I love the black pencil skirt! It’s one of the essentials that is so versatile. There are so many combinations with tops, shoes and accessories! The key to the pencil skirt is to find the perfect fit. Find one that is snug to the hips to show those curves, high enough at the waist to enhance the waist line, and the material should be comfortable. Cotton is my favorite, however there is polyester and pleather. Which personally I am not a fan of. It’s hard to sit with and the movement is odd for me. If you can’t find one that perfectly fits you off-the-rack, you can always get it altered.
I put some options you can pick to add with the essential. Peplum tops will really show that waist, and hides the hips. It balances out with the pencil skirt creating a slimming figure. Off the shoulder tops will give the perfect vixen look. Pair with some black Mary Jane pumps and you’re a rockabilly bombshell in no time.
Many of you might look at a black pencil skirt and think it’s only for formal occasions or the office. However, it can be just as casual as you want it to be. Adding a graphic top (tucked into the skirt) and a pair of cute sneakers will make you look like a casual modern-day pinup.
And as always, don’t forget the accessories. Add maybe a hair flower with your favorite curls or updo. Maybe a pair of cat eye shades for both casual and formal looks. Don’t forget that red lip and cat eye liner!
The black pencil skirt is a wardrobe essential. So get you butt out there and snuggle into one!
The 1950’s was all about glamour. After World War 2, it was important for ladies to look their best because of the the men returning home from the war. (Less men= more competition for marriage) Women wanted to always look their best, therefore their makeup was simple, yet eye-catching . You’ll see that during the 1950’s women’s make-up was subtle with pops of excitment. For example a simple eye, but red lip;or a heavy brow with a bare eye. Hair and makeup were priorities to women making the powder room a sanctuary.
The red lip is important to get that pin-up look. It is and forever shall be a classic. With choosing the right shade, a red lip is perfect for day-time activites, or splendid nights out. The way of picking the right shade is by looking at your hair color and skin tone. For lighter hair and pinkish skin, also known as warm toned (blondes and a rosy complexion; you can check by looking at your vein color. If your color is purple you have a pinkish tone) Opt for peachy, orange toned reds. For the brunettes and yellow-toned girls, also known as cool toned (veins will be colored blueish-green) opt for dark reds, or “blue tones”. These shades according to your color will bring out and highliht your best attributes from your skin to your eye color.
A red lip is my absolute favorite thing to get the pin-up look. It’s my go-to essential when I’m lazy and in a hurry. With just a red lip alone and a few plumps with a good lip liner I am good to go! Great brands from that era were Revlon and Max Factor. Until now, I feel Revlon produces one of the best shades of red matte or gloss at an affordable price. Here are some of my favorite red lipsticks that are essential for any pin-up:
1. NYX Matte Creame Gloss in Monte Carlo (Php 325) This is my daily color. I love how it is applied like a lipgloss making it easy in application and for perfectionist, like myself, great for getting into the corners of the mouth and creating the perfect plump to the lips. The matte finish is amazing and absolutely long lasting. And what more the price is extremely affordable!
2. Rimmel Kate Moss Collection in shade 01 (Php 375) This color is more on a bright red. The texture of this lipstick is creamy and moisturizing! When I apply it, it takes only two swipes! Kate Moss also has various colors to her collection including nudes and pinks, but out of all of them the reds are my favorites. This is worth buying if you’re still new to wearing red lipsticks. The shade is great with any skintone and is easy for application; making sure you won’t over-apply.
3. NYX Matte Creame Gloss in Translyvannia (Php 325) Okay, so this isn’t exactly a red, but it is so good that I must share it with you. I wear this usually for a modern pin-up look. It is a matte formula with a rich plum-tone. This shade has been very popular since 2013 bringing a bit of goth back into fashion. I love it just as I love Monte Carlo for its great application and matte finish. I love this color for nights-out! It’s sexy and classy all at the same time. Make sure to balance it out by not using dark colors on your eyes (such as a smokey eye or heavy black liner). You want to keep it balanced to give you that glamorous look.
4. Revlon Classics in Super Lustrous (Php 510) Now this is the ultimate classic! Like I said before, Revlon was one of the top choices in cosmetics during the 1950’s. Revlon came out with the original packaging back in 2012 for a limited time. Sadly I wasn’t able to get my hands on them. However, even in their modern day packaging, the formula has never changed. Much like the Rimmel Kate Moss Collection, this shade is perfect for any skin tone. A creamy texture and easy application, begginers can experiment with this shade before taking the next step to darker or lighter colors. I highly recommend every girl to have this color in her make-up essentials!
5. Revlon Matte Collection in Wine Not (Php 355) You’re probably thinking why I have so many matted suggestions in this post. The reason why I love matte so much is because of its long-lasting finish, but also a bit of a modern-day look. I let the shade speak classic, but the texture speak modern. This color by Revlon is described to be an inbetween of a classic red, and a deep dark plum. (Much like NYX’s Translyvannia) I use this mostly for evenings. This color is perfect for cool tone girls, or generally girls looking for a sexy subtle look.
