Warning! Lengthy post ahead!
I wanted to make this blog because I know when I first dipped my toe into the world of pinup, I thought I'd never be able to afford it. I soon discovered though that it is what you make it, often times, literally!
I have my fingers crossed that these tips help some of you out. Specifically those out there that think they can't 'do' pinup because it's expensive. Here we go!...
Now I'm not saying you need to sew like a professional. Just learn the basics. Buy a cheap (but not TOO cheap) sewing machine. Ask around your family and friends, someone possibly has an old one they will give you or at least let you have for super cheap.
Make sure they show you how to thread the machine! They may even give you some cotton and bobbins to start you off.
If you don't have someone who can show you the basics, YouTube is your best friend! On the days I think I'm harrassing my Mum a little too much, or I decide to start sewing at midnight (and would REALLY get in trouble if I texted then!), I ask my old friend YouTube to show me what to do!
There are tutorials for EVERYTHING. I make my circle skirts using A Vintage Vanity's full circle skirt tutorial. Jen pretty much makes the skirt with you.
Videos are the best learning tool because you can pause them, go back to a previous step and rewatch them as often as you need.
There are also patterns, vintage, repro or otherwise available for free or very cheap all over the Internet.
This tip is especially useful if you enter pinup comps. To ensure you stand out and instead of waiting on the edge of your seat to find out if something will arrive by post in time, making your own outfits often ends up being less stressful!
One of the best things about making your own pinup clothes is that no one will have the same dress as you. You can pick whatever fabric you like! This point brings me to...
Tip number 2: Op shops (charity shops, thrift stores). Buy vintage curtains or sheets as your fabric! Super cheap!
Of course, op shops are a gold mine for vintage dresses, shoes, jewellery and to a lesser degree, well for me anyway, vintage lingerie. If you look hard enough you may find furs, fabulous jewels, peignoirs, bags, hats, scarves, the possibilities are endless if you search hard enough and often enough. Of course, the best part about sourcing items from op-shops is... the price!
The next point I have to make in this tip is, you can purchase items that may not necessarily fit IF... you can SEW! Hence why sewing is my top tip. You can find out how to alter a garment or add something or fix something small, all online.
Obviously if something is in bad condition, even if it is only costs a dollar or two, it's more than likely not worth buying.
We were given this following tip from Miss Pixie (owner of Miss Pinup Australia and Boogie Bop Dames), that when buying shoes, if they are the style you want and the right fit but not the right colour, spray paint them! Vintage shoes in bigger sizes are a little more difficult to come across and if you do, especially at an op shop, don't leave them behind just because of the colour!
Tip number 3: Search buy, swap and sell pages on Facebook, garage (or yard) sales, flea markets and if where you live has hard rubbish collection, the front yards of houses close to you. You can find vintage and repro clothes and accessories, items you may need for props, or can makes props from and other gems. Sometimes people know what they have and will charge you accordingly, other people just want to get rid of their "old junk" and you can score yourself a bargain!
Tip number 4: Ebay and YouTube for hair styling. Contrary to what you may think, you do not need a lot of expensive, hard to find tools for creating a beautiful vintage 'do. You may wish to invest in a few quality items that will last you a long time and make the whole process a little easier but it is entirely possible to do your hair using inexpensive tools.
Ebay has everything you need and if you can wait for a couple of weeks, you can get most stuff from overseas for VERY cheap. I have recently purchased a tool that helps you roll victory rolls and a new set of curlers from China and it only cost me a few dollars!
Things like setting lotion and hairspray are worth spending a little bit more on as some will work better than others.
Use YouTube once again for a million and one tutorials on achieving all different types of vintage hairstyles.
Tip number 5: Makeup. It is NOT necessary to use the most expensive makeup! My favourite red lipstick is $2 from a cheap shop we have in town. You may think red lipstick is just red lipstick, but it's not. Everyone looks good with a red lip, but not the same red lip. There are so many variations of red. The first thing you need to figure out is if you need a warm red (an orange toned red) or a cool red (a blue toned red). The colour you like in the tube may not be the colour that you like on your lips. This is when getting a couple of dollar store lippies come in handy. Once you have found what type of red suits you best, then you can find one you really like.
Eyeliner: use what is easiest for you to master. When using a liquid, I always use a liner that is like a felt tip pen. I have a favourite that I will use for on stage, in photographs etc which is about $15 but for everyday I use one that cost $3 and it does pretty much the same job. This also means my more expensive one lasts longer.
Eyeshadow is simply what works for you. I paid $9.95 for a pallette that I use for stage and everyday and have been using it for well over a year and it still has plenty of life left in it.
Foundation and powder: this is a product that you really truly need to find what you think works best for you. I had a $4 stick foundation that I loved and it did exactly what I wanted it to do (until they discontinued it, thank you unnamed cosmetic company!) and I've had a $40+ foundation that was.... bad. It was useless, I could put 4 layers on and it still wouldn't cover anything. I currently use 3 different foundations. 2 liquid and 1 powder and I use them according to how I'm feeling or what I'm doing that day. None of them cost more than $15. I am always changing foundations though because I have also found that even if I get the same colour in the same brand, if they are from different batches, they may turn out to be completely different. So TEST the foundation before you buy it!!
Lastly on the topic of makeup is fake lashes. These can be super expensive in stores so head to Ebay once again! I bought a packet of 20 pairs of lashes from China for $2! You can cut them to fit and use them more than once. The only thing here is getting a decent glue. But the glue isn't very expensive and will last quite a while.
With all of these tips you can totally pull off pinup and not spend a fortune.
The best thing about being a modern pinup is that you can put your own spin on it. I actually would encourage you to do so! Interpret pinup how you will and it becomes you.
Pinup is for EVERYONE. EVERYONE.
Enjoy yourself and the confidence it brings you.
Before I leave I want to extend this challenge to you all...
Miss Pixie challenged the entrants of Miss Pinup Australia to post a selfie with the caption 'I am a strong, beautiful woman' and I want you all to do the same! To facebook or Insta or in the comments here... post it everywhere and sit back and wait for the positivity that will flood your way!
Much love and ($2, blue toned) red lipstick, Miss Toxic xx
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