People pull inspiration for how they dress from many different areas. You can get inspiration from other people, your surroundings and different decades. It’s a fun way to look at getting dressed. You can always add a little of what you’re in love with, or go all the way to tell your story. A lot of people like to give the world a peek of who they are or what they’re into by what they decide to wear that day. As Rachel Zoe has said, “Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak”. With that being said, if you have a pin up girl inside of you and you are wanting to let her out, here are some easy ways to go about it so that you can keep it authentic while putting your own personal spin on it.

Now first things first, if you are going to embrace your inner pin up, then you have to get comfortable with accenting your sex appeal. It’s very hard to convey pin up while wearing sweat pants. Pin ups were all about the sex appeal but in a ladylike manor. It’s all about balancing sexy with natural beauty and grace. Let’s take a closer look at how to achieve this.

Hair

When you are trying to stay true to a decade or time period, there are certain things that really convey the feel without you having to feel like you’re wearing a costume. Hair is one of those things. Pin curls and victory rolls are a great way to get your vintage feel across. Adding accessories to your hairstyle like a small scarf is another great way.

Skin

To get pin up girl skin, it’s all about keeping it simple. It was all about pale, creamy skin. Full coverage foundation, concealer and translucent powder are all musts. Borrow a tip from the actual 40’s and put face cream on every night before bed. Smooth skin is what helps makeup glide on flawlessly and not look cakey, which was not the pin up girl way.

Eyebrows

Great eyebrows were always a pin up girl must. They frame the face and showcase your beauty. Brush them so that they are neat, fill them in with pencil or powder and add a bit of hairspray to keep them in place. Think of the fame Elizabeth Taylor had from her great brows alone. They were the perfect accent to her stunning eyes.

Eyes

Dark eyeshadow wasn’t really a pin up girl go to. A vanilla or champagne colored shadow with a fawn color in the crease is the norm. Adding black liquid liner on the top with a flick at the corners will make your perfect, yet subtle cat eye. Add two to three coats of black mascara and your eyes will be on point. Plus, they are subtle enough to wear out everyday if you really enjoy the look.

Lips

Since the eyes are kept so light, the mouth is where you add your pop. Use red. Whatever red you feel looks the best with your skin tone. Try to keep it in the cherry/fire engine red family though. Going darker can make you feel more uncomfortable if you aren’t that used to it, or it’s a great way to amp up this same look for a night out. Line your lips with a red lip liner, focusing on the Cupid bow or “V” on your top lip. The more rounded you make it the more bombshell the look becomes. Fill in with liner, then put on lipstick. Blot and reapply lipstick again for more staying power.

Wardrobe

The thing with a pin up look is that you don’t have to be a size zero. These girls had curves. Serious curves. So if you’ve got them then show them off. Add belts to emphasize your waste, wear form fitting dresses that are cut to the knee. Aim to create an hourglass shape. Other ways to add a bit of pin up sexiness can be by pencil skirts, pumps, ballet flats, espadrilles, 3/4 sleeve cardigans, high waste Capri pants or shorts. You can add your own spin using v neck shirts that you already own or boat necks. Add a little bit of what you already wear with something that has 40’s and 50’s appeal. That way you’re staying true to who you are when you’re wearing it. You won’t feel like you’re pretending to be someone else.

Jewelry And Accessories

Before you add your finishing touches, think about how far you want to go with your look. The more you add, the more campy it can become. So if you add a lot then try to keep it simple. Pearls and pearl earrings, bandanas, scarves tied around the neck, diamond earrings and a diamond bracelet. Try to keep what you add in the same family. And if in doubt, throw on a great pair of cat eye sunglasses or glasses for instant vintage appeal. Classy yet sexy and suitable for every day. Very pinup, yet still very much you.

If you ever get into a rut when trying to get into a pinup girl mind frame, just look up some of the greats. Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield, and today’s pinup wonder, Dita Von Teese. They will give you great inspiration. If you’ve always wanted to try the look, why not give it a shot. You can start by adding a little and work yourself up to full pinup mode. Life’s too short ladies, if it’s something that you dig, give it a try. You’ll look beautiful.

xo Stephanie