Posts in category "vintage"

Vintage-Inspired Swimwear: 4 Retro Bathing Suits for this Season

By: Pippa

There’s no doubt that swimwear has evolved since the mid 1900’s, mainly due to ever developing fashions, life style choices, cultural influences and society. But the classic, ultra-flattering, vintage chic style is back for another summer.

When we think vintage swimwear, those classic icons Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly immediately spring to mind, with their classic glamour and timeless elegance. And it’s this classic style that so many modern women are now trying to recreate, complete with an up-to-date take on the 1950’s Hollywood one piece.

These retro swimsuits often featured a fitted skirt sitting on the hips, a high and nipped-in hourglass waist, and a strapless or halter neck. Polka dots and bold stripes were also popular in these kinds of swimsuits, as well as colour blocking (usually white) along with various trims like belts, bows, and buckles. More fitted and modest in comparison to the ever popular triangle bikini of more recent years, it’s this chic modesty which is making a comeback. Women want to stand out in the summer, but for style, class, and elegance, rather than for baring it all.

This swimsuit above is what inspired me to write this article. What Katie Did have got it spot on again, borrowing the style and silhouette from the 50’s and 60’s while using modern fabrics, styling, and construction techniques. I love the all in one colour blocking and let’s not forget the element of ease…the one piece means you don’t have to think too much about what else to wear, it’s already all there for you!

With some more subtle elements of vintage swimwear, this S/S 12 Camilla and Marc Resort one piece swimsuit exaggerates colour blocking, while suggesting a high waist and sweet heart neckline.

Polka dots and strips are commonly seen in vintage swimwear, and Michael Kors has successfully brought them back in this in a brilliant sunshine yellow swimsuit from his S/S 12 collection.

Finally, Mama Maria uses clever tailoring to create a nipped in waist and pointed bust – very much the desired silhouette of the mid 1900’s. A Dutch swimwear company, Mama Maria, specialises in creating beautiful swimwear with a very vintage feel in nearly ever kind of colour and pattern.

One last note, the vintage come back is ideal for curvier girls, because those are the exact body types they were originally designed for. Remember, no one looks more fabulous than someone having fun, and in any one of these swimsuits, who wouldn’t be loving every minute?

What do you think of the vintage-style swimsuit look? Do you have any favourites?

Treacle

Treacle

Lingerie Blogger. Sugar Junkie. Sci-Fi Geek.

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The 10 Most Influential Lingerie Icons of All Time

From Bettie Page to Dita von Teese…these 10 women are the icons who inspire our lingerie style.

Bettie Page

If ever a woman deserved the top spot on a list of lingerie icons, it’s Bettie Page. Rightly called the ‘Queen of Pin-up,’ she’s had more influence on how the public sees lingerie than any other woman who came before her…or after her. With her trademark bangs, girl-next-door attitude, and saucy smile, Bettie Page has a look thousands (if not millions) of women still aspire to today. The Bettie Page aesthetic will never go out of style.

 

 

Elizabeth Taylor

Wonder why vintage slips never seem to go out of fashion? Take a look at the photo of Liz Taylor from Butterfield 8 to the right and you’ll know why.  Famous for her dark hair, violet eyes, and insane jewelry collection (which recently sold for over 100 million dollars), Elizabeth Taylor’s movie star style was out of reach for all but the wealthiest women. But every woman, no matter her income, connections, or lack thereof can own a gorgeous, lace-trimmed slip, and feel like a goddess because of it.

 

Josephine Baker

The more I learn about Josephine Baker, the more I wish I’d had the opportunity to see her in person. Not only was she a stunning beauty, she was a woman of color who refused to limited by the narrow opportunities available to her at the time. And is there anyone who hasn’t seen that famous banana skirt? Josephine Baker was one of the first to prove to the mainstream that women of color could be just as sexy, desirable, and beautiful as their white counterparts, and that’s a message that can still use some sharing today.

 

 

 

Marilyn Monroe

The hair, the curves, the face, the voice..the legacy of Marilyn Monroe lives on nearly a half century since this lingerie icon’s death. Even the very term ‘sex symbol’ was invented in her honor. Though she died far too young, her sex goddess style lives on, especially in classic (and classy!) lingerie that clings to a woman’s curves.

 

 

 

 

Sophia Loren

Oh, Sophia Loren…what can I say about her without sounding like a gushing fangirl? Infamous for her striptease scene in Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow, and famous for revealing a black corset, lingerie, and stockings beneath her dress in The Millionaress, Sophia Loren’s sensual yet casual approach to lingerie is one I personally try to emulate today. You could always tell she was perfectly confident in her skin, and confidence is oh so sexy.

