Pinup School Is in Session

[View on the web] [Facebook] [Twitter] [Instagram] What I learned in pinup school Pinup school is serious. It takes me two minutes of class to realize this. I bop in just before class begins to meet Renee DiDio and Anna Patin hovering over a model; her hair is up in rollers, and they’re decked out in back-seamed nylons and dresses plucked from the ‘40s and ‘50s. Lessons takes place at Anna's studio, [Lucy La Riot], where there's an enormous table full of makeup and racks and racks of cherry print skirts and pink gauze baby dolls and leopard bras. I think vintage is the bees knees and I have a growing collection of swing dresses and circle skirts, but lately I've invested in more important pieces — a cropped angora sweater from the early ‘50s, a ‘60s-era slip — that deserve to be worn the way they were intended, with the hair and makeup of someone more sophisticated than a dead hoofer like me. And so here I am. [Insert alt text here] [Pinup 101] class is broken down into three eras — the ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s — with a major focus on makeup and hair. Going in chronological order, a period-appropriate model takes her place at the front of the room for Renee to do her magic on her face, from foundation to lip gloss. Then Anna replaces her to uncurl, brush out, and coif the models, giving step-by-step details the entire time. Their historical knowledge is impressive; they breeze through explaining the origin of the dramatic ‘50s cat eye and bold lip (a celebration after the scarcity of wartimes — and [Revlon] is still making some of the same reds it made originally) and the more-is-more ethos of the ‘60s, with its big Priscilla Presley hair and beyond-smoky eyes. We are encouraged to ask questions, photograph, and discuss, but it's still intimidating. Me, with my moderate knowledge of vintage clothing and the historical references of these eras? I pale in comparison to the in-the-know ladies of this class, who wrap themselves in the restricting lingerie from the times and know how to tie a hair scarf with one eye closed. The last portion of the class is devoted to the clothing looks of this period: the shapes, styles and outfits that would be most appropriate should you want to dive into the pinup lifestyle. Renee, who owns [SlapBack], a boutique just a few minutes away from the studio, is a fountain of knowledge on both deadstock and reproductions, which companies are the cat’s meow, which to skip, and who to glean inspiration from. And though it's a lot of information to soak up all at once, there are a few key points I have underlined twice in my retro NASA notebook that I take to heart, both specific (you should NOT see through proper victory rolls!) and more general, as I leave the Brooklyn studio. [For everyone:] Good brows never go out of style. In each era, a strong brow was required to hold the look together. The models in our class were all blessed with full arches perched atop their faces, and yet Renee still filled them in with the [Besame] brow kit. Like today, a brow transforms your face. Only liquid eyeliner will give you wings. If you want the blackest black cat eye, go with liquid liner, and stay away from the waterproof stuff and pencils. Surprisingly, [Elf] and [Sephora] make the best liquids out there, for not a lot of lettuce. Invest in solid makeup brushes. With any stylized look, your brushes are extremely important. Invest in a set that has the tools you need, and pay particular attention to blender brushes. [For those looking to channel their inner Bettie Page:] The ‘40s are a great place to start. Of all the looks, the ‘40s is lowest maintenance, with simple eyes and a slight emphasis on a deep cherry lip; because lipstick was a simple way to look beautiful when rations were scarce at wartime, this is when that bright red lip truly became a staple ([Jeni Retro’s] liquid lipsticks are a good place to start). With a 1/2 inch curler and duck pins, separating hair into dozens of curls and brushing them all out together, you can achieve the iconic ‘40s brush out, too. A little teasing makes a lot of difference. Even the thickest, longest hair can appreciate a tiny bit of teasing at the scalp. Use a comb (any teasing comb you find at your local beauty supply should do the trick) and start at the base of your hair, and don’t forget a good patina of hairspray afterwards. It goes a long way in giving you volume and making your hair more pliable when it comes to a difficult style. If you condition and brush out carefully, your hair will survive the tease. Some products to get you started? Check out anything by [Kenra] or [Sauvecita]. [Insert alt text here] Great photo of me, the author (jk). | Photo: Secrets In Lace Lay a lingerie foundation. As I said above, real vintage deserves a strong foundation. Many of the forms created by these original lingerie shapes help the clothes lay on your body as intended. If you're adventurous, try out a [merrywidow], the toughest base item to put on; you’ll have to find it vintage, as they aren’t widely made anymore. Or, a [longline bra] will smooth your torso down to your waist for a smooth pencil skirt-wearing experience (I like [Rago’s] version). And there is, of course, [the corset], if you want to train your waist to cinch in smaller and if you’re not particularly fond of taking deep breaths, but it's recommended to go slow with