In keeping with this month’s theme; meet The Modern Pin Up.

It isn’t often that one has semi naked pictures of their friends in their homes; that is unless you’re running some kind of 70′s party game.. but let’s not go there. The recent launch of the new coffee table book, “The Modern Pin Up” means just that; that I can sit back and admire some of the fantastic handiwork of my friends both behind and in front of the lens.  A stunning collection of modern pin up photographs that run the gamut from classic, to cyber; gothic to glam and everything in between. What these works have in common is celebration; celebration of fun, form and fantasy as each of these women collaborate with their photographers to let us share a piece of their world.

Staring back at me from the candy coloured cover, is the delightful and diminutive darling Bernie Dexter (we have a mutual girl crush going on), with her rosy cheeks and warm smile. As you turn each page the eyes that catch yours may be familiar or may be new acquaintances, but each has their own charm. With images by Shannon Brooke,Via Marie Studios, and even one of my Australian photographers Peter Coulsen amongst many others, the quality of the work is exceptional. Many of the ladies I have a soft spot for are featured numerous times throughout;  Danya Deluxe, Sabina Kelley, Dita Von Teese, Frankie Sin and fellow Australian model Samantha Doll.

I know how much we love to search out our favourite image online these days, but there is something wonderful, thrilling and personal about having these images to hold in your hand. The Modern Pin Up has earn it’s place on my bookshelf next to Gil Elvgren for a reason. This is the pinnacle of pin up art today.

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Today’s daily outfit (okay it wasn’t actually today as I’m a bit behind), is something a bit different. Because it has been so cold here, and in fact the day I wore this it was hailing like crazy; we weren’t able to go and take any pics outside. So for something different, Helen and I shot this in the studio after we finished with our clients for the day.

We love to play around with different set ups and lighting, so this was a bit of fun for us and I was totally in love with the result!  This is one of my favourite new pieces, brought home from Trashy Diva in New Orleans and available in Australia through Miskonduct Klothing. The “Courtney coat dress” in this killer leopard print. It has a full skirt and a double button up waist band that give it a beautiful cinched finish. I did wear this over another dress but didn’t want to take it off it was so cold! In a nutshell, what I love about this piece is that it makes a statement; and with statement pieces you have to be careful just how you pull them off. Of course for me, it is always going to be high drama, with a strong red lip and a bit of attitude. So that is how we shot the one – full of drama and so very ‘me’ that this is akin to a very personal introduction in just one simple image.

Pleased to meet you!

Outfit Details

Trashy Diva “Courtney Coat Dress

Lips- MAC Russian Red with RIMMEL clear gloss on top

Nails – OPI ‘Big Apple Red’

Helen McLean and Candice DeVille in at the Helen McLean Photography studio.

Following on from yesterday’s advice on my Top Ten Tips on How To Be A Pin Up Model, today I have something for those of you who would like all the fun without any of the commitment. For those ladies who’d like to be a Pin Up for a day and come home with some images that will do wonders for your sense of self. No matter which photographer you book with, being prepared to look your best will put you ahead of the game and help you get the best bang for your buck, (no pun intended)! So if I hear you saying, “help me, I want to look like a pin up!” then this will get you started.

It is your photographer and stylist’s job to make you look the best possible pinup version of yourself as we can, but there is only so much that can be done in a day. Putting in a little time and effort before hand, giving them the best canvas to work with, will ensure that everyone is happy.

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Sleep.

Above all else, prioritise your sleep for at least a week before your shoot. There is only so much anti wrinkle cream can do, and with a good 8 plus hours under your belt each night for the week proceeding, you’ll look all the better for it.

Drink.

No, not the giggly bubbly stuff, but instead make sure you up your water intake if you’re lagging behind. Well hydrated skin, both inside and outside, photographs far better than the crepe paper hide that many of us are prepared to live with.

Moisturise.

Start a daily routine of moisturising all over at least a week before your shoot. You never know what parts of your skin will be on display (this includes your feet), so don’t neglect them.

Manis & Pedis.

The perfect Pin Up always has the perfect manicure, be it red or pink; but painting your nails the morning of your appointment is fraught with disaster. Prepare by having this done a day or two in advance and you won’t get smudged polish on your fancy outfit.  Personally, I’m a fan of Shellac manicures and especially pedicures for their high sheen, no smudge finish achieved in no time.

Eyebrows.

The Frida Kahlo look is not in. Despite the recent fashion shoots channelling her un-groomed brows, this is not acceptable for Pin Up. You should always have your brows professionally shaped, and there is only so much your stylist can do if you don’t. I keep tweezers in my kit not only for applying false lashes, so caterpillar brows – approach at your own risk!

