Vintage swimwear

Vintage swimwear is a major fashion find. These retro style bathing suits and bikini’s were so fashionable back then, they are still making the rounds in top stores today. So where did it all begin?

Vintage swimwear has a long and rich history. Back in the old days, in ancient Rome, people were swimming mostly naked. That’s interesting, but not as interesting as the contrast that came in the following centuries. Back in the day, people were wearing uncomfortable bathing suits with long sleeves, unusual pieces of clothes similar to dresses, impractical for the beach and warm days. It’s all related to the historical circumstances and women’s position in society. It was very scandalous for a woman to show more than her ankles in public, even if it’s the hottest summer ever. That’s why some women have even had lead sewn into their underskirts, to make sure that they will be decent on the beach. But that’s the 18th century we’re talking about. Luckily, all we have today from that era are photos and illustrations.

We can skip all those boring phases in fashion history of vintage swimwear and jump into 20th century, when a true swimwear revolution happened. Back in 20’s there was a beauty competition in Atlantic City which included a vintage swimwear contest. But we have waited 25 years more for the first bikini. Yeah, finally, a two piece swimwear! Michelle Bernardini was the first lady photographed in this kind of seductive swimwear.

But that was just a small step for bikinis. They were considered too provocative and they were widely accepted ten years later, when Brigitte Bardot showed up in a bikini on a movie poster. That’s when a new swimwear era definitely began.

Pin up culture and fashion have also done a lot for the bikini history. Retro vintage swimwear from 40’s, 50’s and 60’s are still widely used and vintage lovers can still have a swell and peachy summer in the hottest swimming clothes. Punkabilly clothing brings you a sweet vintage collection of swimwear enriched with rockabilly and pin up spirit. It’s all here in one place.

What makes the retro and pin up swimming suits so special is the classic elegance saturated with fashion permanence. They bring us the summer breeze of a different past. Splashing around at the beach in a retro swimsuit will make you feel like a movie diva. All the famous pin up features are here in this collection. For example, the polka dots:

Another inseparable part of this pin up swimming collection is the sailor style, manifested in navy blue color, stripes, buttons and ribbons.

As for the rest of our collection, we’re happy to present you some fierce punk rock bikinis with skeletons, the boldest and the craziest combinations on the beach!

As you can see, we have chosen the best of swimwear history and modified it for the needs of a modern woman. Punk bikinis will make your summer hotter and pin up swimsuits will refresh your days at the beach. They’re made to express the best body curves and celebrate the beauty of a female body. Get ready for the summer in a totally different way, dive into the summer armed with the most elegant pin up and punk rockabilly fashion and just go with the flow!

Pin up hairstyles of the past

For a pinup girl, hair is everything! Top off your rockabilly or sexy pin up girl pose with the perfect pin up hairstyles.

We all know how important hairstyle is. Hairstyle makes us get up earlier in the morning, hairstyle improves our total style and makes our looks defined. Pin up style in fact really depends on the shape and color of your hair. As opposed to the plain modern hairstyles, boring and non creative, there is a whole world of unusual, retro, rocking and shocking ways to make your hair look awesome. There is no unambiguous definition of a pin up hairstyle, but you surely recognize it when you see it. So, let’s check some basic pin up hair characteristics.

1. The magic of blonde hair

Marilyn Monroe – enough said. She is maybe the best explanation how pin up style works on blonde girls. Make it short and curly – it’s a pin up hairstyle in its finest light. What’s most important, blonde hair is great for highlighting the makeup. Flaming red lipstick and black shadow or eyeliner are a pretty good choice with this hairstyle.

Pin up hairstyles: Marilyn Monroe — Marilyn Monroe

2. Dangerous dark hair

Black or other dark shade is also very convenient for emphasizing strong makeup. But pin up hairstyles for dark haired girls ususally require longer hair. You can definitely do a lot with it, for example – you can add some hair accessories, like vintage ribbons or colorful flowers. Here are some suggestions for you. It’s important to make a contrast, so choose something light. Curly details are also desirable.

Pin up hairstyles: Black Magic — Black Magic

3. Flaming red shades

Red shades give you amazing options for pin up hairstyles. Red is the color of passion and it doesn’t matter will you tie it or let it be as it is. Red often becomes washed and reveals your natural color, but you can make it an advantage – try out some detailed hairstyles with a lot of curles, you know – old Hollywood hairstyles. The effect is awesomely shaded hair art.

Pin up hairstyles: Passion color — Passion color

4. The craziest shades on Earth

Blue, pink, green, why not? Now, you have no rules when it comes to this. Wheather you choose one or ten colors, just be creative and show the world how crazy pin up haistyles can be. This is when pin up goes into rockabilly and punk and overcomes all the style conventions.

Pin up hairstyles: Go crazy! — Go crazy!