Get out there and buy that red lipstick. It’s a beauty-must for achieving the perfect vintage look! You can find any of these brands at PCX, SM Department Stores, or Watson’s.
Today’s adventure took me to Tagaytay! Perfect chilly weather for my favorite pink varsity jacket, which I bought from Forever 21 (Php 2,380). The dress is also from Forever 21 (Php 1,450). Yes, expect lots of my items to be from the holy land that is Forever 21!
Keeping up with the classic stripe pattern (from yesterday’s post), I decided for today i edge it up a bit adding a rockabilly flavor. For those who aren’t sure what rockabilly is, it’s a culture that is part of the vintage trend that consists of styles, music, and lifestyle grabbing from the 1950’s rock n’ roll scene, a little bit of punk, and the classic pin-up mold. Think greasers and tough chicks! (Look out for a feature post on rockabilly)
So, to toughen the look up just a little I wore one of my favorite matte lip colors Transylvania by NYX (Php 300). I matched it with a good pair of cat eye shades, and black flats. I also like how this dress has thicker stripes which flatter the waist!
After a good lunch and some exploring, my friend and I headed to the zoo! We awed at the beautiful animals like the different snakes, birds, and monkeys. Before heading home we stopped over for tea and hot chocolate at one of our favorite cafes, Java Jazz. This place holds amazing local paintings, yummy affordable food and the coziest ambiance. They’re located just a long the highway going towards People’s park. You can check them out at Javajazz.blogspot.com
So keep it classy, but add a little rough to your look! Experiment with dark shades, “punk” prints and as always ACCESSORIES! But REMEMBER keep it balanced for a perfect pin-up look.
I wasn’t sure of my plans for the day so I went with a comfortable look. Eventually, my best friend and I went on a little late night adventure, and went to The Collective in Makati for kebabs and shisha. So luckily my outfit was a good choice for comfy yet styling. Sailor tops are an essential for that pin-up or rockabilly look. They’re completely versatile and an all time classic. The way to style a sailor top for the pin-up look is all about matching, fit and accessorizing. I decided to go with a full black circle skirt keeping a 50’s look. But like I said, the sailor top is versatile. So experiment with not just circle skirts, but high-waisted shorts, tight pencil skirts or cut off jeans! Accessorizing with fun and colorful pieces can tie the whole look together. Try hair pieces, like bows, flowers or a red bandana! All of these pieces are from Forever 21, including the cute red bow! The sailor top was at Php 715 and the black midi skirt was at Php 1,015. The bow was just Php 185! So get that pin-up essential and let’s set sail for cuteness!
The 1940s wasn’t as elaborate as the 50’s were, due to the war. The ration on materials changed women’s fashion forcing them to go for simple and practical shapes. I found this dress at Cotton On for Php 1,200. The structure is very similar to that of the 40’s pattern, with a button down and short sleeved shoulders. I love the print of polka dots and the cut out back giving it a modern look. Prints in the era would mostly be flowers, or plain neutral colors.
Look for button down dresses with fun vintage prints. You can pair this with lots of options; ankle strap heels, accessories in colors like red or green, even a pearl necklace for a elegant touch. And if your opting for a comfy day outfit you can pair it with your favorite pair of sneakers and a cardigan
A red lip and pinned back hair will give the right amount of pin-up for a casual day out.
I was invited to a family reunion, so dressing right can be difficult. This circle skirt with a satin finish was a perfect find. From SM department store for just Php 500! For a little classic touch I paired it with a basic white polo, from Mango for Php 1,200. Adding a waist belt puts the look all together.
I was aiming for a 1960s housewife look. But with the satin finish, and toned down hair (no big beehives today!) gives it a classic modern “tone-down”.
Super simple look and super affordable! The cardigan is from Cotton On for around Php 800. The top and skirt were from a Target Outlet (from my trip to Australia back in March). Both for just $14AU (around Php 500)!
Tropical prints are great for that pin-up look. Bringing it back to the 1960s’ beach vibes. Think Elvis and all his movies like Blue Hawaii!
Keep it subtle by balancing with solid colors. Pick pretty and clean prints, and try to avoid confusing prints. (Random fishes with fish hooks?)
The structure of this skirt is tight fitting and shows my curves which pin-up is all about! My top has a sweet heart neck line, and by adding a thick waist belt makes all the more curves!
I decided not to add any accessories and no red lip for this look. Almost against the pinup style; the dress is structured well enough to make it look cute and casual. For my hair a simple side pin and a little fluff to my Bettie bangs.
This dress reminded me of Alice in Wonderland! The simplicity of the dress allows me to accessorize in anyway. Headbands, flowers, belts, sweaters, this list goes on!
Always look for dresses with great color that you can accessories with, but also wear alone and still look jut as amazing.
The Pin-up Girl Manila 