Pin Up Girl Costumes | 1940s Fashion for Halloween

During WWII, American soldiers and GI's hung pictures inside their lockers. The pictures served as a remedy for homesickness, and included pictures of family, friends, and the the girl he left behind. They also served as a way to assert individuality and private space in an environment that was heavily regimented. Soldiers had to dress a certain way, and act a certain way, and do whatever the brass told them to do, but the inside of their lockers was their own space.

The average GI in World War II was a young man, possibly still in his teens. Given this fact, it's hardly surprising that one of the most popular pictures to hang in a soldier's locker was a picture of a pin-up girl.

But there was a wide range of styles for the pin-up girl, as is shown by the collection of images above. She could be natural and athletic, sexy and seductive, swank and glamorous, or she could be the girl next door. That gives you a lot of options when putting together your pin-up girl costume.

Actress and pin-up girl Lana Turner looks sexy and seductive in this picture.

The pin-up girl could also be a lady of style and substance. Lena Horne, who embodied grace, elegance, and all-around classiness, was considered to be a pin-up girl back in the day.

Whether she was dressed up for an evening on the town, or heading out to the beach, a woman of the 1940s always attended to her coiffure. Hair could be worn in short, medium, or long styles, and was usually curled or waved. This helped add volume to the many updo styles that were popular at this time period.

This picture of pin-up girl and actress Gene Tierney is an excellent example of 1940s make-up.

In the 1940s, emphasis was placed on the lips and eyelashes. Lipstick was worn in various shades of red, and lip liner was used to soften the cupids bow and make the lips appear fuller. Eyeliner and mascara were always worn in black or black-brown. Eyeshadow was in neutral colors, and rouge was used to give a healthy glow to the cheeks. Brows could be of any thickness, as long as the arch was emphasized. Foundation powder was applied to give an overall matte look to the face.

This is the archetypal pin-up girl image. In a bathing suit and high heels, casting a smile back over her shoulder, actress Betty Grable looks both wholesome and mischievous.