History of the Pin Up Style
Starting in the early 1940s, the pin up style took root in America. Painter Joaquin Alberto Vargas y Chávez is considered the creator of this iconic retro look. During WWII, his artwork was published in Esquire Magazine, who issued nine million copies across the world to U.S. troops. While critics of Vargas' artwork believed this would lead to a loss of morals, supporters believed his artwork promoted patriotism, hope, and helping women take control over their own lives. Despite these opposing sides, the pin up look has remained a popular style for women to embrace body positivity.
Icons of the pin up era include Betty Grable, Bettie Page, Rita Hayworth, Jayne Mansfield, Eartha Kitt, Lena Horne, and Marilyn Monroe. Modern revivalists of this style include Katie Perry, Beyoncé, and Heidi Van Horne.
How to Achieve a Classic Pin Up Look
Makeup
While it may seem complicated to try a new look, the classic pin up look is quite versatile for today. To get started, it's important to focus on four areas – eyebrows, eyelashes, eyes, and lips. This is a great way to get started. With practice, you can build on to a more complex pin up look as desired. Let's take a look at our tips for working on your pin up makeup and hair look.
Like any makeup look, start with a clean, dry face. It's a good idea to apply a makeup primer to prepare your skin for makeup. Use a quality foundation that will enhance your natural beauty and hide any blemishes.
To add some color, use a soft pink blush to create soft contouring. This will accentuate your cheekbones and create dimension to your pin up look.
For your eyebrows, they should be well-manicured and have a natural curve. If you can, start thick at the bridge of your nose and then follow the natural curve of your eyebrow. You can also create a more dramatic look by doing a very shaped brow.
For your eyelashes, these should be curled, dark, and long. Many women use fake lashes or extensions to create a dramatic look. However, you can achieve great results with an eyebrow curler and volume enhancing black mascara.
As for your eyes, use a dark black eyeliner, which will help create a classic look. If black doesn't match your skin tone, you can also use a dark grey liner. The key focus here is to create a heavy line and to deepen your eyelids with the product. Typically, most pin up looks have a cat-eye effect. To do this, your eyeliner should create a wing effect on the outer corners of your eyelids.
Don't forget your lips! To get a classic look, go for a deep red lipstick that matches your skin tone. To intensify and hold your color, use a lip liner that is a similar color to your lipstick. Apply the liner to the outer limits of your natural lip shape.
Hair
Just like makeup, hair is an essential component to the classic pin up look. Classic hairstyles include bangs/fringes, pin curls, and victory rolls. To get started, you will need a barrel hair curling iron, bobby pins, and hairspray.
Since pin up hairstyles can be fairly complex, it's a good idea to practice, experiment with different looks, and check out online pin up hair tutorials. You can even invite a friend or family member over to help you to try a specific hairstyle. With enough practice, you will be rocking all types of hairstyles like a pin up boss! As for hair color, you can either rock a different color or go with your natural color.
Accessories
While these aren't essential, accessories can truly take a look to the next level. For a classic pin up look, try something simple like a red bandana or flowers in the hair. You can also wear sassy cat-eye frames for a head turner look. Of course, a retro purse can compliment your overall look beautifully, such as a small clutch or seashell bag.
We hope you found this week's article helpful for achieving a classic pin up look. If you are a beginner to makeup and hair or you have a special event like a photography shoot, consider seeking a professional pin up makeup and hair artist that specializes in these classic looks. At All Dolled Up, we are dedicated to providing the highest quality services and products to our beautiful clients. Our expert team covers a wide area on the NC and SC coast, including Ocean Isle Beach, Sunset Beach, and Wilmington, NC, as well as Charleston and Myrtle Beach, SC.