Lingerie is key: Brooklyn Pinup school has glamour lessons for all women

What do you learn at pinup school?

Ever wanted to unleash your inner Bettie Page? Well, now you can (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Ever wanted to unleash your inner Bettie Page? Well, now you can.

Co-founded by Anna Patin and Renee DiDio, the Brooklyn Pin Up School offers you the chance to learn all there is about retro-inspired pinup girls.

The term – which was originally coined during World War II – refers to a time when soldiers would pin pictures of beautiful women to their bunks.

Nowadays though, there’s an entire underground culture dedicated to embodying the style of these sex symbols. Think cone-shaped bras, retro make-up and period-appropriate garb.

With the popularity of shows like Mad Men, the 40s, 50s and 60s aesthetic is seeing a fashionable renaissance. More and more women are putting their hair in rollers and donning vintage clothes but, as a newbie, it can be hard to know where to start.

Enter: the Brooklyn Pin Up school.

Anna and Renee hosted their first Pin Up 101 class for beginners in October 2014. But since then, they’ve been selling out classes and working to create a comfortable space for vintage lovers to learn.

Writing for fashion and beauty site, Racked, retro fan Annemarie Dooling went along to find out what it is you really learn at pin up school.

You might think our obsession with well-groomed brows is a new thing but it turns out, they’ve always been in vogue. In each era, a strong brow is needed to pull your look together so make sure your furrows are full and perfectly groomed.

Similarly, if you’re opting for a bold cat eye, liquid liner should always be your go-to.

When it comes to getting dressed, nylons are serious business. For ‘40s, go nude seam. For ‘50s, get a little bolder with darker seams and heels and, in the ‘60s, more colourful tights were all the rage.

While we’re on the subject of smalls, lingerie is key. There are however a few different options you can opt for; a longline bra will smooth your torso down to your waist or, for the more adventurous, a corset will cinch you in. Not forgetting the infamous 50s bullet bra either.

For the total novice, Anna and Renee insist that the 40s is the best place to start. Of all the looks, it’s the lowest maintenance beauty wise with simple eyes and an emphasis on a deep cherry lip.