 

Jean Harlow

The original platinum blonde bombshell, Jean Harlow’s life was cut tragically short just as she was reaching the peak of her popularity, but her silver screen iren style remains. From slinky bias cut gowns to ostrich feather robes to fine lace teddies, elements of the Jean Harlow aesthetic can still be seen in modern day luxury lingerie (Carine Gilson, in particular, springs to mind).

 

 

Brigitte Bardot

One of the most popular sex symbols of the 1960′s, Brigitte Bardot is famous for her fabulously French sense of style. With her penchant for bikinis, perfectly tousled hair, and heavily lined eyes, Bardot managed to make whatever she was wearing look effortless and glamourous all at the same time. And really, isn’t effortless glamour the best kind there is?

 

 

 

 

Raquel Welch

Raquel’s famous fur bikini in 1 Million Years B.C. is more than enough to earn her a spot on this list, but the fact that her pin-ups are still circulating the internet is what really makes her a lingerie icon. And have you seen those recent pictures of her? The lady has still got it.

 

 

 

 

 

Jane Fonda

I know a lot of people associate the ‘swinging sixties’ with Twiggy, Mary Quant, and Penelope Tree but for me, it’s all about Jane Fonda in Barbarella. The ambassador from the year 40,00 embodies everything extravagant, over the top, and outright crazy about lingerie. And while we’re on the subject of Ms. Fonda, can I just say she looks as stunning at age 75 as she did in 1965?

 

 

Dita von Teese

Dita, Dita, Dita. How could I possibly write a list of lingerie icons without including the inimitable Dita von Teese, the woman who’s made burlesque a household name all over again. Known for her vintage aesthetic, sparkly routines, and breathtaking lingerie wardrobe, Dita has inspired a whole new generation of women to become interested in garter belts, girdles, stockings, and those other trappings of retro lingerie. And I have a feeling we haven’t even seen everything she can do yet.

 

Who’s your fave lingerie icon? Let’s talk about in the comments!

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The Lingerie Addict Awards: Our Favorite Lingerie Brands of 2011

Welcome back for our second of our two annual “Best of 2011″ articles. A few days ago, we listed the Top 20 Lingerie Addict Blog Posts of 2011, and now it’s time to talk our Top 20 Lingerie Brands of 2011. I’m especially excited about this year’s awards because they include both nominations and commentary from Lingerie Addict readers and columnists. Want to see which of last year’s winners made it onto this year’s list? Take a look at our best lingerie of 2010!

Best Overall: Kiss Me Deadly (Reader’s Choice!)
When I asked my Facebook fans to tell me their fave lingerie brand of 2011,  so many of them said Kiss Me Deadly, I literally lost count. Kiss Me Deadly has been one of my personal favorites since the very beginning, and ever since they created the “little black dress of lingerie” (pictured above, phrasing courtesy of reader Amaryllis), their popularity has skyrocketed. Kiss Me Deadly is one of a handful of brands I recommend all the time, and I think 2012 is going to be their year to shine.

Best Overall (luxury): Made by Niki (Reader’s Choice!)
Nominated by both our columnists and readers alike, Made by Niki created one of the most innovative lingerie collections of 2011…the Made by Niki String Collection. Completely original and intensely sensual, Made by Niki raised for the bar for what consumers should expect from luxury lingerie. Not very much takes my breath away anymore, but this did…and it still does.

Best Vintage-Inspired: What Katie Did (Reader’s Choice!)
Pin-up and retro lingerie is a major fashion trend right now, but while there are lots of labels inspired by the past, very few actually use patterns from the past. What Katie Did is one of a handful of lingerie designers that does. Her work was featured in this year’s critically acclaimed biopic My Week with Marilyn, and she also offers one of the most extensive size ranges in the vintage-inspired lingerie niche, with her bras fitting women from 32A to 40G.

Best Everyday Brand: Huit (Reader’s Choice!)
Though I only recently discovered Huit, I’m already a tremendous fan of them. As Lingerie Addict reader Dee put it, Huit offers “classic lines that aren’t too frilly for everyday wear, yet still sexy enough for playtime.” In my opinion, Huit exemplifies wearable but still sophisticated glamour.

