Sam’s Style: Part 1

My super cute, super stylish friend Sam commissioned me to make her a series of dresses over the past year or so that encapsulate her fun, colourful style!  Each of these whimsical creations is created from the same base pattern, with slight alterations to each, and the choice of colour, pattern and print in the fabric is what really gives each dress it’s own unique feel.  Recently Sam and I adventured to a local park to snap some pinup shots of Sam in her very own line of dresses.  Today I will share 2 of the styles I created!

Banana-Rama
The Banana dress might be my favourite of the set.  The contrasting banana and blueberry fabrics are so fun, fruity and look good enough to eat!  This dress has a peter pan collar and long bow in the back.  We did a bit of a longer sleeve on this dress with the lovely blueberry fabric again as a cuff.  Sam is a knockout pinup queen in the dress!

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Button-Up
The Button dress was commissioned by our friend Rena for Sam’s birthday.  She found this amazing button fabric and let me run wild with it.  For the design of this dress I kept it a little more simple, no collar or tie, but the fun detail is the real buttons I sewed to the front of the dress.  They blend in so well that they are a fun little surprise when you see them up close!

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Dolly’s Bettie Page Striptease: Part 4

This is the final set from my Bettie Page inspired Striptease photo shoot that I will be posting on this blog.  The last few images. which feature a helpless Dolly in bondage, have been deemed too racy to post here but fear not!  If You Fall Photography and Classically Curvy are currently working on a gallery show of the full Bettie Page set!  Stay tuned for more info and for now please enjoy these final shots!
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

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Photos by If You Fall Photography

Dolly’s Bettie Page Striptease: Part 3

In part 3 of my Bettie Page inspired striptease photoset it’s time to strap on some fetish boots and have a little fun!
Part 1
Part 2

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 Photos by If You Fall Photography

Bunny Yeager

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.

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Bunny Yeager with Her Cameras (4)

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Dolly’s Bettie Page Striptease: Part 2

Part 2 of my Bettie Page inspired striptease!  This week the clothes come off…
Part 1

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 Photos by If You Fall Photography

Dolly’s Bettie Page Striptease: Part 1

Over the next few weeks I will be sharing my “Ode to Bettie Page” striptease pinup set! 

Bettie Page is a huge  modelling inspiration to me.  She was the queen of posing and had the perfect face to match each look.  From fun and peppy, to sassy and seductive, Bettie’s range was astounding and diverse.  I hope I have done her justice in portraying the different moods and looks of Bettie.  Please enjoy the next few weeks of Bettie inspired photos!

Just as many of Bettie’s outfits were created by her, my outfit was designed and created by myself, from my outer layers to my under layers.  Photos by If You Fall Photography.

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Sinful Sunday

My fabulous go-go partner Betty Quirk and I will be shimmy shaking it this coming Sunday (May 11th) at Cherry Cola’s!  Come watch some quality burlesque this Mother’s Day and even bring your mom!

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Photo by Ruth Gillson from Peeler’s Playhouse.
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Bunny Angora & Chow Mein from the Harlettes with Dolly Monroe & Betty Quirk from PeepshowTO

A Perfect 14

A wonderful new documentary is coming out about plus size models and our current beauty standards called A Perfect 14.  As a plus size woman I am so thrilled to see a new standard of beauty emerging in our culture.  It’s about time we stop putting a size on beauty and start respecting and celebrating the diversity of the female form.

 I wanted to share this photo set with you today because this is my Eff Your Beauty Standards moment.  At 210 lbs I could not be more happy with my body or the way I look.  Beauty has no size. I am proud of my body and I would rather spend every day loving and embracing myself than being frustrated that I don’t fit into the tiny box society has labeled “ideal”.  Who cares how much you weigh?  Who cares if your thighs rub together or your arms jiggle?  Why should that prevent you from feeling fabulous?  Don’t let anyone else’s beauty standards dictate your self worth.  Be yourself, love yourself and embrace who you are.

xoxo Dolly

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Photos by If You Fall Photography 

Burlesque Photos with Haley Friesen

A few months ago myself and a bunch of my burlesque pals (Betty Quirk, Sevvy Skellington, Meryle Trouble and Dante Him) had a burlesque themed photoshoot with Haley Frisen for her thesis project and here are some of the results!   Check out the rest of her amazing portfolio at www.haleyfriesenphotography.com 

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Peeler’s Playhouse!

Looking for a good time on May 1st?  Come check out Dolly Berlin’s Peeler’s Playhouse!  This show is going to be a good old fashion raunch-fest with lots of bumpin’, grindin’ and go-go gals going wild!  Myself and Betty Quirk will be bringing back our legendary Russ Meyer themed Cat Fight routine for this evening and you won’t want to miss it!

Click the poster below to purchase tickets!

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Aviva Mirage will be shimmy shaking it!
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Come see the Harlettes twist and shout!
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The gorgeous Frenchie Fatale will blow you away!
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Relive the glamourous girl fight between Dolly and Betty!