Take a look at the standards of women’s bodies from the past century. See how each decade goes from curvy, to thin, to curvy, to thin. The extreme transitions per era is what causes women to be self-conscious about weight. Society and the trends are what determine these standards. This chart proves that the ideal women body will never be satisfied.
It’s my honor to introduce Miss Amy May. Hailing from the UK, she describes herself as “owning far too many red lipsticks and a fair number of sparkly shoes.” Miss Amy May’s taste It’s my honor to introduce Miss Amy May. Hailing from the UK, she describes herself as “owning far too many red lipsticks and a fair number of sparkly shoes.” Miss Amy May’s taste in wiggle dresses, full skirts, and her love of Harry Potter illustrates the modern-day pinup gal. I was delighted for you to get a glimpse on her inspirations, favorite trends, thoughts on the pin-up community.
Where has your love for the vintage/pin-up fashion come from?
I think somewhere inside me I have always just thought the era of the 50’s was the most elegant, sophisticated and feminine out of all the eras in fashion. I didn’t really watch a lot of old movies, or was exposed to music and such, when I was younger like most of my pinup friends. I only began to admire such things as I grew older. At the beginning I felt I was too young to pull of the look, as though I would be playing dress up. Over time, my love for the style grew and i came to feel it was something I could indulge in as I became confident enough to try it.
How long have you been involved in the pin-up community?
I began my style transition in early 2013, first experimenting with wetset pincurls as a hairstyle revamp and then branching out to the clothes and makeup. By that autumn I was wearing the style exclusively socially (I work as a Warehouse Supervisor, so I can’t be pin-up at work) The entire time I was on Instagram, where I documented my style change and began to make friends with other pinups all over the world, delving further into the community from there. I began my blog in mid 2014 and since then my love for the style, the other women within it and the ways it has opened up my life have all only grown.
Has becoming a pin-up changed you in any ways?
Loads! Mostly, I’m more confident now, both in my looks and my body, and in myself and my personality. I feel like embracing the small joys of wearing what I like when I like, without worrying what other people might think of me, it has really freed me as a person and lessened a lot of the social anxiety which I used to suffer from. Now, if I get presented an opportunity that scares me a little, I focus on the excitement of it and I say YES. I’m more outspoken and thoughtful than before. Kinder, stronger, and happier in general.
Who are your inspirations?
All of my family, for just being smart, funny, supportive beautiful humans. JK Rowling for being a creative genius and an incredible person who cares about those less fortunate than herself and won’t be told to sit quietly just because she’s a woman. Every one of my friends who has overcome. Micheline Pitt and Laura Byrnes for being both creative and mental powerhouses. Rachel Jensen for being so incredibly stylish. All the pinups I interact with who encourage one another and are generous enough to offer me any single iota of support.
By being a pin-up , do you see yourself influencing other women/girls?
I’ve had other women tell me that seeing me sport this style with confidence gave them the push to embrace it themselves and grow more confident in themselves . But I don’t think that’s really about me. I think all pinups have that power. We dress differently than other people, we dare to look at every stranger in public and declare, with our mere looks, ‘I know what I like and who I am, and I don’t care if society thinks it’s weird or would prefer I wear what everyone else is wearing.’ We dare to stand out. We learn to ooze confidence. I think in our modern world, where equality is not yet a true reality and we women are often told in a thousand small ways in a single day to make ourselves smaller, that is inspiring and empowering and wonderful.
What are your favorite pieces to wear that make you feel confident/sexy?
My swing dresses make me feel most confident and sexy. You might not think so, since they typically cover me to my mid-shin and rarely have anything more on show than a hint of cleavage at most, but I think the pinup style is a lot about being in control of what you want to show off and knowing that you are feminine, sexy and glamorous whether you’re in a body hugging wiggle dress or a long-sleeved swing skirt with two petticoats underneath. It’s the entire aesthetic, not one specific silhouette, that I find sexy and sensual and womanly, and it allows me to feel that way even when I am covered in literal meters and meters of fabric.
What is your daily routine for getting ready?
For my daily routine it depends upon whether I am going out after work or staying in. If I’m going out after work then my routine involves setting my hair in pincurls the night before, waking up an extra half hour before work so I can do my full face of makeup (sans the red lipstick,) then taking out my pincurls when I get home from work, freshening up, touching up my makeup, adding lipstick and perfume, and getting into whatever outfit I probably mentally picked out a couple days before. If I’m in for the night then my routine before work means I don’t make any special effort for the day; I might wear some foundation and mascara, but I always have to be dressed practically for my very physical job, so I wear my work uniform and often tie my hair out of the way.
What are some means in sharing your unique style?