cinching if you're new to the game. Oh, and those infamous ‘50s bullet bras? Costumey and soppy, but a lot of fun, but check out [Secrets In Lace] or [What Katie Did] if you want to give it a try. Tights are serious business. Don’t mix up your eras. For ‘40s, [go nude seam]. For ‘50s, get a little bolder with [darker seams] and heels (Cuban, Havana, and French). In the ‘60s, [more colorful tights] were all the rage under shorter hemlines. [Leg Avenue] is a great place to start if you’re unsure and monetarily tapped out. And if you want to fill up your closet and look spivvy? Brands like [Voodoo Vixen] and [Miss Candyfloss] carry ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s reproductions, as do [Hellbunny] and [Emily and Fin]. Of course, you could always start out with era-appropriate shoe reproductions from [Miss Royal Vintage], [Miss L Fire], [Chelsea Crew], or [BAIT] if you really want to start small, and from the ground up. —[Annemarie Dooling], director of programming Ad from our sponsor Entertainment [Dear ASOS: WTF Is This Clothing Item?] [A girl wrapped in a bow.] ’Twas the day before Christmas break, and all through Vox HQ No employees were typing, except for a few. Those in-office were online shopping, adrift ‘Til Twitter — as always — delivered a gift! Racked’s [Aminatou Sow] tipped us off to a [tweet] From writer [Hayley Campbell], highlighting something neat. [Bluebella’s “Body Bow,”] a bodysuit — except not And for whatever reason, [ASOS] thought it was hot. [Keep reading, there's more >>] Just One Thing In Praise of Long-Winded Product Descriptions [Insert alt text here] [State Marble Flannel Robe], $220 Nobody needs to spend $220 on a flannel robe. [Here’s one] from L.L.Bean that’s priced at $69.95. [This “Christmas camo” robe] retails for $24.98. You could surely find something cheaper than that, too, while avoiding such a disastrously named and executed pattern. What could possibly convince someone to spend so much money on something that they probably won’t wear out of the house and that, unlike complicated lingerie, is purely intended for personal comfort? (In which case, why not just wear a sweatshirt?) I’ll tell you: a really compelling product description. The expensive robe I’m referring to is made by [State], a Georgia-based brand run by Adrienne Antonson. (She also created [The Secret Catalog], a seasonal print magazine containing a password that unlocks an e-commerce shop filled with limited-edition clothing, accessories, and home goods.) With its roomy cut and marbled white and gray print, this robe looks like it should belong to someone artistic and very tasteful, someone who works from home. A poet that lives upstate, maybe. What really makes me want to purchase one, though, was its product description. Here it is, in full. Wrap yourself in this oversized, organic cotton flannel cocoon and survive the cold weather. We aren't kidding when we say it will make you want to get out of bed in the mornings, and immediately excited to come home and unwind. We spent weeks perfecting the length and drape so that it's just the right amount of flattering and comfort. Hosting a breakfast party? We know what you're wearing. Spending the long weekend with your in-laws? We know what you're wearing. Doing some last minute gift wrapping? You'll want to be wearing this robe. And if you're feeling adventurous, our Marble Robe can even venture out of the house for morning coffee or carpools. Believe us, it gets better with time. Hand painted with our signature Winter 16 surface style, this robe looks like a million dollars of liquid marble. We literally gasped the moment we painted our first one. It's that pretty. This isn’t a particularly great piece of writing. It doesn’t sparkle with wit, and if we really want to nitpick, it leans too heavily on a Q&A explanatory structure. But it was clearly written by a real person, and that person makes you feel, at length, how personally excited they are to share this robe with you. That level of care almost makes you feel as though you are swaddled in a very beautiful, hand-painted robe, drinking coffee with your friends over breakfast. See what they did there? Even when we’re shopping out here on the world wide web, from the actual isolation of our apartments or the effective isolation of being glued to our phones on the subway platform, that sense of human connection makes a sale so much easier. I haven’t bought that State robe yet, but I’m as close to purchasing a fancy flannel as I’ve ever been. —[Eliza Brooke], senior reporter [More good stuff to read today] - [Yogasmoga Bankruptcy Filing Signals Trouble in Athleisure Land] - [How to Wrap Any Gift, From Succulents to Champagne Bottles] - [What Mrs. Claus Wears] - [Replace Your Chokers With These Pendant Necklaces] - [My Home Away From Home Is a Swedish Lifestyle Store] Ad from our sponsor From around the web A selection from the editors at Racked [A girl on a plane.] [What a Travel Writer Always Brings in Her Carry-On] And more shopping insights from someone who’s always on the go. [Read more] [Enter here!] [Win a Trip for Two to NOLA’s Big Jazz Festival] Enter to win a trip to the stylish city here! [Read more] Ad from our sponsor [Facebook] [Twitter] [Instagram] This email was sent to {EMAIL}. Manage your [email preferences] or [unsubscribe] to stop receiving emails from Racked. 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