I have found a perfect infograph for those looking for a clear definition on what pinup, rockabilly and all vintge style is/consist of! This is perfect for those who follow my blog and want to get to understand my style and love.
The Skater Skirt, Pin-Up Style
The skater skirt has been a trend lately and most girls have them in their wardrobe in a number of colors. Red, blue, black…as it’s a basic comfy skirt it can sometimes be plain and sporty.
Here are some ways on making the skater skirt into a pin-up look.
Usually a tee or tank looks good with a skater skirt. But to make it a little pin-up I usually go for halter tops, sailor stripes or off-sholder looks.
For a cute look I like cardigans. Usually in bright pastel colors. Or if you want something edgy and going for a rockabilly look a fitted Jean jacket is great too.
SHOES. Ballet flats are the obvious choice for casual looks, but black and white Converse or the Saddle Shoes will make the look vintage preppy. Lace wedges or a Mary Jane pump will give the vixen pin-up look, yet still keeping it comfortable.
You can’t forget about hair and makeup. This is what will bring the look together. Winged eyeliner, red lipstick, curls in the hair and maybe a flower or a bandana. A pair of cateye sunglasses and you are good to go!
Easy pin-up style with a basic fun trend that you can easily do!
What’s In My Make-Up Bag
There are times when I can get carried away with bringing along almost my entire makeup collection into my purse. Like most girls, I bring as much as I can thinking that I will “never know when I am going to need it”. So, here is the breakdown on what I have that are neccessary for touch-ups on the go. Twenty items or less.
I have a few new products that I’m using (thank you Ysa Reyes!!!!! I am so blessed by the holy angel of thee Beyonce`)
1. CHANEL Comfort Radiance Compact in Beige Ambre- Again, thank you Ysa. Luckily the shade is actually a good match for me! Still testing it out but so far I am in love. Matte finish and long lasting. Plus a chic product design and the right size for the kit.
2. BOBBI BROWN Shimmer Brick Compact in Bronze- Wow. This product is wow. It’s so smooth and so pretty! So so pretty! I use on my cheek bones for that glowing look. I keep it to go for touch ups when I need a bit of glimmer.
3. CYBER COLORS Black Tip Linner in Super Black- For the touch ups on my cat eye! Sometimes the weather or environment can cause oil.And that rubs off my liner so I always keep this in my bag.
4. CYBER COLORS Super Stay Gel Liner in Black- It looks like a pencil liner but it’s actually gel! I use this for day-to-night looks. When I don’t have time to go home and get ready, I just add this too my eye makeup and it transforms into a great night look. I sometimes even blend it around for a smokey eye.
5. ETUDE HOUSE Drawing Eyebrow Pencil- If you’ve seen my video on pin-up girl makeup, this is what I use for my eyebrows. Keep in the bag for the same reason as the liquid liner. I never want to walk around with just one eyebrow and the other rubbed off! Could it be the new sexy, mysterious look? I don’t think so.
6. NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Monte Carlo- This is usually my everyday lip color. Perfect red and stays on forever.
7. MAC Matte in Ruby Woo- Again, Ysa. Testing it out and so far I love it. It’s almost similar to the NYX. I bring a long a few red lipsticks in case of day-to-night looks.
8. MAC Matte in Prince Noir- This is the dark plum color. This is what definietly changes my look from day to night. I just add this color and I’m done.
9. RIMMEL Kate Moss Collection in Rossetto- I always bring a neutral lipstick. In case I need to tone it down for a meeting, or a formal occasion. This color is a rich mauve and is so creamy. One of my favorites.
10. NICHIDO Lip Pencils in Spice and Rosette- To match the lipsticks, I have two inexpensive lipliners. Spice, which is a deep red and Rosette that matches Rossetto (wow.)
11. ARDELLE Eyelash Adhesive- THIS I BRING. I wear falsies. And I never ever ever know when one will fall off or begin to peel. I never want a lash to fall and someone to point out that I have a spider lingering on my cheek.
12. TWEEZERS- You never know when you are going to need tweezers. I use them for applying glue to my eyelashe, sometimes actual tweezing.