Hair.

Super clean hair is very hard to style and if you want those amazing bouncy curls instead of limp spaghetti, you’re better off to wash your hair the day before your shoot. Unless your hair is extremely oily in day two (and I mean extremely), just skip it and leave it for your stylist to turn into a masterpiece.

*Things you should not do with your hair the day of or before your shoot-

Colour, cut, straighten or even a treatment. All these things actually make it harder for you to achieve the look you’re aiming for.

Lips.

Dry, cracked or flaking lips will never, ever look good in red lipstick. And Pin Up simply cannot exist without those full red lips. So do those beauties a favour and exfoliate and treat them in the week leading up. A soft dry brushing with a baby’s tooth brush is all that is needed to remove old skin cells. Then make sure to treat them with an organic paw paw ointment overnight, every night, for the best results.

Makeup.

Always come to your shoot with your face clean, moisturised and for god’s sake… without fake tan! A classic Pin Up is not tangerine and trust me, you may think a tan makes you look better, but when your orange heels show up in your images you’ll be less than impressed.

Wardrobe.

Even if you are being supplied with wardrobe choices by your photo studio, there are some things you should always bring to be on the safe side.

Skin coloured, strapless bra and g-string (these are often worn underneath other garments like swimwear)

Sheer to waist pantyhose. If you have marks or bruises on your legs this is a good way to even out the skin tone with a subtle disguise.

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Keep all this in mind and you too could find yourself staring in your own Pin Up fantasy just like the fabulous Anneke here!

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As you probably gathered from my Facebook updates and my notable sporadic posting of late, I am still on tour and not always able to get internet service to post. But today I have a chance to stop, breathe and write you something new.

This weekend I’m up in sunny Queensland and have just finished three days at the Garterbelts and Gasoline Nostaligia Festival. It’s been a great chance to get to know a bunch of new people and meet loads of lovely ladies all full of questions.  There was one question I was asked so many times this weekend though, I thought I’d answer it here too. What they all wanted to know is, “What’s it like being a pinup model and what’s involved?”

So today I give you my:

 Top Ten Things to know about how to be a pin up model.

First and foremost, let me preface this by saying that there are only a small handful of girls world wide who are able to make this their full time career. For everyone else it is usually done in conjunction with another job or two. So don’t be fooled into thinking that gorgeous, glamorous photos will make you a millionaire.

1. Chose to do it for fun above all else, but know it is a whole lot of hard work. The hours can be long, the conditions less than ideal (summer swimsuit shoots in mid winter) and you need to have a decent pain tollerance for some of those shoes!

2. You need to be very flexible, both with your schedule and your body. In fact the workout you get posing is akin to a very long and strenuous pilates class. My Osteopath, massage therapist and Chiroprator are all kept in business by my shoot schedule.

3. You need to be prepared to invest. Whether it is in portfolio shoots with photographers, travel, competitions or diverse wardrobe choices, the dollars can add up quickly. And I’m not talking hundreds, I’m talking thousands.

4. You need to commit yourself to regular maintenance. It’s no good getting a call for a job at 5pm the night before and knowing you still have to colour your hair, get your nails done, legs waxed etc.. A regular schedule to keep your appearance up to scratch can’t be neglected. After all you are the product and you need to make sure your packaging is the best it can be.

5. You need to say no to that extra packet of M&M’s. Pinup modelling isn’t all about keeping the perfect sized 6 figure, that’s for sure; but you do need to look after your skin and your health. So eating well, sleeping well and excercising (no matter what your dress size) are all essential to making the best version of yourself that you can.

6. Know that every photographer works differently and you need to be prepared for all eventualities.  There is a little bit of Boy Scout mentality to all the sucessful pinup models I know. This includes bad weather, accidents, wardrobe malfunctions, other artists having creative meltdowns, working with animals and wardrobe changes in very, very public places.

7. You need to be nice. No one wants to work with difficult, demanding divas; so if you want to be asked back or recommended for other work, put in your best effort and know that it takes a team of talented people to create the best work. Not just one model.

8. Be honest. While it may be tempting to flesh out your qualifications with imagined experience or using other people’s reputation to trade on, (saying you’ve ‘worked’ with someone because you once stood in the same room doesn’t count) it will always catch you out. Experience shows when you work with people and you don’t want to be seen as not delivering the goods you’ve talked up.

9. Be realistic. Know that your look won’t be the right one for every job and just because you weren’t chosen doesn’t mean you should give up. Every client has different requirements and not being selected isn’t a personal attack, it’s a business decision.

