Pinup Clothing: Retro Fashion for Modern Women

Add cute wedges or t-strap heels to your outfit and combine it with a parasol; you'll have the start of a great vintage look! The sun can be brutal in the summer so make sure when you add a pair sunglasses make them a pair of adorable cat eye sunglasses. With your hair up in some victory rolls, you'll totally be a sexy retro rocking girl! Enough said here are the dresses...

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Nothing says summer, specifically 4th of July quite like a nautical red or blue theme. There are so many options for accessories and shoes it's just too cute to pass up.

Sailor Dress Red Dot

Anything sleeveless is great for summertime and this nice cotton gray dress seems like it would be airy and light for summer nights.

Ship Button Down Dress

This cute print screams "summer picnic time" and is a great cut that will compliment any body type.

Netti Dress in Lime Green Polka Dot

Though the print might be a little spooky, the dress is fun and flowing and would be great to throw on over a swimsuit.

Hell Bunny Cyanide Dress

This cotton eyelet fabric makes this dress perfect for running in fields, lounging at home or even to wear to work.

Charolette Dress

Yellow just screams summer and wearing this dress in the sunshine will just make your heart light and happy!

Butter Believe it Dress

If you are planning a camping trip or cookout this dress is an absolute must have.

Steady Brown Calamity Jane Dress

This retro print is playful and fun and perfect for a hot night at an outdoor bar.

Margarita Sun Dress

Flamingos and Tikis sure say summer and this dark twist makes it a little more original.

Voodoo Shirley Dress

This dress is simple in design but originally classic and sweet at the same time.

Seargent Pucker Dress

Summer is coming fast and you know what that means%u2026 Pool parties and beach fun! It also means that it is time to get a new stylish swimsuit. If you want something downright amazing to wear poolside this summer, look no further than Fables by Barrie's swimwear line. This collection of swimsuits is beyond anything you've seen or worn; it is made with the highest quality fabrics and materials. Like all of the clothing made by Fables by Barrie they are, of course, in the very flattering style of pinup and retro but still maintains a hint of creativity and uniqueness for the twenty first century pinup girl.

There are both one-piece and two-piece suits in a wide variety of styles and prints. Not only are they beyond cute, but they are made to last. Fables by Barrie tests their suits to ensure they will hold up in almost any type of water. Speaking from my personal experience with swimwear, they are the most high quality swimsuit's I have ever owned. They all fit me like a glove and are perfectly shaped to show off my curves. If you are anything like me you will be beyond happy with these beautifully designed suits and will really appreciate the dedication to high quality products. And while you are there you may want to stop at some of their other product lines like their dresses and accessories.

Fables by Barrie

Just in time for spring, here is a list of some of the cutest floral dresses that will be perfect for getting you through the summer. You can add cute wedges or t-strap heels to your outfit and combine it with a parasol; you'll have the start of a great vintage look. The sun can be brutal in the summer so make sure when you add a pair sunglasses make them a pair of adorable cat eye sunglasses. With your hair up in some victory rolls, you'll totally be a sexy retro rocking girl! Enough said here are the dresses...

CLICK ON THE IMAGES to get to the site where they are offered

The bright yellow and blues of this print make this dress practically scream warm weather.
Sweetie Dress Margerite

The pleats on this dress just beg for you to twirl around in some grass, preferably with no shoes on.
Rosy Mary Dress

Of course you can't have a floral pinup dress list without something tiki influenced. This cut shows off every curve and the combination of blue and pink is just too adorable!
"Malibu" Tiki Wrap Dress in Blue Hawaiian Print by Deadly Dames

This lovely frock can be either worn out for a nice picnic in the afternoon or dressed up for a hot summer night out on the town.
Sweetie Dress Dandy

For something strapless to wear as you frolic in the sunshine, this adorable rose pattern cannot be beat.
Bouquet Today Dress

The black and white color scheme makes this dress very classy and cute, and though the cut has a somewhat mod style, it is still very pinup.
Carly Dress Daisy

The cut of this dress makes it very classy and gives it a fun retro feel.
Trixie Dress

Click on the IMAGE or the OUTFIT TITLE to find all of the accessories.


Sailor Pinup
Pinup Couture beach dress, $98

Bathing Beautify

Bathing Beautfy
Esther Williams plus size swimwear, $90

As far as retro styling goes, red lipstick is a staple that completes the retro elegance. It's a classic makeup look that makes pretty much everyone glean thoughts of vintage ladies. But which to choose, there are so many? Though finding the perfect shade of red can be quite a difficult venture, here are some of the best reds you will find.

