New Millennium Pin-Up Queen - Dita Von Teese

The origin of the pin up queen dates back as far as 1910 but I'm sure the beauties of that day and age were quite muted in regards to their photo shoot clothing choices.  The term 'pin-up' got it's name by G.I.'s in World War II who would cut pics of their fave starlet out of magazines and hang them on their locker walls. We've certainly evolved from the days when modesty was alive and well that's for sure!  So here we are in the new millennium as we have bid a sweet farewell to the vintage mavens such as Clara Bow & Gloria Swanson and ushered in the new breed of pin-up known as Dita Von Teese.

Dita Von Teese was born Heather Sweet in Rochester, Michigan in 1972.  As a child she was trained in classical ballet but as she came into adulthood, she became fascinated with the styles of the 1940's & became a pin-up model primarily in the realm of fetish modeling showcasing her extremely small 22 inch waist that she showcased in a magazine called 'Tighlacer', corseted down to 16 inches!  Her dance training ended up paying off as she later went on to incorporate it into her burlesque routines which she has now acclaimed fame for. 

In addition to being a retro pin-up doll, Von Teese is said to be solely responsible for reviving the art of 'burlesque'.  She has been compared to the likes of Sally Rand as her shows incorporate the vibe of the vintage 30's & 40's queens of burlesque.

Aside from doing pin-up and dancing, Dita is a big wig on the fashion scene being #1 on many best dressed lists. Christian Dior and Marc Jacobs are among her fave fash designers.  She has even strutted the catwalk for Jean Paul Gaultier in Paris 2006 for Fashion Week.

She has done for the art of pin-up what Madonna had done for women in pop music which is bringing a bold and edgy new perspective to the old art, in addition to paving a way for up and coming models but my question is..."Did it really need to be revamped?"  As for myself, I think 'not' as the vintage pin-ups queens from long ago will always be remembered for their sense of style and class.

Random Fact: 
Dita Von Teese was married briefly to shock rocker Marilyn Manson...EWWW!

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Beyond The Blue...Crazy For Colored Jeans

Blue jeans have been a fashion staple for both men and women since what seems like forever, but get this...the origin of Levi's made by Levi Strauss dates back as far as 1873!  Blue jeans designed specifically for women didn't occur until the Fall of 1934 however, they didn't become completely popular with both sexes until the 1950's. Different styles of jeans have come and gone throughout the years.  We've seen the bell bottoms & baggies of the late 60's and into the 70's.  The slimmer cut, butt hugging designer jeans of the 80's that made Calvin Klein, Sergio Valente' and Jordache, household names. The 90's brought us a bit of a down fall in denims popularity but of course it never went completely out of style, just a turn in designs is all, as khakis, chinos and carpenter pants became the must have. With the new millennium came a 'free for all' as all styles, cuts and colors are acceptable for wear and we have most definitely seen a trend going beyond the blue as every one's crazy for colored skinny jeans this Spring 2011!       

Colored denim is not a new concept because back in the 80's when 'punk rock' fashion was popular, we saw a rise in colored jeans but there were not so many variations in the styles and cuts we are seeing today that is giving a creative spin to classic vintage jeans...

  
There are so many possibilities for pairing colored jeans with just about anything so check out the stylings of Rhianna, Fergie and Victoria Beckham for some fresh new ideas!...

   


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