☆ ☆ Glamour Ghoul Series ☆ ☆

Black hair, porcelain white foundation and the perfect winged liner. From as far back as I can remember I've always had a fascination and admiration for gothic glamour. It always appealed to me, had more depth, character and intrigue than other ideals of beauty. Retro horror, b-movies and television was the golden age of the macabre. Stunning beauty of Yvonne De Carlo as Lily Munster to Vampira's iconic look, the leading were the definition of femininity and gothic glamour. I want to celebrate the style, glamour and beauty of retro horror heroines. They are and always will the ultimate glamour ghouls! ♡

Yvonne De Carlo as Lily Munster from 'The Munsters'

The Munsters was hugely successful tv show from the 1960's starring Yvonne De Carlo as Lily Munster (as shown above). The show depicts the life of the family of monsters Herman Munster who is Frankenstein and Lily's husband who is a vampire as is Grandpa and her son Eddie! Not forgetting Marilyn Munster who is the only 'non monster' in the house! I've always adored Lily's iconic look; the clothes, hair and makeup will never be surpassed. If you've never watched 'The Munsters' before do this halloween and you'll fall in love with this cult classic too. 

Elsa Lanchaster starring as The Bride of Frankenstein

The Bride of Frankenstien is one of my favourite Universal Horror movies and stars the beautiful Elsa Lanchaster as monsters bride. The 1935 classic is the sequel to the hugely successful Frankenstein movie made in 1931 but this time around the Dr. Henry Frankenstein creates a female mate for the lonely monster which he gave life to. This is an absolute must see for classic horror fans or retro movie lovers. Elsa Lanchaster's look as 'The Bride of Frankenstein' in the film has cultivated an enormous following with millions recreating the hair and makeup for halloween. In recent years MAC brought out the Rick Baker line of makeup based upon her iconic look featuring one of my favourite modern pinup ladies, Micheline Pitt who was the perfect choice for recreating the look.

Morticia Addams of The Addams Family

Carolyn Jones starred in the Addams Family TV show which began in 1964 the same year as The Munsters.  Her long black hair, porcelain skin and all gothic style is one of my favourites. Moritica Addams is the ultra glamourous, sophisticated and perfectly polished matriarch of the family. I idolised her look when I was younger, dressing up as her character many halloweens! I love the shows macabre aesthetic it's always appealed to me. Who would want to look like Morticia at least once...! I enjoyed the later movies costumes, Angelica Houston was perfect casting. She portrays Morticia wonderfully and looks utterly amazing in the remakes; they are worth watching for some childhood nostalgia if nothing else!

Vampira, Classic B Movie Star

The Arched brows, jet black hair, minuscule waist, dressed head to toe in black . Vampira's look is unmistakable. The ultimate glamour ghoul who gave meaning to the phrase, she reigns supreme as the queen of gothic glamour. The Vampira show began in 1954 which ran until 1955 until its cancellation. The show proved successful with Vampira going on to star in many other roles as her famed character and retaining all rights to the persona she created. She was such a unique and defining figure within fashion, music, film and a creature of her own design which makes her all the more appealing. Fearless and fashion forward, Vampira's look is so iconic, glamourous and chic. I personally adore her look, and her movies from the height of her fame. I recommend you check out the classic Plan 9 from Outer Space, it's a b movie classic and great for halloween! ♡

Audrey Hepburn - My Icon!

Audrey Hepburn has always been an icon of mine and to millions of others; what instantly captivated me about her was her sheer elegance, iconic style and timeless beauty. For me, when I think of Audrey Hepburn I immediately think of her pose and grace whether on film or in a photograph; she always managed to look so delicate, beautiful and yet utterly sophisticated; I could only wish to emulate even a fraction of her elegance! She was in my opinion, one of the most beautiful women in the world but then I am slightly biased! Her style has influenced my own personal style in a massive way, I always look upon images of her if I'm in need of some inspiration! Her beauty of course was not only skin deep, she was a humanitarian, activist and such a generous and kind soul devoting her later life to work with UNICEF. She truly was and is, a source of inspiration to remind us all that you need to beautiful inside and out, to be good to others as well as ourselves. In honour of one my favourite icons I wanted to share some of my favourite images. Enjoy! 

Happy Birthday Bettie Mae Page!

Bettie Page is one of my favourite pin-ups for many reasons; she was fearless, provocative and most of all she had style! Her look has inspired millions of fans around the globe, including me! But it was her trademark 'bangs' that have become so iconic and synonymous with Bettie. Many celebrity and pin-ups such as Bernie Dexter, Dita Von Teese, The Cherry Dollface, vintage and rockabilly lovers can be seen wearing 'bettie bangs'. In homage to this wonderful icons birthday, why not cut yourself some 'Bettie bangs' today?! For any of you that want to get that Bettie look but are not sure how to cut your own hair, there are many excellent video's on youtube of how to cut 'Bettie Bangs'. My favourite is  this tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqtio0Nthj0 from Pin-up Lovely 87 it's a really easy step-by-step guide of how to cut your bangs. There are literally loads of other 'Bettie bangs' tutorials on youtube if you click on this link: 'bettie bangs' you'll find loads more but I found the Pin-up Lovely 87 tutorial one of the best, it's of my personal favourite! So give some 'Betty bangs'  in honour of her birthday or if don't fancy that then just enjoy some of my favourite iconic Bettie shots! Happy Birthday Bettie, you're a true icon! 