I post pictures of my pinup outfits on my Instagram, I also blog at least twice a week about the different elements of the style, reviews on clothing, my favorite makeup products, any hair tricks I have and craft projects for low budget accessories. I occasionally model for retro clothing brands boutiques and vintage magazines. That is always fun and a change from my day-job. I haven’t participated in any pinup pageants, but along with a group of my pinup friends, known as The British Belles, this summer we created a charity event called Pinup Picnic in the Park. We invited anyone who would like to meet up with friends old and new, who share our vintage love and have a picnic at London’s Hyde park. It was wonderful getting to see so many people who had only spoken online before, mostly Instagram, and finally being able to meet in the flesh. Ladies who are new to the style were able to meet their first ever batch of real-life people who share their love and interest. as part of the event we hosted a charity raffle, with almost 40 prizes donated from vintage and retro style brands from across the world. It went on to raise over £1000 for Macmillan Cancer Support. A charity very near and dear to our hearts. The whole event was amazing and we can’t wait to host another one next year.
Being a pin-up girl in the modern day can be difficult, have you ever experienced backlash or negativity from your community?
I’m really lucky that I haven’t experienced any of that. The community is really supportive, so I’ve never had any negative experience within it, but even outside of it people have only ever been nice and interested to me about my style. I can tell some people find it confusing or just too much effort, as if it’s vapid to enjoy wearing something pretty, but those people don’t concern me because I don’t do it for them. I do it for myself and I know I’m an intelligent person regardless of whether I like bright lipstick or glittery necklaces.
I want to remind every female, whether girl, woman or in between, that she is one of a kind and beautiful. We get a lot of pressure applied to us from all aspects of society, even by family and friends, both knowingly and unknowingly, to look and act a certain way. More often than not the things we are told to be and do are conflicting–don’t have sex, but also don’t be a prude. Don’t care about what you look like, but also don’t be ugly. Don’t be dumb, but don’t be smarter than the men in your life. It’s all institutionalised sexism that we have to unlearn and, more importantly, have to stop forcing upon one another by mimicking the judgements we grow up hearing all around us. We are not each other’s competition. We are a sisterhood, and whether that means complimenting another girl because you like her swing dress or whether that means reminding one another that we have a voice and important things to say, it all plays its part in helping each other feel good and worthy and strong and better than society tells us we are. Don’t be scared to be who you want to be, and try your best to encourage other women to live as their true selves as well. Be kind. Be brave. Be badass.
Thank you Miss Amy May for sharing the love you have for pin-up. Your strong ideals and confidence is sure to reach those who have yet found theirs.
Head over to missamymay.com for more on her beauty!
xxKelsey
My first pin-up of my project. I introduce to you Emily!
I met 26 year old Emily through Instagram about a year ago. She hails from Indonesia and is a certified makeup artist. Oh, and she happens to be a badass MMA fighter too. I can describe her beauty as pinup with a dark twist. With her dark hair, eclectic tattoos and off beat posing, she is a true definition of the alternative pinup model. I asked Emily a few questions on her inspirations, struggles and her tips on being pinup
First off, where has your love for the vintage/pin-up fashion come from?
It all started from the first time I watch the movie called Pin Up Girl with Betty Grable. For the first time, I loved to dress in this vintage classic style. But as time went on, my style evolved into my own signature pinup look.
How long have you been involved in the pin-up community?
I’ve known of the pin up culture since 2007, but decided to become a daily pin-up girl since around 2008-2009. By January 2015 I found my own style which is the alternative dark pinup look.
Has becoming a pin-up changed you in any ways?
Absolutely! I’ve learned how to appreciate myself a lot more, and find who I really am. However, being a pinup girl in this whole new modern world is such a huge challenge. I find people look at me in very distracting ways, talk bad about my style. But I’ve learned to be proud to be different, and take all the stare with pride because at least I know I am being myself.
Who are your inspirations?
My biggest inspirations are Bettie Page, Amber Rose, and Ms. Tess Munster.
By being a pin-up , do you see yourself influencing other women and girls?
Sometimes. Not with the way I dress and my passion in pinup culture, but my confidence. We should always be our kind of beautiful.
What are your favorite pieces to wear that make you feel confident and sexy?
I’m proud of my body, and love accentuating my curves and my figure. I love wearing wiggle dresses, skinny jeans and maybe pair it with a crop top.
What is your routine for staying fit?
I do squats, sit ups, jogging and some weight lifting every day. I also do boxing and MMA training 4 times a week also swimming every Saturday.
Being a pin-up girl in the modern day can be difficult, have you ever experienced backlash or negativity from your community?
Of Course. I’m tattooed and decided to go bald just last week. I get a lot of negativity behind my back, but rise up to the seeing myself as a unique human being, I ignore the negativity and continue to believe in myself. I hold my chin up and be proud. I know that there are those people who are just trying to pull me down and I will prove to them that I’m being real, respect my mind and I love myself for who I am.
I want everyone to know that you should try to find your true self. Try to combine the classic pinup style to the style that perfectly suits you. Also to not be scared to be different because being different is actually beautiful. Be as unique as possible because that is the most valuable thing in life.
