Getting the Curves

[Mica]

Pinup is about curves and especially that hourglass figure that, alas, nature did not give me.  I'm short waisted and was recently annoyed that a corset didn't give me enough of an hourglass look, although I pulled it pretty tight in back.  Has anybody ever had to deal with this?  I thought of padding my hips just a bit, but I didn't get any further than that thought to figuring out a solution.  I've got the backside curve, but I was wondering if it was possible just to exaggerate the hip curve so it looks better from the front.  (Umm, we pad the bras, so why not the hips too?)  Any thoughts, tips, or costuming/wardrobe tricks?

[Roxy Tart {PL Team / Comm. Mgr}]

This is the thread that will tell you all about the undergarments that you need to get the look. http://www.pinuplifestyle.com/forum/topics/binding-undergarments However, if you need more padding.... just follow the women that use it all the time, and better then anyone else. Drag Queens! Those men use padding to give their bodies amazing womanly curves!

 

http://www.lovemybubbles.com/hip-pads-foam.shtml

 

http://www.thefantasygirl.com/

 

[GlassCannon]

Padding the hips has been done off and on throughout history -- even Kate Middleton's wedding dress had padded hips, just this month!  But there are other options as well.  I'm short-waisted and top-heavy as well, and only recently have learned to love my hips and butt, hehe.  

 

For corsets or other foundation wear, make sure you're getting a small enough size for your waist, and that it's hitting you where your natural waist is (where you crease when you bend), not too low and not too high.  Since you have slimmer hips, you should have less of a problem fitting your waist than women who have a large difference between waist and hip.  For corsets, depending on how squishy you are in the middle, you should be able to shave 2"-5" off your natural waist measurement, and corsets are usually sold by that size, not natural waist size.  I'm so short waisted that I have only about the width of my pointer finger between my ribs and my hip bones, but I can still get a 2" reduction with a well fitted corset, at the least.  For girdles and the like, you can usually go a size smaller if you're not getting good waist definition, even if that means switching brands.

 

Beyond that, one of the tricks I've found works really well on me is full skirts.  And with the pinup look, there are lots of fun options, and crinolines/petticoats can be added for more poof (and authenticity!).  Full skirts will disguise narrow hips, and put the emphasis on your waist.  Since you're short-waisted, you have to be careful about how high a skirt poofs out from your waist.  You probably want to stay fitted or almost fitted through the hipbone, and then flare out from there.  Poofing out straight from the waist will make a short-waisted girl look shorter and rounder, generally.  

 

I've also found that wiggle dresses and really high-waisted pencil skirts that fit me well (I sew most of my stuff myself, though) can work, since they show that I actually do have a little junk in the trunk. ;)  But the trick is really just finding what works on your body, trying lots of things on, and worst case fitting to your waist and getting the hips taken in -- or adding a little padding. ;)

[Mica]

Thanks to you both for all the great information!  I do have two full-skirted dresses from the 50s that were my mom's.  Eventually I'd like to do photos with those.  I may try a bit of light hip padding with a corset and crinoline...... I definitely need to check out those links, Roxy.  Thanks for sending!

:)

Mica

[Rockabillybaby]

Try a pencil skirt with a peplum it helps accentuate your hips :)

[Mica]

I have a bodybuilding book (Supervixen, by Negrita Jayde, 1995) that lists the seven curves women should have: waist curve, hip curve, lower calf curve, chest/bust curve, lumbar/back curve, butt curve, and hamstring curve.  I need to work on the calf curve--means going to the gym.  blech.  We can get the back curve just by arching our backs in poses--no gym time needed for that one, thank goodness!

[kayrahbear]

I have the same problem. I've got no waist to speak of if I don't use something to help it along. I'm a big fan of a corset with a circle skirt and crinoline- it really gives you the nipped waist with the big flare out.

[Mica]

Felicia, that's very interesting about the high waisted cut emphasizing curves.  There's a FB site called Fabulous Fifties and they post pics of 50's models and I'm always amazed by their hourglass figures and tiny waists.  I have no idea if they wore shapewear under everything?

[Mica]

Subject: Bra Painting 101.  I just got a strapless Maidenform bra that bumps the girls up two sizes and I was thinking I'd wear it under halters, anything strapless, the sheer pinup nightgowns I bought....  Problem is (and there's always some little glitch) that the bra doesn't match my pasty white skin tone--it was only offered in white, black, and a mid-tone taupe.  So, has anyone ever painted a bra to better match their skin tone?   Am wondering if this could ruin the bra.  It would be difficult to cover the bra in a knit that better matched my skin tone--I've already searched for that sort of fabric.  Any thoughts?  I just tried it on under a sheer nightgown and it obviously didn't match.  Maybe I should just see if Wonderbra has better color selection.

[Mica]

OK--I figured out the solution, which is not painting but to buy anything in a lingerie department (plus size underwear for the fabric, whatever) that matches my skin tone and use that fabric to cover the bra.   Wearing a second thin strapless bra (that matches my skin tone) on top of the first would also work.

[Roxy Tart {PL Team / Comm. Mgr}]

In the 50's (and other eras) girls were put into their first girdles at around age 15. A lady NEVER left the house without the proper undergarments on. Those photos that you are looking at, EVERY ONE of those girls has on shapewear. It is the only way to get the proper 50's/ early 60's look.

 

Here are a few links to help you understand more about the shapewear and undergarments they wore.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girdle

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundation_garment

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waist_cincher

 

 

Mica said:

Felicia, that's very interesting about the high waisted cut emphasizing curves.  There's a FB site called Fabulous Fifties and they post pics of 50's models and I'm always amazed by their hourglass figures and tiny waists.  I have no idea if they wore shapewear under everything?

[Naughty Nymphadora]

I figured out the hard way (after buying one for the Miss Beatersville Competition  that I personally can not do a regular girdle, I need to do one that comes up under my bust or an all in one. It just pinches my waist in too much and ends up looking angular instead of curvy.

[Mica]

Roxy, do you think they're wearing shapewear under bathing suits in bathing suit ads?  I was looking at an ad from the Nifty Fifties site and was impressed by the tiny waists in the bathing suits.  Some women (like one of my ex-roommates) just naturally have that hourglass figure, so I wondered if advertisers were picking models with that shape.

 

Naughty, that's interesting.  I'm getting to see the 'trial and error' in all this. I haven't tried a regular or full girdle on and I'll have to do a girdle try-on day at the mall.  My mom and grandmother wore them all the time.