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4 ways to a Pin Up silhouet & the 1 must-have accessory

4 ways of getting a Pin Up silhouet 

& the 1 must-have accessory 


Pin Ups come in all sizes, but only in one shape: the hourglass. 

Even if you're not a natural hourglass, you can use fashion accessories and targeted exercises to make it look like you are. 

In this post, we'll be looking at 4 different ways of getting that coveted shape, be it via exercise or optical fashion illusions - no matter your natural body shape.

Because, even if you're not an hourglass figure, you're already half way there. 
You just need to know how to "fake" the other half 😉




1. Natural way: maybe she's born with it? 

Maybe it's a lot of crunches, Maybeline.

No matter your body type, doing targeted exercises will make your waist a bit smaller and more defined.
Try finding exercises you don't hate, that focus on your obliques (= side of your abs), such as salsa dancing and side crunches.
Or have a look at my Pin Up Workouts on IG ;-)

While exercise definitely helps, you do have a given body type that is not likely to undergo dramatic changes.

So first, we need to know what we're working with, in order for you to use method number 3 (clothing) to your advantage.

See if you can spot which body type you are.

Hourglass⌛:

If you're lucky, you came out of puberty with an hourglass figure (ample breasts and butt, small waist ). You can be a lazy pin up, because you naturally have the silhouet we're going for.

Inverted triangle▼:

Your shoulders are the widest part of your body (chances are, you're athletic).
You'll want to focus on your hips and legs to compensate.

Pear🍐: 

Your hips are the widest part of your body (J Lo anyone?).
Your focus will be on your shoulders/breasts.

Apple🍎:

You have a full figure and will want to show your curves, while trying to nip in your waist.

Rectangle

You have a straight figure, and can use this as the perfect blank canvas to add bulk on top and the bottom. 

Here's a great video by Justine Le Conte to help you visualize all the types.



Think about what body type you have, and realize that you're halfway there!
A pear and inverted triangle each have one half of the hour glass, whereas an apple figure has all the curves and only needs to accentuate her waist.  
A rectangle is completely free to do how much or little she wants, and can shift to any other body type.

Don't forget that every body shape is jealous of another shape because of their respective strengths and fashion options. It's kinda like curly people who prefer to have straight hair and vice versa. It's about owning your strengths 💪

2. Under garments

If you're not a natural hourglass, and you don't like adding bulk to your top/bottom with clothes, you can still fake your silhouet.
How?
The answer is underwear.

No, you don't need to wear a corset. Though that is the best way of getting an hourglass shape, it is not suited for everyday wear. Corsets are a whole 'nother topic, and since we're focused on the every day pin up, we won't go into it in this post.

Instead, you can wear the "light versions" of corsets, underneath your outfit.


Corselette:

The diet coke of the corsets. 
Corselette WKD
It takes in your waist and flattens your belly and any folds/rolls you might have (back rolls due to bra's, anyone?).  It also has a bra and suspender straps built into it, so it's a kitchen sink approach that ensures a smooth line across your body.
This does sit on your hipbone and over your slip/thong, so while it is comfortable to wear all day and night, it is not exactly bathroom friendly.


Merry Widow:

The Stevia coke of the corsets. 
Merry Widow WKD
Same functions as a corselette but a little shorter, so it's bathroom friendly. The one I wear (from WKD) has detachable bra straps and suspender straps, so it's perfect for wearing underneath strapless items if you have a bigger bust size and need to support the girls👯


Others:

Of course, you might find modern shape-wear to be your answer, particularly if you don't wear stockings. So far, I've never seen modern shape-wear that functions AND looks good when you're undressing. So if you have, share it with us in the comments.

3. Clothing do's and don'ts


If you don't wanna wear shape-wear or do exercises, your best bet is to use strategic pieces of clothing to give the illusion of an hourglass silhouet.

Hourglass⌛:

Lazy cat. You can play around with making your hips seem wider by adding a petticoat, or your shoulders seem a bit broader by wearing halternecks or off-shoulder tops. 
But your waistline will always be the narrowest part of your body, giving you instant Venus vibes.

Inverted triangle▼:

Avoid off-shoulder tops and halter necks, as they will emphasize your shoulders and draw the eye to your widest part. 

Try to even out your shape by wearing a swing skirt or dress, ideally with a petticoat underneath. This will give you some bulk on the lower side of your body, filling up the bottom half of the hour glass so to speak.

When in doubt: go for a long dress with a fabulous leg split!

Pear🍐:

As opposed to the inverted triangle type, you do want to go all out on off-shoulder tops and halter necks, as they will balance out the width of your hips. 
Add a belt on your waist and some bulk at the top (like subtle shoulder-pads), and you're good to go.

Apple🍎:

You either take the attention to your breasts and shoulders (try cleavage or big necklaces or broches). Or you draw the attention to your waist by adding a wide waist belt or wearing peplums skirts/dresses.


Rectangle:

You can switch to any bodytype you like, because a rectangle is the perfect blank canvas. So when going for an hourglass silhouet, just add bulk on the top (halter necks, off shoulders, necklaces/broches, cleavage) and the bottom (skinny jeans, swing dresses or skirts, especially with a petticoat) while nipping in your waist.

4. The absolute must-have accessory for any pin up

If there's one item that'll instantly turn every body shape into an hourglass (that you can wear on a daily basis) it's a waist belt.

A belt or sash worn at your waist accentuates the slimmest part of your body, while simultaneously making your curves look bigger. 

If you have an apple, rectangle or hourglass figure, you can go all out with tight and elastic waist belts. If you have an inverted triangle figure, try to go for a looser belt or sash or add some bulk to your bottom half, to make sure you're not accentuating your shoulders too much.

While these are all tips for creating that hourglass shape, remember to love your natural shape and just be healthy 💚


Let me know in the comments: 
which type are you + what works for you?

red lips pin me up buttercup





- Buttercup, the imperfect pin up 



 inspiration: Justine Le Conte her styling tips for different body shapes

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