Old-school vintage sexy: Pin-up!

I am a hopeless procrastinator. My wanderlust does not apply only to the outside world; the internet is a beautiful thing when a paper is due or I have a test or something else to distract myself from. A few days ago I found myself browsing websites selling couture waist training corsets, and other fashion-related monstrosities that would normally make my inner feminist gag. After a few more hours piddled away in front of my laptop, I realized that there must be a reason I was so suddenly fascinated by the chauvinistic world of women's fashions: I came to the conclusion that I've been denying myself the right to 'pretty' because I don't want to represent the oppression that 'pretty' has come to be.

To a girl who never felt 'pretty' (or particularly wanted to, for that matter), it's a weird position to actually find myself gazing in the mirror and trying to imagine myself fitting that narrow field of appearance. I discovered the pin-up style in my web wanderings, and I became enchanted by it. These women encompass 'pretty' in a way that takes their world's expectation of them and surpasses it: the culture of pin-up is pretty in spite of itself as a way for women to assert their feminine strength, and I, for one, fell in love with it.

The culture surrounding pin-up today rings with much the same echo as before, sounding the bells of confident, sexy women in control and proud of their bodies and their lives. As I dug deeper into the 'look' of pin-up and how to achieve it, I realized that I've been using most of the main practices for the majority of the time I've been wearing makeup: shaping eyebrows a certain way, using a sheer eyeshadow and adding a little dark depth while lining the eye and accentuating thick lashes; contouring the face with a little blush and sporting a hot lip, with maybe a mole to hit the sexpot jackpot (I was lucky enough to have been born with a 'beauty mark' mole--one less dot of makeup used!). Hair is particular and fixed, out of the way and simultaneously shown off. Clothes work the curves! None of this 'glamazon' stick-thin business--as a busty girl, I can happily enjoy this aspect of the image.

To get down to brass tacks, pin-up girls put effort into their appearance because they are not ashamed to be women, even in a world that would admonish them for it. They accentuate their femininity, taking the time to be seen as they see fit, and taking care of their bodies so they can be more than comfortable in their skin.

More than just the look, though, is the attitude, and the attitude is confidence! A girl is just a pile of clothes and hair until she walks like she means it and reps the 'tude. Marilyn Monroe is a fabulous example of a woman who brings her confidence to her sexuality, and she did so with care and awareness, making her a model pin-up girl. A few websites I visited had particularly cool things to say about the confidence of a pin-up girl, and how to achieve it; I think it's worth sharing for anyone, not just for those of us seeking a life makeover.


Self-confidence Myths Busted1. You're Either Born With It or You Are Not...
Sure there a lot of kids you meet that are very outspoken and some who are very shy.
It does not mean however that if you're shy when you are young, you can't gain self-confidence.
This is one I can speak of personally. Being an extremely shy and quite child, I have grown to be one of the most outspoken and outgoing person I know.
So don't give up. Your chance can still come. If you want it to.
2. I had an extremely bad past - I can't possibly be confident.
Ok...lets face it...All people have gone through bad things. A confident person decided to move on. A non confident person dwells on that situation.
How about a lady who went through a terrible childhood - poverty, rape, racism...to become one of the most powerful people on earth - Oprah.
3. If You're Confident - You Are in All Areas Of Life...
Overall self-confidence is your belief in what you can do.
If you're a rocket scientist - you're certain in your knowledge about spacecrafts.
If you're a make up artist - you're certain in your knowledge about make up.
One way to create self-confidence is to find an area of life you feel you have mastered and duplicate the feelings for an area of life you want to improve in.

7 Self-Confidence Tips You Can Instantly Use1. Walk 25% Faster
People with self-confidence walk quicker as they have important things to do and they don't have all day to do it.
Try it yourself...you will feel and look more confident.
2. Stand Up Straight
Taller people are proven to be naturally more confident.
By standing up straight, it gives the illusion you are taller and people that slouch always seem like they are doubting themselves.
Confident people don't doubt themselves.
3. Challenge Yourself
How can you feel better about yourself when you don't know what you are capable of?
By pushing your boundaries and succeeding you prove to yourself you are capable of achieving a lot - giving you more self-confidence.
In the instances you 'fail', by getting back up and trying again, you prove to yourself that you are stronger then you think.
Either way...it's a win win situation!
4. Compliment Others
Break the cycle of negativity and praise others. Gossip is dreadful. So do yourself a favour and stay clear of it.
By looking for the best in others you can also find the best in you. What you put out, you get back in. The more real compliments you give out, the more you will get.
5. Speak Up!
It takes true courage to speak up. And you surely get more confidence by standing up for what you believe in.
Try to speak up at least once in a social situation.
This does not mean that you have to fight with everyone, but just by putting in a sentence into a conversation will make a world of difference.
6. Exercise...
Oh come on...you didn't really think I wouldn't state the obvious did you?
Yes...look after yourself.
It makes you look better, feel better and gives you more energy.
By shedding a few kilos, or getting through a big workout, it helps you feel like you're able to achieve more increasing your self-confidence.
7. Watch What You Wear
Wear the right colours for you - if in doubt chose one of these 'universal' colours from below. Universal colours usually suit most people.
To make sure you get the extra *oomph* from those colours - wear either gold or silver jewellery, whichever suits you most.
You can determine this by putting the jewellery up to your face. If you looked tired when you have it near your face, the colour isn't right for you.
If you're still not sure…ask a friend. They will tell you the truth.
Universal Colours

• Off-white (it looks best on warmer skin tones though)
• Ivory (not cream which is more suited for Autumns)
• Mid-gray
• Stone
• Taupe
• Pewter
• Teal
• Purple
• Emerald Turquoise
• Lavender

Bonus Tip!
Fake It Till You Make It!
Yes...people don't really know the difference and by faking it for a while, soon it will come to you naturally.
Just like when you first started driving a car...it was tough.
After a while, it all came naturally.
So go out there and use these tips straight away.
There is nothing more attractive then a woman with self-confidence.
Goodluck!