10. Know who you’re working with.  For every wonderful, reputable photographer out there, there are another ten dodgy ones. If something sounds too good to be true it usually is, so do your research. Get online, research their previous work, clients and any testimonials. When in doubt about a photographer’s legitimacy or practices, ALWAYS take another trustworthy party with you to a shoot.

This is only touching the tip of the iceberg, but it gives you a good idea of whether you might have what it takes to bring it.  But like many of the girls I spoke to this weekend, you may just want to spend a little time in the pinup fanatsy world and have your own shoot and images to keep the moment alive.  If that sounds more your speed, I have a whole seperate Top Ten Tips for Sitting for a Pin Up Shoot. So stay tuned for the next installment tomorrow which wil be especially for you!

If you weren’t already jealous after those photos from Viva Las Vegas last week, this one just might push you over the edge… sorry.

Anyone who is a regular reader of this blog knows that there is a special place in my heart for the pieces by New Orleans label Trashy Diva. At last count I have ten of their dresses and am always hunting for the next one.  In fact, those eagle eyed of you will spot me wearing Trashy Diva pieces for over half of my USA odyssey!

When I had a bit more time in the USA after we’d been to Las Vegas, we’d decided to head to New Orleans.  There were a few big draw cards to head to this city; the French Quarter Festival, the architecture, the food, but top of my Things to Do list was get in and meet the ladies of Trashy Diva face to face. After all, Candice Gwinn the founder and designer of the label is my name sake so I knew she had even more going for her than just being a fantastic designer.

Trashy Diva has a number of store fronts in New Orleans, both in the French Quarter (where their lingerie store is located) and also in the beautiful Magazine street where you’ll find both their fashion store and (recently opened) dedicated shoes and accessories store. Let’s pause a while to admire shall we?

Trashy Diva began in 1996 as a vintage clothing shop and grew into the fashion boutique we know today. Although they don’t claim to be vintage reproduction, compared to many labels on the market today touting themselves as such, Trashy Diva is much closer to the real deal than most. Their garment construction techniques are excellent and the fabrics chosen are top quality for an affordable price point. Many of their prints are based directly on vintage prints found on original garments, then tweaked and reproduced in their pieces. Cottons, cotton sateens, rayons and silks are all commonly found in a Trashy Diva dress, even linings of silk add to the quality experience.

But one of the very clever features of their ranges is the use of well designed standard blocks (or dress model types).  Each garment is pain-stakingly worked to achieve the best and most flattering cut, so when you find the Trashy Diva style that suits your figure best, you can then choose which of the current range of fabrics, prints and finishes you’ve fallen in love with!

For instance, I know that short puff sleeves do me no favours, but a rear zip and a longer sleeve or halter neck are the most flattering on my figure. Which is how I’ve come to own several of the “Trixie” dresses in a number of different fabrics and finishes.

A little blurry but you get the idea of how fabulous this looks! I am IN LOVE with this Obi Dress and it’s gorgeous 1940′s styling!

Talking with Candice Gwinn it becomes clear just how strong her passion for her label is.  This is no fly-by-night, make the most money for the least effort, type of operation. This is a labour of love, knowledge and passion. When Candice walked in with her baby on one hip, leopard print dress flowing and red lips grinning, I knew we would hit it off… and we did.  Our shared passion for the glamour of vintage dressing had us talking flat out from the first second about cuts, quality and how these wonderful creations make us feel.

In fashion’s current moment where every man and his well dressed dog think they can design a “vintage inspired” look, it is heartening to talk to someone who really understands what a true vintage garment looks like and how its essence can be translated into a piece for today without loosing it’s soul.  I know that sounds very intense, but I am very intense about this issue.  When so many are tacking on the term “vintage” just to quickly part us from our money, for poorly produced and not even remotely vintage pieces, Trashy Diva are one of my “New Vintage” heroes. These are the pieces I invest in knowing I’ll wear them more times than I can count and feel a million dollars every time.

Excitingly, Candice gave me the low down on the newest developments from Trashy Diva that would be launched by the time I got home. A girls range! From sizes 3/4 to 11/12, this is one of the most neglected areas of fashion available in Australia. They are some great locals labels that make to order for children, ( Like Peta Pledger) but they must be more alternatives to branding your baby with a pink sparkly hooker t-shirt or hipster jeans and slogan t’s for an 8 year old.  The simple black baby Audrey dress or my favourite rockabilly style baby Grace dress (yes I will wear my matching coat with this) are irresistible!

