cardigan/ whatever, go wild!

A less formal hair accessory is the hair scarf, but unless you know how to tie it into the style you like AND feel confident that it'll stay up for the entire day/night, I would go for the hair flower.

Hair flowers are festive and the easiest option.
You can take 'em out or pin 'em up as a broche, even if you're slightly intoxicated at a dance party. They're basically alcohol-proof ;-)

8. Express yourself!

Pin ups were always drawn or photographed in their "Ooh"s, "Ah"s and "Oops"! expressions.

Gil Elvgren, 1957

Have fun, be yourself and embrace the compliments that are sure to come your way.

If you found this list helpful, let me know in the comments!

- Buttercup, the imperfect pin up

Why I am utterly unqualified - the imperfect pin up

2018-07-10T18:23:00.003+02:00

Why I am utterly unqualified -

the imperfect pin up

If you're clumsy and untrained in the stereotypical 'female arts' of make up/fashion/beauty, but like the pin up 50ies style?
Welcome to your tribe, Darling 💋.

You're amongst kindred crooked cat-eyed spirits, who share a love of pin up style, but lack the skill or knowledge.

So whether you want to add some pin up flair to a special night/day or want to upgrade your entire wardrobe to fabulous fifties style...

Via this blog I'm sharing with you my:

Noob mistakes and current struggles

Idiot-proof tips and tutorials that worked for me (winged eyeliner for the motorically challenged)

Reviews and comparisons of products

Hacks for pinup on a dime, storing your 50ies fashion

Anything that strikes my fancy or is maybe requested by you

What's a Pin Up?

Born out of the burlesque art, a pin up is a model used for popular and somewhat cheeky/sexy images that were meant to be displayed in an informal way (pinned up to the wall). These models display the typical feminine style of the 1940ies and mostly 50ies, so I use the terms "50ies fashion" and "pin up fashion" interchangeably.

More info on pin ups .

And who am I?

A lover of 50ies fashion, Burlesque enthousiast and Corgi fan 🐶.

Joined Burlesque class at 24, started my pin up wardrobe at 25, decided to write this blog at 26.

My neighbors know me as Sofie, my fellow dancers know me as the Darling Of Venus, but you can call me Buttercup ;-)

Why I'm utterly unqualified to instruct you in the art of the pin up:

Daunted by the effortless grace and pro skills of the current retro/pin up bloggers out there, I doubted why my two cents on the niche topics would be worth reading.

Because I was never a "girly girl" and being so clumsy, I couldn't fully relate to the pro's out there like Miss Victory Violet or Cherry Dollface, despite our shared love and aesthetic.
So maybe others felt the same way, or we could simply share a laugh at the (hopefully recognisable) struggles of the imperfect pin up.

My unqualifications:

I've always preferred a solid jRPG (=videogame genre) over make up or "doing my nails"

My motor skills never fully developed as they should've (holding a camera turns me into a Parkinson patient)

Didn't grow up with old Hollywood movies or rolemodels like Marilyn Monroe (I always wanted to be Britney Spears)

Nor do I know how to sow

My mom puts on lipstick and mascara, not a fully contoured, foundation blended, perfect smokey/natural eye look, so I didn't see her apply a lot of make up nor did I experiment with make up, myself, until I was 25.

So if any of those things resonated with you, or you'd like to my journey to full pin up-hood, you might like this blog.

Feel free to check out some of the previews of topics to come, comment or even subscribe <3

- Buttercup, the imperfect pin up