We here at the thehepburnmovement strive to show the diversity of pinup/vintage culture every chance we get, to show that ANYONE and everyone can be a pinup regardless of your age, sexual orientation or race. That despite the lack of representation in the media, we exist and are here to inspire others to step out into the spotlight. People from all kinds of nationalities and identities make up this community and we aim to show that with every post. We want to highlight the wide variety of pinup/vintage loving people because they come from all walks of life, and deserve to be seen. Now this weeks featured pinup, is the most unique one yet because she falls into a category that most people often overlook. Being Pregnant is already hard enough, but throw in being pinup on top of it and it's a complete game changer. Many people question whether it can be done, or at least done well and Sugar is here to show them how it's done. With her timeless elegance, fierce spirit and head strong attitude she shows that you can do anything you put your mind too. After all regardless of your size or shape "Any one can be a pinup".
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Much like many of the other lovely pinups featured, we met Sugar thanks to the online community. It's amazing how a love of clothes and a certain style of fashion can truly bring people together. She was actually one of the first people who inspired us to truly embrace our style no matter what. She also taught us not to be afraid to try new things, new styles and new camera angles. She strives to let people know that you don't have to pigeonhole yourself or fit into a small box, she is a huge advocate for female empowerment and body positivity. She fights for our rights demanding respect regardless of whether she is wearing 6 inch heels or combat boots. Sugar's fearless attitude, impeccable fashion sense, passion to bring about change and overall kind demeanor make her perfect for this weeks spotlight!
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When did you get into the pinup lifestyle?
I remember being about 6 years old on a Saturday out with my mother. We'd regularly visit the shopping mall where she'd stock up on school clothes, high end cosmetics, and of course Cinnabon. The mall was large and enclosed and any noise that came from one end of the plaza would reverberate down the length to the other end. Patiently waiting for my gooey pastry I could hear a sound echoing from several stores down as it got closer. Click, Clack, Click, Clack with the rhythm of a woman on a mission. I watched down the hall for who was making this intriguing noise and around the kiosk she came. Dark hair, red lips, blouse tucked into a pencil skirt, and the highest, shiniest, patent black heels my little self had ever seen. She was tall like a giraffe and graceful like a dancer on those pumps and the sound that came from every stomp got the attention of each shopper in the vicinity. That sound stuck with me and I'd always attempt to recreate it in our kitchen with my mothers kitten heels. It was never quite the same though.
While trying to develop my own sense of style through my teen years and for a while after high school, I tended to prefer the darker "goth" aesthetics. This of course came along with an affinity for Marilyn Manson. In 2005 Manson married burlesque beauty Dita Von Teese. There she was, perfected version of the woman I had seen at the mall with the heels that had made such an impression on me. And I wanted to be just like her. I bought myself a basic black pencil skirt and slowly started to incorporate the vintage style into my wardrobe. As my style evolved I became more familiar with the names and faces of women who would continue to influence my aesthetic (Bettie Page, Gil Elvgren illustrations, etc).
My pinup style is STILL evolving but whatever silhouette I happen to be wearing, I like to let my shoes do the talking. Literally.
*Click, Clack, Click, Clack*
Who is your biggest style inspiration?
Apart from the mystery woman with the heels that left a stiletto footprint on my very soul at a young age, I look to today's fashion bloggers for inspiration. Teer Wayde has always been a favorite. With measurements that nearly match my own I can confidently rely on her reviews and allow her body positivism to rekindle a self assurance in myself that admittedly dwindles from time to time. As the title of her blog suggests, she's got curves to kill and she certainly knows how to dress them.
How does it feel to be a minority in the pinup community?
I'm representing an interesting group in this feature because my "minority" status is both voluntary and temporary. 9 months to be exact. The silhouette of the "standard issue" pinup tends to highlight a nipped in waist that makes for a challenging shape to work with as a tiny human grows within your body. When I first saw that positive pregnancy test, I had decided a few things: 1. I was going to have a healthy pregnancy and baby, and 2. I was going to maintain my style. The latter has proven to be a bit of trial and error. Here's a few tips I can offer to other pregnant pinups:
Look for stretchy cotton, crepe, or bengaline fabrics.
Invest in some good maternity shapewear.
Wear your petticoat underneath your baby belly. The snug elastic right across the belly can be uncomfortable and may make your heartburn worse!
Check sites like eBay or etsy for true vintage maternity wear, there's some very cute stuff to be found out there!
So how does it feel? It's uncomfortable, magical, exciting, exhausting, and all the things moms-to-be can expect to feel. But it's also empowering to continue to dress how you please no matter how you choose to present yourself, and hopefully inspiring to other expecting ladies who might be seeking encouragement in their own maternity style. Now that I've dressed a body that has changed daily, I am a believer that Anyone Can Be a Pinup.
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We hope you enjoyed this weeks edition of "Anyone can be a pinup", Sugar holds a very special and important part in the series. She breaks down boundaries and stereotypes surrounding the pinup culture,with her larger than life personality and her courage to stay true to herself. There is no specific body type needed to dress this way, we say the more curves, and bumps the merrier. As long as you feel, happy confident and beautiful nothing else matters. You CAN be pregnant and be a pinup, as the saying goes "Any one can be a pinup" and we mean it!
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If you have any comments,questions or even suggestions on who you'd like to see us feature next, feel free to comment below and we'll do our best to reply in a timely manner.
As always thanks for reading, may your days be filled with pretty dresses, dapper clothes & a lot of happiness.
Paola & Kirsten xx
Aka "thehepburnmovement"
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