Sailors and Sirens : Be a Beach Bettie

Bettie Page (above) to me and many will agree with me the ultimate beach Pin Up.

As Bettie has inspired me, I wanted to create a post to inspire you gals to create the perfect vintage Pin-Up beach look this summer.

Finally summer has started, So whether your a British girl like me and can't wait for the sunny days to set off to the coast? A girl with a booked holiday? or whether you just lucky and have summer all year long? It doesnt matter, This is for any of you, wanting some fuel for thought on how to create a gorgeous floorless pin up look.

Bettie Page mixed her beach outfits for several shoots throughout her career, whether proffesional or candid. In fact she was firsts spotted on the beach (Coney Island) by an eager amateur photographer and policeman Jerry Tibbs. At the time she was currently working as a secretary whilst she tried to get into acting. She obliged to pose for his photos and that opened the door to her modeling career in both pin up, and fetish modeling, and what would forever crown her the Queen of pin up.

I adore her photographs, with that killer body, with a perfect mix of seduction and an innocent smile and cheeky wink, is what makes Bettie so endearing. She proves its all about the posing for the perfect beach photo. Her bikini photos are certainly an inspiration for us to keep healthy and in shape. But she also teaches us to embrace our womanly figures. That curves are indeed, beautiful.

Betty Grable: 1940's war pin up has posed in one piece suits in many of her cheescake pin up photos. with perfectly pin curled hair (styled in victory rolls or bunched up into a poodle pomadour) and pristine make up. Its the perfect combination for an authentic glamour era beach or poolside look.

For a modern girl wishing to create perfect pin up style for beach photos. The prep is key! Plan or make the time and effort, Just like our true glamour girls did back in the day. Create your fave vintage hairstyle (waved or victory rolls) or even cuter and practical, keep your pin curls in their bobbi Pins and leave them settiing whilst wrapped up within a cute chiffon scarf and tied in a bow. This leaves them to set ready for your hair to style in the evening of your holiday.

Yes, It may seem like a heck of a lot of effort, but thats what the vintage look is all about. Women never left the house without a full face of make up and painted lips or perfectly set hair and the trip to the beach or a poolside lounge was no exeption to skip their glamour rituals.

Girls, imagine the confidence and how gorgeous you will feel sun bathing on that beach, and when you have that beach snap shot, it will forever document your inner Bettie Page.

Highstreet brands and high end labels always use vintage styles as their focal inspiration for their beachwear collections. Theres a reason for this.... especially when it comes to design, its because there is NO comparison for the amazing silhouettes, prints and colours that the vintage era had.

In an ideal world why shouldnt the beach look be about glamour? When you look at old Hollywood Photographs of Bette Davis, Joan Crawford and Betty Grable, and even old vintage candid photos of normal girls posing with the latest swimsuit or romper suit. So, when your on the beach, why shouldnt it be all about glamour? Like Marilyn Monroe's beach photo sessions by Andre Des Dienes in 1949 (below) They where indeed some of her most glamorous, yet playfully beautiful photos that where ever taken.

Leopard prints is forever always in circulation in every highstreet and high fashion collection because the trend never dies, and thats thanks to Miss Bettie Page. Bettie poses in a one piece suit in animal print, posing seductiviely with leopards in a photoshoot, looking like a ferile jungle women and goddess-like. Dolce and Gabbana has a gorgeous Leopard print piece (for the girls with more high-fashion tastes) However they probably are not for swimming, maybe just for lounging and posing on the beach or by the pool.

Your one-piece swimsuits must be well fitted and constructed. On the highstreet you can find structured bra bikini tops with high waisted briefs. Note: high waisted briefs are extremely authentic to the vintage era's and also flattering and glamourous and create an instant Marilyn hourglass. Or most important a smooth stream lined onepiece's to create a clasy silhouette. Some come with belts to create focal point for the eye that instantly cinches in the waist. Standard straps, Halter neck or strapless. Some pieces made by Vintage reproduction labels such as 'Pin Up Girl' have gorgoeus rouched effects on their cuts where the curves lie, to add instant feminine flare. Kelly Brook a British glamour model famed for her beach photographs has created a capsual collection for UK brand NEW LOOK. Her inspiration for her swimwear are based from the likes of Bettie Page and Marilyn Monroe. See above image from my Polyvore mood board: Kellybrooks are the leapord print and daisy print skirted bikini's. www.newlook.com