Yves Saint Laurent's Rouge Volupté has a very classy gold casing that makes it look super fancy and makes you feel special putting it on. The shade #17 "Red Muse" is a perfect deep red that suits a pinup makeup style very well.


Revlon's line of matte lipsticks has a color properly titled as "Really Red" that is a great shade. It is not too dark and not too orange, like some reds can be.


Red Sinner by Lipstick Queen is a perfect shade for girls who consider themselves a little bit naughty. It helps make whoever wears it look sultry but still a little sweet.


Glory Box Cosmetics can be found on etsy.com and their Cherry Bomb shade is just as accurate as the name suggests.


MAC Cosmetics features many beautiful shades of red, but one of the best is Russian Red. It's got a deep color, but isn't too dark and doesn't have a purple tint like darker shades sometimes do.


Kat Von D released a makeup line at Sephora and the lipstick line is called Painted Love Lipstick. Her shade "Hellbent" is not only a very appealing red, but the design on the lipstick itself is just downright adorable.


Nars Matte Lipstick in the "Terre De Feu" shade comes in a very cute slim black case and has a shade that is a great vintage red. The company also added in moistening properties to keep the lips hydrated.

Though I am not a professional makeup artist (often abbreviated MUA), I do know what makeup does and doesn't look good when trying to accomplish a pinup, retro style. Just like with clothing, the choices made with makeup can improve your finished portrait tremendously. There are countless methods of makeup application and obviously different looks might work on one person but not another. The key is to find something flattering to you (or to your model in the case of the photographer).

Facial expression really can make or break a pinup image. Eyeliner helps enhance and draw attention to your eyes and face, which is usually the most playful and cutest part of an image. Also, in regards to your eyes, eyelashes are your absolute best friend when it comes to being photographed; they make you look much more classy and feminine.

Deciding whether or not to use eye shadow can be tricky. Obviously it creates a much bolder look, especially depending on the hue and saturation of your choice. If you are going for a more classic look then you wouldn't want to use anything too bright, but a bolder look may work for a more modern style of pinup photography.

One of the most iconic parts of the pinup look is red lipstick, which is something to take into consideration when choosing whether or not to use eye shadow. Red lips are very classy and sophisticated and can really draw even more attention to your lips and face.
Pink cheeks or brighter blush also can provide a distinct improvement in a photograph. Again, the brightness and color depends on preference, but a light pink is often correlated with the simple, elegant, retro characteristics.

Another important factor to consider is the range of your body that will be featured in photos. If they are going to be full length or body shots, you should probably wear a little darker or more defined makeup, much like actors do on stage. If your photos are shot more closely or in a headshot style, then you want to make sure you scale it down a little so you don't look overly artificial.

It all depends on where on the continuum you want to fall between classic Vargas style pinup and modern day rockabilly tattooed lady. One side is very clean and simple while the other side can be intense and progressive. Mixing elements of both styles and creating within the boundaries and stereotypes of each look can provide a very satisfying outcome.

One of the most important elements of pinup photography is what the model is wearing. Beyond the posing and everything else that the image involves, if the model is wearing clothing that is more modern, it isn't really considered pinup. Many times these images are nodding to the past and some of the ideals of beauty from previous decades and clothing is very vital to achieving that look.

There are many places both locally and online to find pinup inspired or retro clothing. It's a lot harder to find exceptional clothing since there aren't too many actual storefronts that sell only pinup style clothing. One online company really stands out for its quality and integrity--Heartbreaker Fashion. They make beautiful dresses that are made with the purpose of complimenting the female figure. Many of their dresses feature two ties on the back that pull the dress in right under the bust line making the dress fit better and creating even more of an hourglass shape. Many have a loose fitting skirt that also adds to a more feminine shape and great fit on almost everyone.
There are various amazing styles and prints so everyone is sure to find something to suit their exact tastes. They also come out with new designs pretty frequently so it's easy to keep adding to your collection.

Heartbreaker Fashion also does more than just dresses: they have skirts, tops, and accessories that can complete your look. They even offer swimsuits through another designer, Fables by Barrie, which are some of the cutest vintage inspired suits ever.
All of their clothing is made and designed in San Dimas, California. They do not outsource any of their garment making and use the best quality materials and seamstresses. Their dresses hold up very well and are an amazing value. They have a very accurate size chart to make sure you fit just right into their clothing. Any of their designs will last you for years.

Heartbreaker Fashion will most definitely provide anyone looking for a pinup inspired look some great garments to choose from. They have so much available it might be hard to decide what you want. Visit them at www.heartbreakerfashion.com and if you are on Facebook add them at facebook.com/heartbreakerfashions and keep your eyes out for coupon codes and contests!