Shake That Thing

      Hello everyone and welcome back. Everyone that meets me hears how much I love to dance. And it's not just ballet. I've taken belly dancing, burlesque and swing dancing too. And that was the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

      I take swing dance at Lindy Hop St. Louis and it's more of a community. I get to dance with everyone in my class and it's very refreshing. When I took belly dancing and burlesque it was very individualized. But with Lindy Hop came another challenge.

      I'm not used to dancing with a partner! And sometimes I've danced with partners who aren't as coordinated as I am. And I found it very ironic that this was on my mind since I was planning another photo shoot.

      I found three photographers available and they had never shot a pinup before. I took a deep breath to see what was going to happen next. The first photographer didn't sound like they had even researched the words pinup or boudoir. As my Kickin' instructor would say: "Rotate!"

      The second photographer had also never collaborated with a pinup but had no studio. I hated to turn this photographer down; this one is very artistic and has a tremendous eye. So we've decided to shoot at a later date.

      The third photographer really put effort into everything. This photographer not only has access to a studio but sent me images and pressed me to open up more. Day in day out I was getting questions and emails. I was definitely out of my comfort zone, but in a good way. This photographer challenged me as much as one of partners in Kickin'.
 
      The partner in my Kickin' class that challenges me the most is the one who almost has everything down. We had to iron out those little hiccups, exactly the way you have to with a photographer. So I scheduled my shoot with Photographer #3 and that particular Kickin' partner has started counting along with the music. And I told him, "The hardest part is figuring out where the mistake is. But once you've got that down you keep on moving from there." So now Swing Class and my photo shoot are down I can take a deep breath. Or I could just dance.....with Bobby Darin of course

https://youtu.be/8ZTcgmzSRzI

The Modern Day Pinup and The Modern Day Gentleman

      Hello everyone and welcome back. One question that people love to ask me (or any single person these days) is, "Are you seeing anyone?" I dread that question like the sound of my alarm clock. And I really don't know what to say.

    Since I'm a Modern Day Pinup I love a good throwback. And since I was so eager to watch A Streetcar Named Desire last night like I'd never seen it before this shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. Still, I don't know if gentlemen exist these days or where they are for that matter.

    When I think of a gentleman I immediately think of Sidney Poitier or William Holden. A man that's intelligent, kind, gracious, handsome, complicated yet down to earth. Unfortunately I've met men that are a combination of Poitier and Jughead. So... is the problem me? How would a Modern Day Pinup find a man that's a Modern Day Gentleman?

     I used to think my expectations were way too high. I felt like I was looking for a man that was a character, a myth. I know gentlemen are few and far between; especially when the Internet allows anyone to create a persona that's a complete lie. And communicating is even different. With texting you can talk without having to talk, although texting can lead to miscommunication and misinterpretation.

     I still don't believe that chivalry is dead, it has to be taught. It has be researched and men have to lead young men by example. Each pinup has to be taught to pose, which way to hold her head, which poses work best for her shape. I couldn't be a pinup overnight and a man can't become a gentleman overnight either.

      And Holden's characters are never perfect; he played flawed, self absorbed men at times. But that's what life is. We're all flawed, self centered, intelligent, complex creatures. Holden's so fun to look at you don't care what his characters are doing. And everyday I feel exactly like Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina. Loving my life exactly as it is and never turning my back on love or on pinup

https://youtu.be/jS9zJMIsjMg
                       

 

   

The Thrill of It All

           

          The best part of this year has been embracing who I am, pinup and mere mortal. After all one misstep after another is still learning. But one of the best parts of this year has been a well-kept secret.

            I got published!!!!

            I was so excited to find out that I was going to be in print as a pinup. I couldn’t even believe it. But the surprising fact was that I didn’t feel any different.

            It wasn’t the same feeling as the Dr. Hook song On the Cover of the Rolling Stone; I certainly didn’t do a whole lot pills that give you all kinds thrills (unless Hair, Skin and Nails Vitamins count). I resumed my boring, working, Modern Day Pinup life within seconds.

            What I’m trying to say is that being published wasn’t going to make me. I already knew who I was and I’m very excited about what the future holds. I’ve realized that being a Modern Day Pinup is a big part of who I am but not all of me. There’s still a woman inside who likes to sit at home, makeup less, dancing to The Stones (in a snood of course).

            I do want to say thank you, thank you, thank you to Mark Greenmantle and the staff of RetroBomb Magazine. Greenmantle is an amazing photographer with a wonderful eye. The magazine is beautifully laid out with pictures of vintage cars, articles, pinups and a lot more! Make sure to pick up your copy of RetroBomb at www.retrobombmag.com

            Until next time dear readers…..