Best Luxury Brand: Agent Provocateur (Reader’s Choice!)
For the last 17 years, the name Agent Provocateur has been synonymous with luxury lingerie around the world. Not for the faint of heart (or thin of wallet), Agent Provocateur treats the world of intimates as just another aspect of the fashion industry, releasing on-trend prints, patterns, and colorways every season. This year, they also expanded into the world of jewelry and bed linens, transitioning from “just” a lingerie brand to a comprehensive lifestyle brand.

Best Luxury (Made to Order): Toad Lillie
Toad Lillie is the sort of lingerie designer fashion magazines like to write stories about. Every piece is made to order and hand sewn by the designer herself, Laurie Shapiro, and she works with only the finest silks using only the most couture construction techniques. I’ve always thought Toad Lillie’s pieces were pretty, but then I had the opportunity to view them in person for the first time this year, and I’ve been smitten ever since. The fashion industry feels the same way; legendary photographer Ellen von Unwerth chose to shoot with Toad Lillie’s pieces twice this year.

Best Budget Brand: Ultimo
Another new brand on the list for 2011, Ultimo first caught my attention when I was searching for reasonably priced full bust bras for my readers. I know from personal experience how hard it is to be a lingerie addict on a budget. You still want gorgeous lingerie, but the simple reality is that you can’t drop a hundred dollar bill (or three) every time you need a new bra. Ultimo manages to bridge the gap between beautiful and affordable with bras for A-D cups starting just under $50 and bras for DD-G starting just over $50.

Best New Brand: Marika Vera
One of the great privileges of writing a lingerie blog is that I often get to see new designers before anyone else does, and after the recession of the last few years, it is incredibly exciting to see new talent emerging and thriving within the lingerie industry again. Marika Vera is one such talent. Her debut collection, Venus in Furs, was picked up by the world-famous luxury lingerie boutique Faire Frou Frou, and has received nothing but rave reviews. Marika Vera’s lingerie is earthy, sensual, luxurious, and unique all at once, and I can’t wait to see what she brings in 2012.

Best Hosiery: Commando
Commando is on this year’s list because they solved a problem I didn’t even know I had before…the problem of a hosiery waistband that digs, binds, squeezes, and is otherwise thoroughly uncomfortable. Commando’s ingenious microfiber lasercut waistband gets rid of all that, and stays perfectly in place (and perfectly comfortable!) all day long. Trust me…I was skeptical too until I tried these. Now, I’m a convert.

Best Ethical Line: Purrfect Pineapples (Reader’s Choice!)
I love lingerie designers with a unique point of view and Purrfect Pineapples has it in spades. A little bit pin-up, a little bit alternative, and a little bit Lolita, Purrfect Pineapple’s owner Erika Shuhendler prides herself on fair wages, quality craftsmanship, and original designs. Or, as our reader Audra puts it, “gorgeous design, incredible fabric patterning, and of course cruelty-free and vegan!”

Best Full Bust Brand: Curvy Kate (Reader’s Choice!)
Curvy Kate blew onto the lingerie scene in 2009 and they haven’t slowed down since. Curvy Kate is committed to making sure D-K cup women have just as many gorgeous lingerie options as their smaller busted counterparts, and their passion for finding the perfect fit is evident in the rave reviews of their customers. Their Star in a Bra competition is one of the best and most innovative pieces of marketing ever, and I can’t wait to see them take the U.S. by storm. Expect great things from Curvy Kate in 2012.

Best Full Bust (budget): Parfait by Affinitas
Our full bust specialist Holly nominated this brand, and she calls it “the best brand in terms of quality for price, hands down.” The average woman’s bra size today is 36DD, and I get so many e-mails from readers asking me where they can find a full busted bra that 1) supportive, 2) pretty, and 3) affordable. Well Parfait by Affinitas is all three of those and then some. Congratulations…now  you’re in on one of the best kept secrets of this year.

Best Small Bust Brand: The Little Bra Company
While there’s been a lot of attention given lately to DD cup and higher bras, small busted women are being very vocal (and rightly so!) in making sure the lingerie industry doesn’t forget about them either. I love The Little Bra Company because their bras are pretty, give believable lift and cleavage, and are available down to a 28A. My personal fave is the Lucia in peony/tangerine (pictured above).

Best Lingerie Boutique (Brick and Mortar): Dollhouse Bettie
The sign of a good lingerie boutique is when it lives up to your expectations. The sign of a great lingerie boutique is when it surpasses them. With many of the same brands available online nowadays, lingerie boutiques stand out by offering a curated selection, personable staff, and expert advice…three things Dollhouse Bettie has in spades. Combining modern brands with vintage pieces and an in-house designed range, Dollhouse Bettie offers a shopping experience like no other.

