*UPDATE* 

This story was featured on the Best of Student Newspapers Online. Read it here!

It’s come to my attention that most folks on campus don’t know what pin-up is, or are severely missing the point. For those who don’t know, pin-up is a style of dressing. I stumbled upon this fashion years ago, back before my awkward “animal-hats-and-baggy-gamer-shirts” days. Pin-up takes the fashions from the 50’s and, more or less, modifies it.  I always spot ladies in pin-up around and yet tons of kiddos don’t get what pin-up is, or what it means.

I wish I didn’t have to mention this, but alas, I must. Pin-up is not a synonym for slut. This style of fashion is known for its gorgeous-bodied women, and most of us are not and will not feature of the cover of a Playboy magazine, which is fine. It’s a common misconception that all vintage girls have perfect little tummies accompanied with a large chest for sex appeal. This is false. All rockabilly babies have different body shapes and sizes, because every woman is different. Does this mean that we’re not beautiful? Heck no. The diversity that ladies bring to pin-up is what makes it so gorgeous!

Many people have seen those vintage posters from the 50’s with beautiful women in beautiful dresses or lingerie: it’s provocative and sexy and totally risqué. Heard of Norma Jeane Mortenson-Baker, otherwise known as Marilyn Monroe? Yeah, she’s a pin-up girl. Bettie Page? She’s so famous that she has a hair style named after her. Dita Von Teese is a well-known modern-day pin-up girl! There are literally hundreds of famous rockabilly ladies out there, so it shocks me to know that people today don’t know about this fashion.

All of those women I listed are known for their style, and the fact that they pose adulterously. They are sex-icons, yes, but it’s more than that. Pin-up is more than just posing all sexy-like. It’s all about femininity, and being proud of being a girl, which you can obviously do without pin-up. In fact, anyone can be proud of that! But for me, this fashion sense has brought something out in me that I haven’t seen in years – I love being a girl. It’s all about flaunting who you are and damning those who scorn you for it. Pin-up is positive!

For many years, I cursed my biological sex, and I asked myself everyday why I was born with lady parts. I felt awful about myself and I constantly felt really low. But when I wear pin-up, and I have my make-up on, and my hair has that vintage feel, those bad thoughts vanish. Having confidence in my day to day life is what pin-up is for me.

As for what’s worn, it honestly varies. Some prefer a modern look: high-waisted pants and collared tops. Others wear a strict vintage style, accompanied with iconic fit-n-flare dresses and tight pencil skirts. Most, though, like a good combination of both.  And hair? Ladies in pin-up like to rock styles such as victory rolls, the rockabilly pomp (often times adorned with a super cute bandana), and of course, Bettie Bangs.

Though, I’d say clothes aren’t important. What’s most important is feeling pin-up. I can look like a bum when my makeup thrown on, and yet in my bones, I still feel beautiful. It’s the history of women in pin-up that gives me warm feelings, and reminds me how glorious it is to be a lady, of the girls who spent hours on their hair and makeup. Every day, I constantly think of the women who broke the standard, women who chose to be themselves and not someone society expected. I channel my inner Monroe as I paint on my eyeliner, and I embody Rosie the Riveter when I tie my bandana. Woman all over prove that yes, we’ve come a long way, from being expected to fit in the cookie cutter mold to making our own, but we still have a long way to go. Pin-up tells the world that I will be one of those ladies showing everyone just how strong, confident, and surprising we can be.