Questions, Questions, Questions

  Hello everyone and welcome back! I've decided to do something a little different today and I hope everyone enjoys this new post.

   Throughout my pinup journey I've been asked a lot of questions. Some are so charming and some are so outrageous I can't type them. Still there are three questions that I'm asked by every single person, without fail.


    3. "So what is a pinup?"
          I don't mind being asked what a pinup is. As a matter of fact, I'd rather someone ask than pretend that they know. I've also found that most people already know what a pinup is, they simply need a reminder (as in Rita Hayworth).

    2.  "How much do you get paid?"
           This is a question that I get asked quite often and I'm still a little bewildered by it. Asking a person how much they get paid isn't a question that you're supposed to ask, under any circumstances. But with pinup it's a little different. Right now being a pinup is more like a hobby. It's something that I finance myself and I'll gladly explain that. I can't help the look of awe that is written all over some people's faces when I tell them the truth. And when they ask me why I'm still a pinup I simply say, "Ballet is a passion of mine and I pay to take class, what's the difference?"

Here's the #1 question I get asked as a Modern Day Pinup and here's the look on my face when they ask.....

     1. "Why aren't you a real model?"
           That's like asking a housewife why she doesn't have a real job. Trust, everything that goes into being a pinup is real. Studying poses and having a pose coach is real, purchasing costumes and accessories are real too. I think that some people get confused; they assume that since I'm not on the catwalk with Karlie Kloss being a pinup isn't real modeling. To that I've asked, "So what's a real model?" Pinup is a different genre of modeling with a world all its own.
      If anyone gets asked charming, peculiar questions about their career/hobbies let me know. Thanks for reading and stay tuned for next week's post. Have a good weekend!**
      *The Pinup featured is Fay Wray from the book Va-Va-Voom! Circa 1933

The Modern Day Pinup A Naturel

Hello everyone and welcome back! It’s been far too long since my last post. And what I’m writing to everyone has been contemplated several times in my head and my heart.

To a woman her hair is her crowning glory, an expression of who she is and who she wants to be. So when I decided to go natural I had to ask myself: Do pinups go natural?

I noticed that some Black models wore weaves and wigs and I had a weave for my first pinup photo shoot. I loved my weave and the Veronica Lake waves cascading over my eye. It gave me that ole school Blue Dahlia vibe that made me feel like a Golden Age movie star. But wearing my natural hair brought up a lot of questions. Would stylists want to work with my natural texture? Would they refuse to work with me because of my natural hair? Can I take care of my natural hair?

I took a deep breath and stopped asking questions. I did what every single person does nowadays and went to YouTube and watched some tutorials. Angelique Noire has some wonderful tutorials for pinups with natural hair, one with victory rolls that I tested out. And I realized two very important things about my pinup journey.

I became a Modern Day Pinup because it’s part of who I am. And my natural hair is part of who I am as well; embracing both meant that I was embracing every single detail about myself and who I am naturally.

I also realized that I was holding myself back. I was too afraid to be a pinup because I was going against the grain, I wasn’t claiming who I really was. And when I didn’t want to deal my natural hair because it might be too difficult, I was denying who I really was yet again. I was blind to the fact that I was limiting my options and myself, and sooner or later it was going to catch up to me.

So just like with my makeup I practiced with natural hair pinup styles, bought some snoods and nylon scarves (any excuse to go shopping on Amazon or etsy!). And since I’m wearing my natural hair it's a wise decision to get a weave for photo shoots.

In the end holding yourself back isn’t worth it. No one wants to look back at life with regrets. I know I’ll never forget every photo shoot, every fashion show and every victory roll I’ve ever mastered. And most of all everything that has made me a Modern Day Pinup.

To Each Their Own

       I've noticed a lot of things happening in the world of pinup modeling, some amazing, some shocking. But quite frankly I wasn't surprised.

      After competing in pageants and simply existing in today's society things have shifted. The first pageant I was in was a lot of fun. I got to know some really wonderful girls who are very successful now. The second pageant I was in was a learning experience. I learned that certain people were only out for themselves.

     When I said I wanted to model and empower others I meant it. I have seen some people online writing disparaging comments at published models, telling models they're not pinup, you're not wearing this or that. And that's where my pageant lessons came in.

     Empowerment is not about forcing people to do things your way. It's about encouraging others to define their own goals and reach them. I've looked at the most successful people in business and they never reached their goals by being putting others down. They reached their goals by being molded  and passing their lessons on.

     I've seen so many people afraid to ask business owners how they got started, to just talk and be real. But those are the people you should go to! Just be honest about your intentions and where you're coming from. You have to have enough strength to ask for help, to state who you are and what you want to be.

