Monday 27 July 2009

New accessories!

I haven't added anything to the Accessories page for a while, but I now have some rather wonderful pasties and berets that I think you might like! They're all handmade in the UK by Helene Bach.

Pasties £12 per pair
The sequins are all stitched on, and they're backed in soft fake suede for comfort.

Shimmery Star pasties! Made from silver and holographic sequins.


Heart pasties. Made from red and black sequins with a cute beads hanging at the end.


Berets £20 each.
Hand-knitted base. Ingeniously held on by secret clips.

Sailor beret. Navy blue beret with ribbon and heart detail.


Rose & Ribbon beret. Mulberry beret with ribbon, flower and netting.


(pasties modelled by Deidre, berets modelled by me (you can see two Bettie Page Clothing dresses: the Captain and the Violet), photos by Eightball Vintage Photography, leopard print curtains handmade by me, cocktail bar courtesy of my grandparents, location: our front room).

Wednesday 22 July 2009

Bachelor Pad 8 now in stock

Yours for just £2.50.



http://pinup-parade.com/shop/books.htm

I will also have some very cute beret fascinators and sequinned pasties in stock very soon (photographing them this weekend!).

Please note: I'm moving house soon so I will not be ordering any more stock until I'm settled in. On the way there's the Spice dress in turquoise by Bettie Page Clothing and a Hawaiian dress by Nicole Katherine Designs, as well as Mode Merr skirts and dresses, but that will be it for a couple of months.

Thursday 16 July 2009

Milkcow & Bachelor Pad magazines

When you next swing by Pin-Up Parade, why not pop a copy of issue one of Milkcow Magazine in your trolley?



News & reviews on the 40s/50s lifestyle. Features include Hemsby, Viva Las Vegas and Rock 'n' Soul reviews, articles on What Katie Did lingerie, burlesquer Missy Malone, hot rodders, pin-up artist Fiona Stephenson, photographer Richard Heeps and loads more.

On the way:

Bachelor Pad Magazine #8.


Contents: The return of Bernie Dexter in our naughtiest centerfold so far! Va-va-voom pin-ups from Diamond Minx, Sable Sin Cyr, and Skye Sinclaire! A trip through dirty Vegas courtesy of writer John Harrison. "Turning Your Space-Age Bachelor Pad into a Love Launch Pad" by music reviewer Jeff Berkwits. James A. Stewart brings us another story of sexy spy Kitty Cheshire. A tiki-inspired speak-easy review from Don Spiro. More lushy laffs from Tipsy Thomas. Gags from TJ Rappel of Krushervision, Scooter Harris from Studio Hadra, and our newest cartoonist Dave Cook! Columns from Heidi Van Horne, Penny Starr Jr., and Will "The Thrill" Viharo! Burlesque-inspired drink recipe from mixologist Dr. Bamboo. Plus much more!

More sale items!

Shoe Missy heels!

Were £50, now £35.

http://pinup-parade.com/shop/sale.htm



Sunday 12 July 2009

Shop update: new stock and new sale items!

Sale Page
I've added more items to the Sale page:

Ceci dress, was £75, now £60, sizes XL to 3X.


Summer Swing dress, was £60, now £45. Size S.


Blossom dress, was £75, now £60. Sizes L and 1X.


Starlet dress, was £60, now £45. Size S.


Black Cherry Wrap dress, was £65, now £50. Size S.


New Bettie Page Clothing items
Meanwhile, on the dresses page:

Curves dress, £70, sizes XS to XXXL.


Peekaboo dresses, £65, sizes XS to XXL (warning: this dress runs a size small eg if you usually wear an L, you'd need an XL)






Doris dress in black (photo to follow - not red!), £50. Sizes XS to XXL.


Convict blue, £50, sizes XS to XXXL.


Spice pink, £60, sizes XS to XXL.


Bernadette pink, £55, sizes XS to XXL.


Coming soon...
The Spice dress in turquoise.

Tiki dress by Nicole Katherine.

Friday 10 July 2009

Pin-Up Parade: conked out

Pin-Up Parade has conked out, thanks to some **** who hacked the hosts servers. The hosts are working hard to restore all the websites, but it's taking a long time.

I assume it'll be back up again by tomorrow morning at the latest.

