Inspiration – Page 3 – CLASSICALLY CURVY

Inspiration: Suspiria

October 8, 2014October 4, 2014 missdollymonroeLeave a comment

One of my absolute favourite artists in Toronto is the one and only Suspiria. This talented chick has a style all her own. Drawing inspiration from classic horror, the female figure and her own twisted imagination, Suspiria’s work walks the line between girly and gory. She creates dark fantasies through many mediums including paintings, tattoos and recently dolls. Suspiria’s latest creation is a series of Terror Tot dolls with painted faces and bellies stitched onto plush, handmade bodies. You may also recall the wonderful mermaid tattoo I got from Suspiria earlier this year. I am constantly stunned by the outstanding tattoos I see this talented lady creating. She is skilled at both very realistic, almost photo-like tattoos (see the wicked witch below) as well as her own unique style of cartoony, girly pinups and animals (check out the franken-babe with bat buddy below).

Check out Suspiria Land to purchase prints, terror tots or to set up a tattoo consultation.

Inspiration: Lili St Cyr

September 11, 2014September 10, 2014 missdollymonroeLeave a comment

“Sex is currency. What’s the use of being beautiful if you can’t profit from it?”
– Lili St Cyr

Beginning her career as a chorus girl in Hollywood, it didn’t take long before Lily St Cyr jumped out of the background and into the spotlight. Singing and performing her own choreography on stage soon turned into a sensational career in the world of burlesque. Lili St Cyr was one of the queens of burlesque in the 1940s and 50s, up there with the likes of Gypsy Rose Lee and Ann Corio. One of her signature routines involved taking a bubble bath in a glass tub on stage. Lili even broke into the film industry with roles in a handful of movies in the 1950s including The Miami Story and The Naked and the Dead. One of Lili’s biggest fans was none other than Marilyn Monroe. It was said that the overall look and many of the mannerisms of the Monroe character were inspired by Lili St Cyr. Just like her career, her love life was anything but boring with 6 marriages and as many divorces under her belt. She was even rumoured to have had an affair with Marilyn Monroe, but that was never proven for certain. After a long, full life, Lili died in 1999 at the age of 80 leaving behind a legacy like no other.

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Lauren Bacall

August 25, 2014 missdollymonroeLeave a comment

On August 12th 2014 at age 89 legendary actress of stage and screen Lauren Bacall passed away.

Lauren Bacall started out as a fashion model in the early 1940s and even graced the cover of Vogue at the age of 17. In 1944 she had her big break into the world of film when she was cast opposite Humphrey Bogart in the war/romance adventure To Have and Have Not. During her screen test for the film Bacall became so nervous she pressed her chin to her chest to keep it from quivering and lifted her eyes upward at the camera. This seductive pose became known as “The Look” and was her signature expression. In 1945 the power duo of Bacall and Bogart tied the knot and went on to star in many more movies together. In 1953 Bacall shared the silver screen with legends Betty Grable and Marilyn Monroe in the classic golddigger film How to Marry a Millionaire. Bacall’s career spanned several decades and she was actively working in film and television right up until she passed away from a stroke earlier this month.

Femme fatale forever she will be. That look, that smokey voice and the attitude she exuded lives on forever in her photos and film work.

Inspiration: Brigitte Bardot

August 11, 2014August 14, 2014 missdollymonroe2 Comments

“I’m a girl from a good family who was very well brought up. One day I turned my back on it all and became a bohemian.”
-Brigitte Bardot

Brigitte Bardot is one of my ultimate style icons and inspirations. While Marilyn is undoubtably the queen of the blonde bombshells I would say personally that I am even more inspired by the golden haired goddess that is Brigitte Bardot.

Bardot was a French actress, model, singer and sex symbol in the 1950s and 1960s. She starred in 47 films (including And God Created Woman and Viva Maria!), recorded over 60 songs, was featured in hundreds of magazines and wrote 5 books. Bardot is also considered one of the first and most liberated women of post-war France and in Simone de Beauvoir’s 1959 essay The Lolita Syndrome Bardot was referred to as a ‘locomotive of women’s history’. In her later years Bardot become a strong voice for the animal rights movement and in 1986 she established the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for the Welfare and Protection of Animals.

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When I look at images of Brigitte Bardot or watch her films I am always struck by a beautiful sadness in her eyes. There is a darkness behind her light; a smouldering beauty that is at once so complex and yet effortless. Her captivating appeal is so much more than her physical appearance and extends to her movements, her expressions and of course her beautiful french tongue. If you enjoy watching foreign films I recommend you check out a few of my personal favourite BB movies, Two Weeks in September and The Vixen.

The Two Piece Playsuit

July 28, 2014July 28, 2014 missdollymonroe2 Comments

One of my favourite vintage trends for summer is the two piece playsuit! The term ‘playsuit’ is usually used to refer to a garment that combines a top and shorts all in one (also known as a ‘romper’) or a top and pants (also know as a ‘jumpsuit’). You could also use the term ‘playsuit’ to refer to a combination top and bottom that are made from the same fabric, or combination of fabrics, also known as a two piece playsuit. The bottoms on a two piece playsuit could be pants, shorts, a skort or a skirt.