Best Lingerie Boutique (Online): HerRoom (Reader’s Choice!)
Free Shipping. Easy Returns. Authentic Customer Reviews. 200 brands under one digital roof. HerRoom makes shopping online for lingerie easy. I particularly love how each product is photographed from several angles, and the super detailed product descriptions. HerRoom takes all the guesswork out of lingerie shopping online…which is probably why they were nominated for the list. (Mary Green robe pictured above.)

Best Shapewear: Cass Luxury Shapewear
As my style matures from jeans and t-shirts to pencil skirts and lacy blouses, I find myself relying on shapewear a lot more. And though I’ve tried a ton of brands, the honest truth is that most of them are unremarkable…if not downright uncomfortable. But the shapewear brand I keep coming to again and again is Cass. They’re comfortable. They’re stylish. And they really do slim and refine your curves. They also offer a ton of options, so you’re covered no matter what you’re wearing.

Best Full Bust Shapewear: Charnos
One of the complaints I’ve heard time and again from my readers is that it’s very hard to find shapewear to accomodate all their curves, especially if they’re full-busted. Our columnist Holly nominated Charnos for this year’s list, and had this to say about the line, “Their cups are really generous and the pieces are great. It’s almost impossible to find one piece shapewear for the full bust market.” As an added bonus, this is shapewear you won’t mind showing off; the lace overlay and garter straps make Charnos’ line both pretty and practical.

Best Corsetry (budget): Timeless Trends (Reader’s Choice!)
Make no mistake about it, corsetry is an investment. But a custom made corset will set you back a few hundred dollars (and rightly so!). If you’re new to the world of corsetry and just want to test the waters, or if you’re on a budget and a custom corset is out of reach, then Timeless Trends is for you. Unlike many so-called corsets, Timeless Trends uses authentic steel-boning, and every corset comes with a lifetime guarantee. Best of all, their corsets are available in plus sizes and start at $99. It may not be custom, but it’s the next best thing.

Best Corsetry (made to order): Dark Garden (Reader’s Choice!)
If you do have the money to invest in custom, handmade corsetry however, then you can’t go wrong with the corsetiere to burlesque legends like Dita von Teese and Catherine D’Lish. Founded 20 years ago and based in San Francisco, Dark Garden’s founder, Autumn Adamme uses couture stitching and historical costume techniques to craft her world famous corsets. I keep a running list of corsetieres I’d like to buy from in the future and believe me when I say Dark Garden is on it.

Best of 2012 (projected): Love Claudette
Their tagline is “Your new favorite bra has arrived,” and I believe it. Though Love Claudette is new to the lingerie world, they’re already getting rave reviews and rightly so. I tried two of their ranges, the mesh and the cotton, this last year, and they’re already in my regular rotation of everyday bras. Holly calls them the most-innovative range for full-busted women, especially since they offer a sheer mesh bra that super sexy and super supportive all at once. Love Claudette proves that there’s still room for new players in the lingerie industry, and I expect this brand to explode in 2012.

I hope you enjoyed reading this year’s round-up of the very best of what 2011 had to offer. Did we leave your favorite brand off the list? Tell us what you love in the comments!

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Hidden History: Female Pin-up Artists

By Marianne

In the golden age of pinups, it wasn’t unheard of for illustrators to use their wife or their daughter – or both! — as models for their iconic works. Of course, it was a male-dominated field, so they generally didn’t have the option of using themselves. But of the few women creating pinups (with photography or illustration), there were several notable models-turned-artists. Today, one very prolific contemporary model also shoots many of her own photos. Today’s history lesson will cover a bit about the background, style, and working habits of these women.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of the few working female pinup illustrators, Zoë Mozert was the most well known, as well as being very well-connected with other “big name” illustrators of the day. Born Alice Adelaide Moser, she didn’t think the name would lend itself well to fame, and changed it as soon as possible. “I looked through a name dictionary for a new first name and when there were finally no pages left I settled on Zoe.”

Mozert began modeling to pay for her tuition at the Philadelphia School of Industrial Art. When she moved to New York, she was very productive in painting covers for pulp and movie magazines. She joined pinup legend George Petty in judging 1938′s Miss America Beauty Pageant. It seems that she switched from painting movie stars to pinups in 1941, when she signed a fifteen-year contract with calendar printer Brown & Bigelow. Mozert continued to paint for Hollywood, and several of her movie posters were quite well known in their day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Much of Mozert’s work is characterized by her soft pastel style, and her figures ranged from fully clothed to fully nude. Most were on minimalist backgrounds, often just uneven splotches of color, further drawing attention to the subject rather than emphasizing the setting or situation. When she used herself as a model, she would carefully light her studio, then use a photograph or a mirror to create the reference. She also modeled for Earl Moran and Alberto Vargas (shown above).