Thursday 2 July 2009

How do I get into pin-up?

I'm asked this a lot so this is my answer!

(also find this article at Pin-Up Parade)

1. Get a professional shoot done. If you've read anything about mainstream modelling, models need a portfolio of pics in order to join an agency. Pin-up is no different - in order to be seriously considered by other photographers (or indeed shops & magazines etc), they need to see samples of your work to see what you're capable of. Myspace-style photos in a bathroom mirror, or out-of-focus things taken on a self-timer with a basket of laundry in the background (when not intended as a prop, obviously) are not sufficient. When you're starting out, the best shoots are ones when you pay because you will be taught how to pose for the camera. For photographers who do this in the UK and Europe, please look at the Galleries at Pin-Up Parade and also the links page. I will put a list of photographers at the end of the page.

2. Please don't expect this to be a magical short-cut to a life of glamour and marabou-trimmed negligees and no more office work or standing in queues or going to Tesco's to buy baked beans. Not even Dita makes a living solely from "being a pin-up". Bernie Dexter has an online shop and sells vintage items on Ebay. Sabina Kelley works in a tattoo parlour. Morgana does web design. Some girls add the money from paid shoots to money from burlesque performances and costume-making and pin-up classes, but they are not solely working as pin-ups.

3. Which leads to... pin-up is a fun hobby! It really is! But it's not a wage-earner. You might get paid shoots, but it won't be enough to pay the rent.

4. Go back a step and think about what you mean by "getting into pin-up". Doing some pin-up photos and having fun doing the shoots? Being a celebrity? Having people cue up to tell you how wonderful you are? If you say yes to the first option, then bravo, you're being sensible. Fame and adoring fans aren't a given. Doing photos and enjoying the process is the basis of "being a pin-up".

5. As with all forms of modelling, there are limited opportunities for larger women. True, there are more opportunities than in other kinds of modelling, but do be aware that there are often size limits on the models required for some shoots, and if you protest, you're ear-marked as a trouble-maker. I rather enjoy being a trouble-maker myself, though.

6. Networking is important but don't make unreasonable demands on people. You aren't the only person who "wants to be a pin-up". I'm often asked by people if they can model for my shop, and I'm now having to say that you must have previous modelling experience. Even if it's a shoot you've paid for with The Hourglass or The Casting Couch. It isn't fair to bombard people with photos you took of yourself in your bathroom mirror and demand that you're hired. Don't leak bad karma into the cosmos! (man). You MUST have a professional portfolio!

7. Enter competitions, participate in online groups, etc etc etc. For example, The Pin-Up Lifestyle Network. Just being generally involved in burlesque or rockabilly, which have pin-up as important elements of their culture (though please don't profess to liking rockabilly if you don't really like it - it's kind of annoying). Come up with your own ideas for websites or online groups or forums. Whatever. Be creative. Don't expect everything to fall into your lap.

8. It might be worth joining Model Mayhem and/or Net Model, but as I've mentioned elsewhere, there are often rather unrealistically stringent size requirements so larger girls will find it very hard, if not impossible, to find shoots.

9. You don't have to perform burlesque as well. Shocking, I know, but it's true.

10. Learn how to do your own hair and make-up. This will open more opportunities for you, as it means the photographer won't need to hire a muah.

Photographers offering portfolio shoots:
(this isn't an exhaustive list!)

UK:
Nicole Klein of The Hourglass
Tony "Nylons" Rusecki of The Casting Couch.
Lisa Williams Cherry Bomb Rock Photography

Germany:
Miss Giggles www.missgiggles.info
Spooky Sally at Cherry Muffins studios (website not working)

USA:
Danielle Bedics Photography
Atomic Cheesecake Studios
Mitzi & Co.
Viva Van Story

Canada:
Suggestions welcome!

Australia:
The Pin-Up Workshop Co.

(please let me know if you have a suggestion to add)

Wednesday 1 July 2009

Important Note

I am convalescing from a rather horrific operation and so there is a delay on sending out orders. I'm not allowed to carry heavy things, which means I can't take orders to the Post Office. If I do, the scarring from my operation would be made worse and might even pop all my stitches out before it's healed properly.

We wouldn't want that, would we?