The two piece playsuit speaks to a time when quality and custom clothing was more common in fashion. Nowadays most of the clothing we buy is mass produced in factories overseas and is cheaply made and not meant to last. In the 1940s, 50s and 60s when you were likely to see this kind of playsuit set they were often made by tailors, local designers, and from home-sew patterns and included fun matching details that made the separates a completely co-ordinated outfit. To me the two piece playsuit is not only very convenient and practical (who doesn’t love co-ordinating separates?) but it also looks elegant and super sweet!

Inspiration: Cupcake’s Clothes

July 16, 2014July 13, 2014 missdollymonroe1 Comment

Fashion Blogger Georgia is as cute as a cupcake and just as sweet! Her blog Cupcake’s Clothes displays a seemingly endless collection of the prettiest, most girly outfits you could ever imagine. Her lovely curvy figure and pastel pink hair are the perfect base for each of her whimsical, magical ensembles. She is incredibly talented at accessorizing her outfits with an array of cute jewellery and hair accessories, some of which you can even find for sale on her website. I love seeing gorgeous ladies like Georgia who have such a distinct and unique sense of style sharing their outfits with others and it inspires me to see the fun, creative things other ladies are doing with their personal fashion.

Inspiration: Dirty Martini

June 13, 2014June 12, 2014 missdollymonroe2 Comments

When it comes to curvy burlesque beauties Dirty Martini takes the cake!

Based in NYC, this burlesque performer/pinup model/dance instructor’s style of performance is a combination of classic glamour and raunchy humour. She holds the title of The Reigning Queen of Burlesque – Miss Exotic World 2004, first runner up to Miss Exotic World in 2003 and best fan dance at the Burlesque Hall of Fame in 2002. She was featured in the John Cameron Mitchell film “Shortbus” and the Scissor Sister’s video for the song “FIlthy/Gorgeous”. Dirty Martini is truly a wonderful representation of the curvy girl body-type in burlesque. She has curves for days and proudly shows her figure in the most glamourous burlesque costumes and routines. Dirty Martini is such an inspiration to me as a big girl in burlesque and she really proves it that beauty has no size!

Bunny Yeager

May 28, 2014May 27, 2014 missdollymonroeLeave a comment

On Sunday May 25th 2014 at age 85 legendary pinup model and photographer Bunny Yeager passed away.

Being a pinup model herself for many years Bunny Yeager had a unique perspective as a pinup photographer. Many of the models she photographed enjoyed working with her because, as a woman, she would not exploit them or make them feel uncomfortable during shoots. In 1954 she met Bettie Page and took many of her most popular photos during their time together including the jungle shoot featuring exotic live animals. Bunny, like Bettie, was a seamstress and designed and created many of the bikinis featured by models in her photographs. Bunny was also the original queen of the selfie! In 1964 Bunny turned her series of self-portraits into a book called, “How I Photography Myself”. She released many more books of her photography during her lifetime and had her work displayed in galleries world-wide.

Bunny is an inspiration to any woman working in a male-dominated field. She was bold, brave and talented beyond belief. We have truly lost one of the great legends, but her spirit will live on eternally in her photographs.

Scaille Maille

April 17, 2014April 16, 2014 missdollymonroeLeave a comment

My amazingly multitalented friend Poisonne has recently exploded the internet with her awesome collection of scale jewelry and clothing called Scaille Maille. These stunning creations are like dragon skin that has been skillfully tailored to the human form. With necklaces, gauntlets, bras, harnesses and even neck ties in her collection there is something in any style for the adventurous warrior in us all! Each piece is custom made to the size and colour you desire, with many beautiful colours to choose from including my favourites pink and the very mermaidy turqoise. Prices range from $68 to $90 for the smaller pieces and $160 to $900 for the larger more elaborate work. Well worth the money when you see the quality of craftsmanship and unique beauty in each item. I really can’t say enough good things about Poisonne’s work and I highly recommend you check out her etsy shop and snag some of these killer pieces for yourself!

Photographed by Voinea Ng

Makeup by Valhalla’s Beauty

Modeled by Poisonne

Inspiration: Betty Brosmer

April 11, 2014 missdollymonroe3 Comments

Modeling as been on my mind a lot recently, so I thought I would share some photos of one of my modeling inspirations; Betty Brosmer!

Betty Brosmer was the classic, American pinup girl! Betty graced the cover of over 300 magazines and book as well as being featured in thousands of magazine spreads. She had won over 50 beauty contests before the age of 20, appeared on hundreds of calendars and was even on a billboard in Time Square. But Betty was not just a pretty face, she had business savvy as well. She was the first model to receive residuals every time her picture was published, she was one of the first models to own the rights to many of her photos and was the highest paid model of her time. Betty and her husband Joe Weider wrote several fitness books together and co-founded the fitness magazine Shape, which is still published today!