Strong words from a strong woman. Thanks Emily for being part of this project. Your words and confidence will be inspiring so many others out there! I hope all of you follow this pin-up on Instagram and take it from her– you can be anyone you want to be.
xxKelsey
Why can’t we all just say “Today I want a 26” waist with full C cups” then take a shower, steam a little, and when you come out your glorious body has changed into the perfect hour glass figure you ever so dreamed of. Then the next day, if you feel like you want that thick thigh brow and smaller tits, just hop on into that shower and poof. There you have it.
Sadly, God did not give us that magnificent shower that rains holy water for body transformation. He did however, give us the beautiful blessing of making each and every one of us different. It took me a few years to accept that everyone’s body is different. When I moved here to the Philippines in 2005, I was 135 lbs., fourteen years old and 5’6”. An uncommon size at the time. High school made it harder, since wearing a uniform meant having to get the only sizes the store carried. I would then of course, compare myself to everyone around me. I felt like a crazy giant towering over the average sized Filipina (and Filipino). The Philippine culture is very judgmental, as hard as we deny it. Filipinos are not afraid to say things like “Tumaba ka, pero ang ganda mo!”; “You got fat, but you’re still really pretty.” Regina George much.
By senior year of high school, in one year, I dropped from being 135lbs. to 113lbs. Thin as a fucking rail. I never exercised and I rarely ate. It was horrifying and ultimately unhealthy. I knew it was bad when some teachers were asking me if I was experimenting with drugs (NO. I was not!) , and my best friend came to my prom, grabbed my arm and said “How did you get so thin?” (Not in a positive tone) To tell you the truth, yes it was peer pressure, and it was about a boy. Yes, a boy. I cringe even thinking about it.
I have always loved pinup since I was a child. I also had issues with my body type. I have these big hips, small waist and broad shoulders. Making me bottom heavy and insecure. (Ironic? Now it’s all about the booty these days). So when I was searching for a prom dress online, I came about to Pinupgirlclothing and I saw the most beautiful dresses, and not only that the beautiful models. The greatest thing about it was they embraced their curves, and created the clothing to accentuate every part. And not only that! They modeled the same pieces in both regular AND plus size. I began looking into other brands, such a Hell Bunny, Unique Vintage and Starlets and Harlets and they all offered sizes xxs-4xl.
The range of sizes made me feel so good knowing that there is a place where they know there is an existence of girls out there who are not “one size fits all“. It really changed my perspective about myself. Especially since this was the most popular thing in fashion at the time:
Once I began college, the freshman fifteen took over. By graduation I was at a healthy 148lbs. I was happy enough with my weight and size, and by that time I had realized it didn’t matter what size I was. I was lucky to have a boyfriend, family and friends who supported me through my “weight gain“. I graduated in 2013 and got my first official job one month later. Now, I have been working since college. I worked part time as a makeup artist through my last two years of school, I also took two internships in between. So getting a job right away made me feel lucky, yet unsure if I was ready for this. My job was stressful, long hours and did I say stressful? I began to feel overwhelmed, depressed and excited all at the same time. My brain was on a constant creativity mode with tons of rejections. I have been through anxiety and depression before, so going through this phase with work was something I thought was…just another phase?
It’s hard to explain what had happened, but I eventually had to quit my job and I was at the lowest point in my life. I gained 40 lbs. putting me at 182lbs. Yes. Yes near 200lbs. And when I had an incident that changed my life forever, I knew I had to get the right kind of help. Friends, family, doctors…they all helped me to this day.
The most unexpected help I got was from the pinup community. I’ve made friends from the past 3 years who are involved in the love of all things mid-century. They are all beautiful men and women who sent words of encouragement and gave my confidence a boost with their lovely shout outs and “likes”. It brought me back to finding my confidence in that “pin up world”. Other girls were also talking about their issues with disorders, and I felt so happy to have people to relate to. They were and still are so brave for sharing, which is why I feel confident in sharing my writings now. They come from all over the world, UK, US, Australia, Indonesia…seriously everywhere.
This is where I went wrong. Because I was comforted by the fact that pinup clothing and community came in all shapes and sizes, I didn’t care about how much weight I had gained while I was working. I was wrong because even if I had gained a little weight, it was unnatural. I was back to that point in my life where I was being unhealthy. Instead of being underweight now, I was overweight. *Why is it so hard to find the middle?* I had high cholesterol, my body fat percentage was off as well as my BMI. Blaming work and my disorder could work, but I only had myself to blame. I was being confused with the idea of being confident at any size, with being unhealthy.
Today, I have changed. I strive for a healthy lifestyle, with getting better every day. It’s a struggle, but then again what isn’t? Each day you grow and each day you learn. There are some things that cannot be explained, or that you just don’t understand immediately. Most days are good, but there are days that are down-right shit. But have a strong support system whether it be from those closest to you, or those half way around the world. It helps me get to the point in my life where I am happy.
The Pin-up Girl Manila 