[credit:  http://www.pinuppassion.com/confidence.html ]


I've started trying to implement the tips into my life--today my goal was to walk 25% faster (mostly achieved!), tomorrow I'm going to try to add standing up straighter, and so on. I'll call this the Week of Pin-Up Confidence training. Also, it certainly doesn't hurt that yesterday I acquired a FABULOUS red lip color that screams pin-up!

 

I'm sure I'll develop some new ideas regarding a culture based primarily on aesthetics in the near future; however, for just now, I will be immensely happy with the knowledge that I am giving to myself

the gift of pretty.

<3

Study Abroad (yes! you! do it!)

When I feel homesickness, I feel it for Florence, Italy. I'm not Italian (not enough to count, anyway), but I was lucky enough to be a resident of bellissima Firenze in February, March, and April of 2011, my freshman year of college. One might think it's weird for me to long for a city I only experienced for a short three months of my 19-almost-20 years of life when I have plenty of good memories of my childhood home in California--I think it's because that's where my wanderlust was really indulged for the first time. The greatest part of living in Italy was being able to hop on a train at a moment's notice and head for the Cinque Terre, the Amalfi Coast for a weekend, Rome for a day, the South of France for spring break, or even just the beach or a little village for an afternoon. The freedom was intoxicating, and I felt absolutely no regret coming home with a drained bank account.

My university offers study abroad programs in plenty of countries but the application process here is a bit more difficult (my previous abroad experience was through my community college before I transferred--more on community colleges later!). Since I don't have a real mastery of any language but English, most of my options were ruled out due to universities taught in mother tongues. I was stuck between Ireland and England; there were opportunities in Australia but I just miss Europe too darn much. Originally I wanted to go to Ireland, where the University of Limerick is situated directly on the Shannon river and it's absolutely gorgeous, but I ended up changing my mind and deciding on York St. John University in York, England for spring of 2013. I did my paperwork, got accepted (yay!), and even have a job lined up for the summer so I have a few bucks to throw at the train stations and hostels once I get there.

After one initial study abroad experience, even with its fair share of downs with the ups, I can confidently assure anybody with even the slightest inkling of a desire to study abroad: DO IT! I learned so much about myself and the world around me from just a few short months in a different country, and I fell in love with life all over again. I had a lot of firsts--drinks, bars, clubs, trains, chocolate rum, roommates, real espresso, bidet knowledge, bronchitis in a foreign country--that pushed me out of that little bubble of comfort zone I had taught myself to push and expand. Yes, you will become broke, and yes, you will feel totally overwhelmed at times, and in your brokeness and your overwhelmedness you will meet the people that change your view of life permanently. The old man sitting across from you on the train will laugh at your silly antics when you lose ferociously to your travel buddy playing gin rummy, and he will buy you a Coke in thanks, with a smile, and you will learn one more phrase in the universal language of travel that sitting in a classroom can never teach you. The amorous French couple entangled a few seats behind you is, in fact, making everybody else uncomfortable too, and the less hormone-stricken French couple sitting across from you will roll their eyes with you, and you will understand a camaraderie not taught in an International Relations class.


Basically, you learn how to see the world around you with different lenses. That is the invaluable gift of study abroad, and nobody should have to miss out. I think the world would be a more tolerant place if we could see other cultures from outside perspectives, and I'm all for more tolerance.

Popping the Blog Cherry

Diaries have been a part of my life since I was six; I've always found a release in penning my thoughts and emotions. Until recently, writing in a diary has been my favorite way to capture memories and process life experiences. In the past year or so I've noticed a decline in my diary-keeping and have decided to take it to technology, so I never need blame a lack of paper or ink. Popping my blog cherry is proving a bit nervewracking--not that there's anything wrong with a good wracking of nerves, I just feel like I don't quite know what I'm doing yet.

But that is totally and completely okay. Why should an audience of unknown masses stop me from doing this the way I generally do things? I'm a person who sees a deep end and likes to jump right in, savoring that last moment of dryness before I crash into an unknown world and learn how to swim in it the hard way. If I take the time to notice a few things pre-jump, I'll apply that knowledge to my endeavor to swim, but the most important part of the whole thing is feeling the newness that comes from jumping straight into a question mark. There's something beautiful in that feeling, being totally lost and totally okay with it, that people are taught to fear, and I think that's a damn shame.

On to my chosen title: "wanderlusty". I am a human deeply bitten with that insatiable, sweet burden of wanderlust. I spent time abroad at 18 years of age and am constantly on the edge of my given situation of 'normal', ready to trade it in for something new and exotic. I find my attitude towards life is often one of zeal and something I can really only accurately define as 'lust'. Life is a lusty thing! Who am I to stick a chastity belt on it?


For that matter, who is anybody to do that?




Live & Let Lusty!