It is so easy to be loyal to a label you love, but even more so to one you believe in. Trashy Diva is one of my fashion super heroes and no self respecting, vintage loving lady should be without one of their pieces in her wardrobe. These are the gorgeous workhorses, the glamorous show stoppers and the cult collectables of a modern vintage closet.

Thanks Candice and Ladies for showing us your piece of vintage style fashion heaven!

Bonnie Rose, Candice DeVille and Ms. Chrissy at Viva Las Vegas 2012

Vegas! I have such a soft spot for this city having been married here to Mr SKM. The weather is gorgeous, the sky is blue and the low humidity means great hair! Having the chance to come back for an event like Viva Las Vegas was too good to pass up, so my besties and I packed out bags for a long weekend of fun, frivolity and fabulous music.

This year the event was held at The Orleans casino that is about 2kms off the main strip, so you are really insulated from the usual strip activities for a few days.  From what I’m told, the nature of the event has changed a lot over the years, starting out as a more vintage event and has now morphed into a more Kustom Kulture Rockabilly vibe. That said, there were some outstanding efforts on the vintage dressing front, and not only from the girls. I’m going to have to work on my charm to take photos of the boys next time, as the ladies were happy to feature but most of them weren’t too keen on me chatting to their lads..

I know you’ve already seen a few of these snaps, but most asked to see them bigger, so in this bumper Viva Las Vegas photo post, I thought I’d include some more. The VLV Pool Party is one of the not to be missed events of the weekend. People pull out all the stops for the most gorgeous pool side attire and kick back with margaritas and live music.

My dress is a 1960′s Aloha vintage number worn with matching blue and green jewellery and that cool sequinned hat find.

Of all the poolside efforts, this fabulous red head caught my attention most of all. It turns out I’ve been buying from her Etsy store, Butchwax Vintage, a number of times and this seahorse ensemble is an example of the great pieces she has.

I was thrilled to meet these other two delightful red heads who stopped me while shopping in the market place. The lady on the far right is Lisa Freemont Street, who’s blog you’re likely familiar with too (go and visit for loads more great VLV pics) and her friend Lulu in the fab Mexican circle skirt.

Bonnie Rose was up to her usual tricks winning friends and influencing people..

The evenings were a veritable parade of gorgeous ladies and gents, all in their best threads and out for a good time.  The line up had so many great artists it is hard to choose a favourite, but even before I got off the plane my heart belonged to JD McPherson.

Vegas, you’re the greatest; let’s not be strangers now y’hear?

Landing back in Melbourne’s Autumn is taking a bit of adjustment after the spring time in Vegas. Today’s outfit was all about warm, comfortable and stylish for my first day back on the job behind the makeup brushes. There was no specific inspiration for this look, I was simply trying to pull together things that went easy on me, not too tight,  not too fussy and something I could wear with ballet flats after a full ten days of walking, shopping and dancing in heels. But once I was dressed and the pearls went on, the new hair cut made me think of an early Jacqui Kennedy. Maybe that’s just my brain.. or perhaps just what pearls do to everyone!

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Outfit Details

Red 3/4 sleeve top – Bernie Dexter

White Scotty Dog Pin – Peta Pledger

Black satin skirt – Review “Jive”

Belt – Malco Mode

Pearls – Vintage

Ballet flats – Diana Ferrari

Shot on location at Cup & Bean in Yarraville – where I drank the BEST coffee I’ve ever had in my life!! Given I’d just had to live through ten days of American coffee (if you’re American you probably aren’t aware just how different yours is), I was in a very bad way. Helen knew what a bad state I was in and drove me there stat. Barrista Tim made me the most divine brew and I can’t recommend it highly enough, so if you’re over that side of town, go there – NOW! Oh and the random Gnome? He happens to reside there and looked a little lonely on the counter top so we invited him to join us. Blame it on the jet lag.

After our big day aboard the Queen Mary, we were searching for something serious in the way of food, but like usual, we had no plans and just went were our feet took us. It seems that our feet have very good homing instincts because after a short walk we found ourselves in the very cool and very retro, Johnny Rockets – with the place all to ourselves! Our server, Brian, was an absolute gem; recommending places to go, drawing maps, making us malted milks and generally having a laugh with these crazy dames from Australia. It is meeting people like this in your travels that make days so much more memorable, and not a day went by that we didn’t collect a new friend.

My very first Philly cheese steak, and it did not disappoint!

Thanks Brian; you’re fantastic!