Joyce Ballantyne was another of the top three “girls club” pinup artists, and like Zoë Mozert she enjoyed the friendship of several other top artists of the day. She studied at the Academy of Art in Chicago for two years. There she first met Gil Elvgren, who was teaching there at the time. Elvgren and Ballantyne later came to regard each other as peers as well as friends, and would share assignments.
In 1945, he recommended her to Brown & Bigelow, who took her on and introduced her as “the brightest young star on the horizon of illustrative art.” She was honored with creating a calendar for their ongoing Artist’s Sketch Pad series. Ballantyne did illustrations for other calendar companies as well as magazines such as Penthouse and Esquire.

As was often the case with pinup artists, Ballantyne did work for national advertising campaigns, including Coca-Cola. Chances are, most of you have seen one of Ballantyne’s illustrations without realizing it: the iconic Coppertone girl was a creation of hers, partially inspired by Art Frahm’s infamous panties falling down series.

Ballantyne pinups have a very classic look. She painted her girls in oil on canvas and was very technically skilled. Her images are more situational, with a more fleshed out location and action. Unfortunately, I was unable to find many photographs of her, let alone one of her posing. This may imply that she worked from a mirror, rather than a photograph.

Photographer Bunny Yeager (née Linnea Eleanor Yeager) was one of the most popular models in Florida in the 40s, though she is now best known for her photographs of Bettie Page. She always knew she wanted to be a model, and studied pinup art and Hollywood starlets before officially enrolling in a modeling course. (Alas, there was no America’s Next Top Model at this time.) She chose the psuedonym “Bunny” from a Lana Turner film. In 1949, Joe DiMaggio crowned her “Miami Sports Queen.” She was also an early adopter of two-piece bathing suits, which she made herself.

In 1954 she began taking photographs, and her experience on the other side of the lens put her way ahead of the learning curve. “I never intended to become a professional photographer but after I took a course it seemed like it might be a good idea – something to pursue after I got too old to model. In class, one of my photos of my model friend Maria Stinger caught the eye of my teacher and he suggested I send it in to a magazine. I did, and sold it immediately.” Understandably, models were more at ease working with a female photographer, particularly one who also modeled. That same year, she met Bettie Page and took most of the photographs from their famous collaboration.

If you want to learn her techniques, those of you with deep pockets can purchase a vintage copy of Bunny Yeager’s 1964 book, “How I Photograph Myself.” (Am I lusting? Yes.) She also wrote some twenty-odd other books on the subject of pinup photography. Easier to find are more recently published collections of her photographs, such as “Bunny Yeager’s Bikini Girls of the 1950s.”

Spanish-born Morgana is something of a renaissance woman. Currently 29, she’s still one of the most prolific corset models, particularly in England, where she currently resides. The opposite of Bunny Yeager, Morgana’s original training was in photography and graphic art. Iberian Black Arts is the name of her photography studio. These days, she is also working as a professional makeup artist.

It’s hard to talk about any single aspect of Morgana’s career, since so much of her work features her donning more than one proverbial hat. Many of the shots that you see of her from FairyGothMother, Maya Hansen, Morgana Femme Couture, Ladie Lucie, etc, etc, so on and so forth, feature her photography as well as her face. She’s been published numerous times, modeling on the cover of magazines and shooting the covers of new CDs.

While most models are sufficiently skilled in makeup enough to do their own face, few are equally qualified at both tasks. Morgana does makeup under the name Fatale Beauty, doing colorful and vintage-inspired looks. Notably, she’s painted the face of Ulorin Vex, another top alt model. Naturally, she then proceeded to photograph Miss Vex as well (shown above).

It’s easy to see why Morgana gets so much work. Knowing that they can hire one person to do the work of a full team, and do it competently, makes a very easy hiring decision for designers if they like her look. To my eyes, her modeling work with other photographers looks more relaxed and diverse than her self-portraits, but that may be because the self-shot looks tend to be for catalogs and lookbooks. Her naturally tiny waist and hourglass figure make her a natural at corset modeling, while having a natural hair color and lack of tattoos gives her a broader commercial appeal.