13. MINI BRUSHES- A cheek brush and eyebrow brush. For obvious reasons.
I learned over the years that I don’t need to bring everything. The essetials will keep my pin-up look throughout the day. And makeup isn’t what it’s all about. It’s about you.
What’s in your bring-along make up kit?
Vintage Makeup Advertisments vs. Today’s
I worked in advertising for a few months, fresh out of college. Inexperienced, but eager to learn. And oh did I learn…
It’s no longer a glamorous sector of the business world. It’s hard driven with competition, profit, fast paced deadlines and demands. Yes, these were still the factors of the time during the golden age of advertising (calling Don Drapper and all PamAm flight attendants). Yet, there seems to lack a sense of innovation.
Now with social media, digital outputs and clever promotional tie-ups , modern day advertising has taken it to the next level. Demand for the creative juices are now forcibly squeezed out of the agencies.
But, what am I to say for I’ve only worked in the field for less than one year. I’m here to talk about cosmetics and their advertisments.
When you think vintage advertising you visualize illustrated home mommies, smiling milk men, lots of cluttered text and big bright fonts of “buy now” or “it’s the best”. That until which in 1959 the agency DDB released the incredible “Think Small” campaign for Volkswagon. Altering advertising to what it is today.
Make up is not hard to sell It’s the brand. With so many identical products brands fight to get the consumer to gleam over the packaging, the contrasted hues, and to awe over the ideal woman with the use of their brand. In both yesterday’s and today’s makeup advertisments it is till the same motive. However, the approach is very different.
The early vintage ads (1940s) were keen on setting an example on how the product can be applied to their lifestyle. Shaping the idea that makeup is part of a woman’s life. (Feminist ideals in play right about now). Ads for brands such as Max Factor and Revlon would present how lipstick can keep you glamorous for the man of your dreams, or while packing his lunch. Again, let’s be thankful we live in a progressive society. The ads would also provide visuallization of what shade would suit you, the ways you can use the product and of course the sell point of the product. It also gave a gleam of happiness for the women. Living through the war, having a bit of glamour helped keep a light of happiness during such a dark time.
Today’s ads are highly minimal. It literally is product centric. Look at Clinic amd Georgio Armani’s campaigns compared to those vintage ones.
Huge difference? Because makeup has become a woman’s “essential” advertisers assume that there no longer needs to be a guide for the product. Simple text of the highlight of the product, and the strong brand name together SELLS.
Don’t think that vintage ads never had celebrity endorsers. Hollywood took big advantage of that. When Hollywood starlets such a Rita Hayworth and Marilyn Monroe were promoting for their newest picture they would be featured in a brands ad. Selling the everyday woman the same lipstick Marilyn wore in the movies or from her own personal “line”.
No difference today. We still see celebrity endorsed products. From Emma Stone for Revlon, Lorde for MAC and Rihanna’s Viv La Glam campaign for MAC. Yet, of course visually it’s minimal, clean, and more focused on the celebrity.
Both eras of advertising though have a similar angle. Towards the end of the 1950s brands such as Revlon began going on a high fashion stance. Post-war America was now gripping the glory and through the fashion it definitely showed. When they began to produce these ads makeup began to seem like an investment. The ads perceived a fantasy of glamour, richness, beauty and elegance. The life women of the post-war yearn for.
Today, the high fashion angle is played through creativity. MAC’s advertisements always used the products to show the capabilities. Mixing of the colors applied in artsy ways. Glittered eye shadow on the cheeks with a pink falsies and heavy blue cat eyes. Looks that the normal girl would probably never try, but the fact that they show the possibilities of their products is what makes them sell.
Overall, I love to see the progress of advertising. And this is one way of observing how far we’ve come in marketing and creativity. I personally prefer the vintage ads because they give emotion. Which is hard to execute in today’s ads, especially for cosmetics. Even though filled with content, it gave us a moment to look into the ad. Actually read it and understand. But, because we now have no time for anything, advertisements have been minimal and somewhat watered down. Which ads to you prefer?
Inspiration: Amy Winehouse
I remember the first time I saw Amy Winehouse. It was her performance on the Jay Leno show back in 2006. She immediately caught my eye with her unique jazzy voice, beehive hair so high it could touch heaven, and her style. Her style is what modern day pinups can relate to. Amy’s style is a mixture of pinup and rock and roll. The term here is rockabilly. Some of you may have noticed I have written posts that include this term. And Amy is a great definition.