So back to the Biltmore where things get really fancy. Completed in 1923, the Biltmore hosted 8 Academy Awards between 1930 and the 1940′s. It’s the kind of place that makes you feel all the more special just by standing in her hallways, and certainly the type of place you should dress to match; which we well and truly did!

There is such a sense of grandeur and occasion in this hotel, the type I’ve never experienced before. I’ve stayed in some pretty swanky modern hotels across the world, but this is totally different. Lining the hallways were photos of my favourite Golden Years of Hollywood stars, treading where I was and looking right at home. Carmen Miranda, Shirley Temple, Jane Russell…. it makes you feel a part of that fantasy world you always wished you could visit. If you’ve ever thought that the best thing to do is check out the foot prints on the walk of fame to walk in your idols shoes, you couldn’t be more wrong. This is everything the walk of fame isn’t. While that space (still a must do at least once) is grotty, touristy and feels totally bastardised by 21st century consumerism, the Millennium Biltmore is the antithesis. Serene, elegant, transcendent… this is the real walk of fame to me.

I think you get the picture of just how stunning this place is.

Tomorrow It’s touch down in Las Vegas!…

Now I’ve had a chance to start downloading all these pictures I can hardly wait to share them with you all and I hope it doesn’t bore you to death. I always think of those movie scenes where people are tortured by being tied to a chair and forced to watch other people’s holiday slides… ugh. Instead of boring you with a hundred pictures of trees, I’m hoping that these fun snap shots will show you what fantastic places there are to visit out there; whether these towns are far from you or perhaps even near. Either way, you’ll discover that I travel just the way I live every other day; making it an occasion and staring in my own mental movie.

So I’m going to jump back to the beginning of the trip, as it is hard to get full sized pictures for you while on the move and it doesn’t really do it justice.

Travelling with friends can either be fun or can be a nightmare. Luckily for me, my girlfriends are just as crazy as me and we all know how to make a party out of a cardboard box. After leaving Melbourne and flying straight through to LA on a 14 hour flight, you’d think we would be ready for a bit of a nap. But no. As you saw, we headed straight out vintage shopping on the streets of Long Beach and collecting tales as we went.

One of the highlights for me was being invited in to meet the lads at Hawleywood’s Barber Shop, which smelt of soap, leather and pomade…. divine!  This is not a place that women are generally allowed into so we were very honoured to be able to pop in and say hello.

One of the fastest ways to get to know a town is to catch a local bus, which is just what we did to get to Fourth street. I’m always amazed at just how outgoing and friendly most Americans are compared to Australians. It isn’t that we aren’t friendly, it’s just that people tend to keep to themselves unless they have been introduced to you. The idea of talking to people on a bus or elevator is rather alien to us, and if you do talk to people you’re seen as a bit odd. Once we got used to the fact that people actually just talk to you and say what it on their mind, it was a very pleasant change.

On the bus ride back to our hotel, we came across two guys who decided that a bit of blues and gospel singing was to be the order of the day and they amused us greatly with their tunes across the bus. It’s kind of like being on a school camp when things like that happen and everyone is having a great time. I can only imagine what would happen in Australia should the same scenario occur. Most people would think you’re crackers, not look you in the eye and be dying to jump off at the next stop! But to us, it was a fantastic and memorable way to kick off what was to be a legendary trip abroad.

Siting at the bus stop in my cool new sparkly vintage hat.

Our first night in California was spent aboard the beautiful, (now permanently docked) Queen Mary in all her art deco splendour. Although she is a fading beauty, all the photographs of passengers and days past give her a romantic quality not found in even the fanciest of modern hotels. There are legends of her haunted passage ways, and after trying to find our room amongst hundreds of identical corridors, I can see why! It was like being an a scary episode of Dr. Who where the passages just keep going and no matter how far you run you end up back where you begun… I’m sure there must be ghost of guests who were never seen again after trying to find their rooms!

We knew by the morning of our official Day One, that we were already going to need some luggage solutions because we couldn’t close the suitcases we’d come with just 12 hours before. And so it was, with shopping bags and suitcases in tow, that we moved on to Downtown L.A where the adventure continued…

I’d been dying to see J.D McPherson play and I can tell you he did not disappoint. I’ve scored a little video footage to share on my return too, but I can say that they’re phenomenal live!

The hardest part is knowing when to go home, because right next door to the band room venues were the two vintage shopping rooms! Filled with some of the biggest and best vintage dealers in the country, you just cant believe your eyes.
Seriously, as good as I said to myself I’d be, I knew it was a case of go hard or go home.
So I’m still going hard.
Wish you were here. Xoxo

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Location:las Vegas Nevada