Thread: HOW TO BE A PINUP MODEL! New World Dance New York DVD: Pre-order now

Originally Posted by dinavienna

I think Dita van Teese said something about this ambiguity in a (very intelligent and inspiring) interview once.. something across the lines of she's aware glamorizing a certain period particularly the 40s/50s should be taken with a grain of salt, and while she loves to dress like a woman from the 40s/50s she'd sure as hell not want to live then.

That makes sense. There's something edgy and subversive about today's pinup models and burlesque dancers. Maybe because today, the 1940's/50's beauty standard is an active choice, not a social norm. So it's sort of like bending the rules as you choose.

And yes, Marlene Dietrich was bad-ass ..g.:

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

So glad you guys all started this tangent so I wouldn't have to .w.:

Cute concept for a video, don't get me wrong. I'll probably order it for my boyfriend who's obsessed with pinup art and photography.

But I'd imagine living like you're in the 1940's is kind of a drag if, for instance, you believe in gay marriage, racial equality and a woman's right to choose. Or if you enjoy the modern-day convenience of leaving the house without 12 lbs. of constrictive shapewear, an elaborate hairdo and a face full of makeup.

If you were living during the first part of the 1940s, WWII was happening and the other half of 1940s was still recovering from it.

Living like you're from the 1940s would remove a lot of contemporary conveniences from your life, like medicines, computers, etc. Life certainly isn't perfect now, but I don't want to go back to those times.

Well, it might have been slightly different in the USA because war didn't impact so directly, but in Britain wartime beauty was quite basic. Rationing, you see. You'd be more peeved I reckon at NOT being able to get your favourite makeup and toiletries because There's A War On, and you'd have long hair in a victory roll not because you thought it was so pretty, so much as because you didn't need a perm or a regular haircut and set. Shapewear was pretty minimal too - The Nation Needed The Metal - and as for stockings, gravy and eyebrow pencil did the trick when yours finally wore out and you couldn't get any more. Plus you would not be changing your undies or washing very often - people didn't. And Our Men At The Front needed the soap.

You *would* be working outside the home, which might have been quite good fun, but you would *also* have hardly any clothes and your evenings would be spent unpicking your husband's coat to make something that fits you. (In Britain ex-servicemen were issued with a suit after the war, and the reason was that all the clothes they left at home were long gone.) Plus there was that whole "all our men are off in the war probably getting killed, and we could get hit by a doodlebug at any time" thing.

Originally Posted by zumarrad

Well, it might have been slightly different in the USA because war didn't impact so directly, but in Britain wartime beauty was quite basic. Rationing, you see.

Oh yes, I have heard many a story about the rationing from my grandparents and father in Britain. The highlight from my father's child hood seems to be the day rationing ceased, quite some time after the war, but lollies were no longer rationed!

My other grandfather (here from Australia) talks about fighting along side the American soldiers and often talks about how the army basic rations they were issued with were exactly that, basic but the American basic rations contained a lot more stuff including a chocolate bar. He also talks about when they were leaving and were getting a lift on one of the American ships to move on how they saw the Americans dumping vehicles and unused ammunition into the sea. And when they asked them why, the Americans replied they didn't need it anymore as all new stuff would be provided when they moved on.
I don't know what life was like for the average citizen living in America through out the war, but from my grandfather's stories they weren't exactly skimping on their war effort.

As to the DVD, I pre-ordered mine through Oceanstate Media who I always find very reliable and have shopped far too much with. It's shipped and it on it's way to me, I'm not expecting it for at least 3-4 weeks as it has to come all the way down under.
I'd still be excited to hear anybody else who gets it sooner's reviews of it in the meantime.

I've only watched a bit of it, but if you ever get a chance to see "The 1940s House"--a reality TV/documentary series about a modern British family who, as realistically as possible, and with a lot of help from historical experts, lives like a family in 1940/1941 for 9 weeks--do so!

How to Be a Pinup Model looks like a lot of fun, and I've bought it for my sister's birthday present.

Originally Posted by darksideknitter

Oh yes, I have heard many a story about the rationing from my grandparents and father in Britain. The highlight from my father's child hood seems to be the day rationing ceased, quite some time after the war, but lollies were no longer rationed!

My other grandfather (here from Australia) talks about fighting along side the American soldiers and often talks about how the army basic rations they were issued with were exactly that, basic but the American basic rations contained a lot more stuff including a chocolate bar. He also talks about when they were leaving and were getting a lift on one of the American ships to move on how they saw the Americans dumping vehicles and unused ammunition into the sea. And when they asked them why, the Americans replied they didn't need it anymore as all new stuff would be provided when they moved on.
I don't know what life was like for the average citizen living in America through out the war, but from my grandfather's stories they weren't exactly skimping on their war effort.

As to the DVD, I pre-ordered mine through Oceanstate Media who I always fidn very reliable and have shopped far too much with. It's shipped and it on it's way to me, I'm not expecting it for at least 3-4 weeks as it has to come all the way down under.
I'd still be excited to hear anybody else who gets it sooner's reviews of it in the meantime.

Well I guess in Germany early after-war life was even less glamorous..but speaking of 40s chic, apparently to have an American boyfriend meant having access to ladies' products like nylon tights and cosmetics. One would not use ugly words for these beneficial relationships, right! (Nor wonder where the reputation of the Fräuleins amongst Americans came from )

Hehe I was wondering when this would come up! I love the look and am having to work with some versions of it for burlesque but you have hit on my mixed feelings whenever I see rockabilly/pinup girls living out their 40s/50s fantasies ;)

But the smarter folk ( Jo Weldon, Indigo Blue etc) seem to have actually thought about these contradictions, so I respect them more. Gives me something to aim for as I keep evolving in burlesque.

And Beafarhana...I like WDNY products but I agree with you.

double-D post!