☆★☆Happy Birthday Jayne Mansfield☆★☆

♡ Bettie Page ♡

Pinup, fetish model, style icon at the height of her fame disappeared never to model again. Shrudded in mystery, hearsay and myth, the real reasons as to why Bettie Page decided to vanish from public life will never be fully known. While her modelling career may have only lasted seven years, those years produced some of the most iconic images ever to be captured on camera, cementing her status as one of the greatest pinup of all time. With no prior experience or guidance of how to pose or model in front of the camera Bettie truly was her own creation; it very difficult in a single shot to protray what Bettie made look so effortless. A self styled natural in front of the camera, she made modelling look easy and fun "looking in very photo as if it were her first one" (Hugh Hefner). She protrayed a sweet innonence in her expressions with the perfect combination of sass in her look, hair, clothes and attitude will always be unparralled or just mere imitation. She is the rightfully deemed as the 'Queen of Pinups'; having no predecessors Bettie created her own narrative, played by her own rules, fearless yet unforboding. Her contibution to pinup and popular culture is not to be underestimated, with books, art, music, films, universities and fashion continually referencing her work, style and iconic image. Her popularity grows each year with more and more fans of all ages paying homage to her work, artistry and style. 

When Bettie began pin-up modeling it was a dangerous time to be so provocative; the 40s snd 50s while stylistically was undoubtly one of the finest in fashion this was not an era of equality and sexual libration, far from it. Women were meant to be the be cautious, demure, subservient most definetely not to be risqué, sassy or defiant! Her modelling work would have been highly frownned upon for being too sexualised, too suggestive for that time. It's what makes Betty so iconic not alone was challenging social norms and pushing the boundaries of conservative middle class America, she was did so without any concious thought, she was naturally defiant towards social and societal confinds at that time. As Bettie stated she wasn't "trying to change society, or be ahead of my time. I didn't of myself as liberated, and I don't believe that I did anything important. I was just myself".  This is what is so utterly captivating, and it translates in all her photos so was clearly enjoying herself and comfortable to be a risk-taker, bold and utterly confident in her own skin which is itself would stir resentment amongst those of a conserative nature and that is probably still the case for some people even in today's more liberal society.

Arts graduate Bettie studied her degree at Peabody College where she majored in English and minored in Social Sciences. She was planning to become a teacher but never took up a full-time post instead Bettie had aspirations of becoming an actress. After graduating and marriage breakdown she relocate many times but finally settled in New York. Having been heavily involved in drama within her high school and college years she wanted to wanted to persue a professional acting career and this was the place she make it. She worked in various different jobs to support herself but it was a chance meeting while she strolled on the beach in Coney Island that change Bettie life forever when ametur photographer Jerry Tibbs noticed the raven hair beauty and asked to photograph her which lead to her modelling for camera clubs an underground movement which was designed for photographers who were interested in erotica, fetish and glamour modelling which would have outrage in conserstive America at that time. Photography seasons in private homes were held by the 'camera clubs' in which Bettie modelled regulary; proving a photography favourite due to her unparalled beauty and ease in front of the camera.

Bettie didn't take herself too seriously and wasn't afraid of experimentation, pushing the boundaries art, fetish and sexual fantasy. She was instant hit amongst the fetish scene of the 1950's with her countless appearances in a wide variety of mens magazines at that time. Featuring in an array of front covers, centerfolds with Playboy having Bettie as Miss January, 1955. Hugh Hefner describing the pinup as having a "saucy innonence that is both comptemporary and provocative but also nostalgic". Dramatically at the height of her fame in '57 Bettie cut short her modeling career, never to return. After seven phenomenally success years featuring in more magazines even at that time than even the massively popular Marilyn Monroe, Bettie gave it all up-vanished from the eye without any warning. The exact reasons for her hesity departure are purely speculative, the government investigation into her involvement with the then supposed indecent images, camera club members and Iriving Klaw fetish photograhy business. She was called a witness to testify in front of the committee which at that time would caused her or anyone for that matter grave stress and strain which may have to lead to her deciding to slip away from everything to had thought she wanted. It's a very sad ending  to such a wonder career but Bettie never returned to modelling, acting or anything to do with her previous life. In the years that followed nothing was heard from Bettie, refusing to do interviews or even acknowledging that she was Bettie Page or that she knew who she was if asked. She wanted to be forgotten and throughout the 60's and 70's there was little attention given the dissapearence of the once popular pinup. 

With the resurgence of pinup back into popularculture in 1980s, with famous pinup artist Olivia De Berardinis creating iconic Bettie images in beautiful watercolours proving a popular muse for De Berardinis to this day. Bettie's iconic bangs and stiletto heels where becoming popular amongst the younger generation unbeknown to the icon who had no idea that of the resurgence of popularity in her pinup modelling days. She was eventually found by the media who wished to interview her but she would not appear on camera and instead wished to be remembered as she was at the height of her fame. Creating even more mystery and attention of then forgotten starlet. The pinup revival reach fever pitch with Dita Von Teese in the late 90's, early 2000's who is credited with bringing burlesque and retro style back into the main frame. Her own early look and career began similarly to Pages, modelling for various pinup and fetish catalogues, starring in fetish movie and performing burlesque shows to audiences in local strip clubs. Being the most widely known modern proponent Von Teese has helped in to bringing fetish and striptease back to the worlds stage, reigniting our love of pin-up, vintage, glamour, vaudeville and the theatrics of burlesque. Millions of women around the world are fans of her classic style and career including me. Her love inspired me to want to learn more about the art of pinup and of course if you learn nothing else the one person whom you will always stumble across when you read, google, watch anything to do with vintage pinup modelling is Bettie Page, she is after all the patron saint of the modern pinup lady! 

Icons