     When +Cherry Dollface liked a picture I posted to Instagram I was thrilled. I was shocked even, because the cropping turned out terrible! It gave me a surge of confidence to keep going, but with better editing.

     Some might say I'm terribly old fashioned, that no one wants to be Miss Congeniality for a reason. People have said the same thing about people, models and comic book characters. Let them! No one ever told me that Josephine Baker made negative comments towards Marilyn Monroe, that Spider-Man isn't the most Marvel superhero! You can use their negative comments as fuel to be yourself. Make your own rules, just make sure to break those too without harming others.

 

A Modern Day Pinup's Dilemma

            As I flipped through the February issue of Allure an article immediately caught my eye. Makeup artist Jillian Dempsey wrote a feature called 3 Boring Makeup Ruts--- and How to Get Out of Them. It was truly ironic that I was reading this; I’m currently swearing off matte lipstick because my lips are so over that trend. So the light bulb went on in my head:

            Can pinups get caught in a makeup rut?

            A big part of a pinup is her makeup. The standards of a pinup’s makeup are winged black liner, dramatic, filled in brows and red lipstick. So can a pinup change her makeup look and still be considered a pinup?

            I decided to test this theory out, engage in some fun and save time on my makeup routine. Since there are so many different liners out there, I created cat eyes with very vivid colors. I experimented with brown liquid liner too. I lightly filled in my brows (if at all) and chose creamy lipsticks and glosses. I also put the lip liner back in my makeup bag. And I used only powder foundation instead of liquid and powder foundation.

            So I learned how to get myself out a makeup rut and still be a pinup. I learned that less is more; people complemented me on the vivid color eyeliner more than anyone did when I used only black.

            It’s true that you get noticed when you go against the grain. I could always be a Classic Pinup at photo shoots and be a Modern Day Pinup in my spare time. It’s perfectly normal to misbehave. After all the pinup/burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese said, ‘“People who follow all the rules and chase every trend tend to get forgotten- they look great, but they’re not as memorable.”’

Finding My Inner Sweater Girl

  I've been writing for decades now, everyday since I learned to write my own name. I even thought of pursuing my MFA in Creative Writing. At one university I was asked, "What genre of fiction do you write, Sara?"

  Throughout my career as an English major I encountered several authors. James Baldwin was known for examining differences between race, class and sex. Flannery O'Connor and William Faulkner were known for writing Southern Gothic shorty stories; F. Scott Fitzgerald is known for writing The Great American Novel.

  But as a writer I didn't know where I fit in. I would usually write from first or third person point of view. I even dabbled with the omniscient perspective to challenge myself. I realized that I loved to write but I wasn't at home being a writer. I wasn't completely Sara. Still, there has been one place where I had everything figured out and I knew exactly who I was.

  Ever since I had my first photo shoot I felt at ease. I had studied poses, other famous pinups and everything clicked. The first photographer I ever worked with said I was so photogenic, she didn't want to stop taking pictures of me. The second photographer said I made his job easy, it was a pleasure to work with me.

 I love writing and reading literature, a big part of me always will. I love sharing my voice through my own eyes. It works out best when I'm in front of the camera, letting a photographer capture my story. I love the glitz, the glam, the girdles, the makeup and the pin curls that are in my hair right now! Writing is what I love, but a pinup is who I am.

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The Modern Day Pinup and The Art of Discretion

One thing that has definitely changed from the 1940s and 50s is communication. Right now there's not only the telephone, there's texting and social media. But my question is how would a pinup girl handle all this and still be discreet?

Back in the day women left a lot more to the imagination. Look at Rita Hayworth in the film noir Gilda. All she did was remove one glove and men swooned. In today's society some women aren't removing one glove. At times nothing is left to the imagination; you know where certain people are at any given moment.

So, what's a Modern Day Pinup to do?

I decided to reveal what I wanted to, nothing more and nothing less. There's no law that says I have to post my whereabouts everyday. That's under my creative control! Since The Golden Age women have gained more control over their lives and their choices. If I want to reveal that I have a photo shoot, great. If I decide not to post the pictures from that photo shoot, that's wonderful too.

Everything isn't for everyone to see. There are certain things that I would only let a few people see, not 800 of my closest friends. And since we're in this age of oversharing that might make me part of the minority (yet again), but it's perfectly natural to be yourself.

That's my favorite part of being a pinup. There's a certain way a pinup carries herself, a certain style of clothing she wears. There's art in her makeup and a come hither look in her eyes. A pinup has a look of innocence and is very wily all at the same. Just don't expect her to tell you what she has in store for you.