I hope you enjoyed my article on pin-up self-portraitists. What do you think of these artists? I’d love for you to tell me in the comments.

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Lingerie Art Legends: Enoch Bolles

Though Gil Elvgren is one of pin-up’s most recognized artists today, there were plenty of other illustrators painting glamorous portraits around the same time as he. One I’ve recently re-discovered is Enoch Bolles.

Born in 1883, Bolles were a versatile illustrator who created art for products as diverse as raisins and cigarette lighters. But what he’s most remembered for today (and what’s most relevant to this blog) is his pin-up work.

Bolles illustrated over 200 covers for Film Fun magazine and another 300 covers for other risque pulp publications. His trademark sexy, skimpy costumes went on to the define certain key aspects of the pin-up look for the next several decades.


What do you think of Enoch Bolles art? If you like the images shown here, I’ve posted several more to The Lingerie Addict Facebook page. Click the link and take a look!

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Lingerie & The Movies: Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

Set just before the devastation and deprivation of World War II, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is not only a entertaining romantic comedy, it’s also an intriguing look at 1930′s era fashion. Unlike the 1920′s, which emphasized a flat, boyish shilouette, the 1930′s welcomed a return to feminine curves. Corset girdles were all the rage, nylon stockings made their debut, and lingerie marketing as we know it today first appeared. Keep reading to learn how you can get the lingerie look of Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day…

We first meet Delysia Lafosse, Miss Pettigrew’s eventual employer, in her luxurious apartment while she’s wearing a gorgeous silk and ostrich-feather trimmed robe. This is one of my favorite looks because it’s all about opulence, decadence, and extravagance. Fortunately, you don’t have to break the bank to reproduce it on your own…just take a look at Secrets in Lace’s Ostrich Trimmed Chiffon Robe.


The lingerie fashion show in Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is one of my most favorite scenes from any film I’ve ever watched. It’s feminine and intimate and a little (just a little) naughty. If you love the lace trimmed chemise pictured above, take a look at Between the Sheets Deco Lace Chemise. I love the vintage-inspired peach color, but it’s also available in cherry red and bridal white. Oh! And don’t forget to pick up your authentic vintage stockings from Kay Marel. I recommend their “Skyscraper” heels; click the link to see what I mean.

For the last retro lingerie look, you’ll have to peer behind Miss Pettigrew to view the model wearing the satin bra and tap panties on the runway. Tap panties are definitely making a comeback this season, and I’m glad to see it because it’s a shilouette that flatters almost every body type. Get your authentic, vintage-style bra and tap panties from What Katie Did. And of course they come in the perfect shade of peach.

Have you ever seen Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

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Pin-Up Week: Celebrating Pin-Ups of Color

We’re closing Pin-Up Week with a subject very close to my heart–the rather remarkable and often ignored absence of women of color in the pin-up genre. We don’t see pin-ups of color in magazines. We don’t see them on pin-up tribute sites. We don’t see them in pin-up contests.  Long-time readers of my blog know that this issue is one I’ve talked about before, most notably in the article “Why Doesn’t the Lingerie Industry Like Women of Color?”

In the 8 months or so since that piece was published, I’ve had the opportunity to talk with lots of other people…from photographers to models to fellow lingerie fans about this issue, and the results have been…well, depressing is the only word I can think of to describe it.

Common excuses for not using women of color include them “not having the right look,” photographers “not knowing how to shoot women of color,” women of color being “uninterested in modeling,” or (and this is my all time favorite), “women of color look too sexual in lingerie.”  Because seriously, what does that mean?

As a woman of color who is proud of my ethnic identity, that is unacceptable. And it’s hurtful. No one wants to feel like they’re automatically less attractive because of the color of their skin.

I know how things were back in the day. I know that Black women and Asian women and Hispanic women and Native American women were not most photographer’s first choice for models, but since when did past segregation become an excuse for present discrimination? After all, there weren’t many tattooed pin-up models back in the day either, but they’re everywhere now…and that’s a good thing.

Furthermore, the notion that there weren’t any pin-ups of color back in the day is false.  There were plenty of pin-ups of color in the past. And there are heaps of pin-ups of color now.  So today, I’m going to celebrate them…because I truly believe that beauty comes in every color.

I’ve posted a few of my favorite pin-up photos in this article. You’ll find lots more on The Lingerie Addict Tumblr, where I’ll be posting images of pin-ups of color, both past and present, all day long.

Got something to say about the absence of pin-ups of color in the industry? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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