Her signature winged eyeliner and red lip screams for pinup. But, with her choice of prints like plaid, cheetah, and her preference for waist hugging wiggle dresses bring in that rockabilly style. Amy has a favourite accessory, and that is the waist belt. This accessory is so great because on any dress she just adds it on and it immediately becomes pinup.
She was a modern day pinup all the way down to her tattoos. Amy is known for having several tattoos, including the infamous Blake tattoo. The designs of hers are traditional old school sailor tattoos which are preferred by the rockabilly style.
Amy brought back the pinup style and jaz to the mainstream crowd. She was the complete package and I miss her so.
It’s Never Easy to Say Goodbye; a despedida.
In my life, I am at the akward stage of becoming a true young adult. Like any twenty-something it’s a confusing time to be seeing my Facebook newsfeed filled with photos of newborn babies AND VIP parties at the trending nightclubs.
One of my best friends Trish, who some of you may know from previous posts, is finally leaving to a journey on her own. She has decided to begin her “life” in Japan, the place where she was born. Like me, we were both raised in different worlds, but we came together in one world that bonded us quickly. That world was called high school. She has become one of my closest friends for almost ten years and I hate to see her go. But, I know it’s time for us to begin our own lives. It’s the time to pursue all of our ambitions, our dreams and establish ourselves to become who we really are.
So, Trish I will miss you terribly.
A few of us had a despedia for her and we went to several places. Two bars being Oarhouse and Bar1951, both located in Malate. We then stopped over at a hole-in-the-wall ramen house, which is located near the Coffee Bean on Adriatico St. (It didn’t have a name. It’s that secret, however it’s very visible. You will see many eating out on the tables placed on the sidewalk). Both bars are great for the steady drinkers who are looking for a good ambiance. Low-key and under the radar these bars a great for just enjoying a few drinks with friends. Something that was much needed to say goodbye.
Top: Supre Australia
Skirt: Forever 21
Cardigan: Cotton On
The basic of a black pencil skirt comes in handy at any event. Being an essentiall it makes it so easy to pair with different tops. (See here for my lists of essentials for pinup style. ) A peplum top with a retro print, like the houndstooth, gives the ultimate hourglass figure. Hiding any unwanted bulges specifically around the hip area, peplum tops are great for narrowing the waist and giving the silhouette of sexy.
Then there was this. The Taylor Swift handbag pose. We found it a bit strange that she holds her bags by the forearm (facing upward). We found it a bit uncomfortable, but we gave it a try. (I am not a fan of her’s by the way.)
Yeah, our bags carried our life in it. Therefore almost breaking off our forearms.
Love you Trish!
A Barbecue to Remember
Ahhhh, nothing better than smoked sausages, grilled burgers, fresh sangria and iced cold beer. Sunny, breezy and surrounded by good friends and welcoming a new generation, I had a pretty good Saturday.
Celebrating the amazing growth spurt of my godson, Maximilian, and a small house warming of my best friend we all had a fun time! Look at all that food! Picture perfect.
I had a great weekend . How was yours?
The Lamb of God Experience
Metal.
This is the third visit of the metal band, Lamb of God, to Manila. I saw them back in 2010 during their first visit, but wasn’t able to see their full set. (Which was a terrible experience) So, when the opportunity came I just had to grab a ticket to see the amazing band. Heavy metal may not be for everyone, but these guys are purely talented musicians. I was introduced to their music back in 2008 and even for me, the genre was something I did not expect to like. This band was one of many to introduce me to heavy rifts, rugid vocals, passionate poetic lyrics and a kickass drop by double-peddle drums.
One of the best gigs I’ve been to so far!
How To: Curl Your Hair with a Curling Iron
Many many questions on how I use my curling iron, so here’s a short video on how I get my curls! Enjoy 🙂
How to: Pin Up Girl Makeup
My first every video post! I finally decided to do a video since it would be easier to go through my process! I talk about the products I use, techniques and preferences of my makeup routine. Have a look and I hope you find this very useful. Be kind for its my first video!
The Pin-up Girl Manila 