5. Special mention – fringes

Big and unusual fringes are one of the best known symbols related to the pin up hairstyles. Curly or not, in every color, they make every hairstyle extraordinary. You can also combine them with different hair accessories. It takes time to make a fringe look perfect, but don’t give up this challenge. All the good things require bigger effort and this one is totaly worthy of getting up earlier in the morning.

Finally, hairstyle is just one part of the pin up image. To make this detail look perfect, you’ll need a perfect outfit and on this page you can find an interesting dress. To find a perfect bag, visit us here. Of course, you also need a perfect attitude and we’re sure you can find it within you. Enjoy the wonderful retro world and wear your pin up hairstyle as it was a crown.

Rockabilly Bags – Fashion and Accessories

A purse is a woman’s personal safety net. It holds all of her essentials: wallet, credit cards, and her lipstick. Finish off any punk rock look with these Rockabilly Bags.

One of the first fashion rules a girl learns is that her rockabilly bags needs to match the shoes. It’s a classic rule, a good old one, but simple and boring mono-color bags are not your only option. In fact, crazy times call for crazy style. Wild colors, rebellious motives, unusual and original messages… Make way for a brand new & awesome punkabilly accessories collection! We’re happy to introduce you to our fresh category of bags, settled on this page.

Women’s rockabilly bags are considered to be a ‘modern’ invention and they are often stated as a symbol of female emancipation. But bags, purses, pouches etc. actually have a long history. There are some historical proofs that first “handbags” were actually worn by men in prehistory when they were hunting. Later bags were developed like a type of wallets. Bags have actually came a long way to get the status they have today. They were even forbidden for a while, in France in 16th century. In the end of 18th century it finally became a part of women’s fashion.

Grumpy has lost his bag

Maybe women don’t always know the whole content of their rockabilly bags, but bags do take an important place in female fashion history and present. The most famous bags ever are “Hermes Kelly”, named after famous actress, princess Grace Kelly, and “Chanel 2,55”.

Hermes Kelly

Now, enough about classics, and let’s see what rockabilly style did for the bags. All the best symbols like skulls, roses, spiders, tattoo motives, dices and all the rest are now on different models of bags. Our website and Liquor Brand have prepared a variety of shapes and colors, from bigger bowling bags to the smallest cosmetic bags. They’re all trendy, but retro. Simple, but original. And very, very practical.

Rockabilly Bowling Bag

Some of these pieces are actually true pieces of art. Pay special attention to our tattoo styled rockabilly pouches – they come in bright colors with very detailed artistic motives and some bad ass messages like “Live fast, die young”. And we’re also specially proud of our canvas totebags with horror artwork.

Graveyard Totebag

Of course, there is still a lot of pin up style and retro spirit in our collections and the bags can also confirm it. This elegance is an homage to the fashion values of classic rockabilly bags.

Polka Dots Bag

What retro and rockabilly style also bring you in this collection are animal prints – the famous rocking leopard and zebra motives, made for the wildest fashion games.

Zebra Pouch

And that’s just a part of Punkabilly Kingdom of rockabilly bags. Creative, original and high-quality models will probably quickly grow on you. It doesn’t even matter do they match your shoes, as long as they are so awesome. Find the one that looks like you and don’t be afraid to fall in love. Finally, as one lady said long time ago: “Without a bag I feel like I am naked!”

Punk Rock style – Fashion and History

When it comes to punk rock, there are no rules. Yet, when it comes to punk fashion, we can abstract some style characteristics mutual for many punk lovers.

Punk rock fashion complements punk music and together they make one of the most important and most awesome alternative subcultures ever. Punk rock began to develop in 70’s in USA and UK. It was created in a response to “overinflated” progressive rock full of long solos and guitar exibitions. This fresh rebellious style has brought a simple rhytm – most of the punk songs have only four chords. It has also brought a lot of pure energy, unique way of seeing things, anarchistic ideas and inspiration for challenging authorities. Sex Pistols are considered to be the first punk band, although it can’t be precisely defined. Let’s say punk has simply happened and it’s a minor question who has started it.

Punk comes in many shapes – as punk rock, surf punk, pop punk, ska punk, skate punk, anarcho punk, punkabilly (or psychobilly) etc. All those music styles have made a certain influence on punk fashion. It is amazing how many of the original basic punk symbols maintained up to nowadays and punkers of today still adore that very same rebellious style.

For example, one of the everlasting characteristics of punk rock is a “must have” crazy hairstyle. Some of the punk rock lovers shave their head completely, while others choose the illustruous “Mohawk” hairstyle. Basically, any wild and rebellious hairstyle is punk hairstyle. Striking and bright hair colors (yes: pink, lime green, blue) are also very popular.

"Mohawk" Punk Rock hairstyle — “Mohawk” hairstyle

Another favorite fashion flick in punk rock is the leather. Leather jackets, leather skirts, even leather tights. It’s all often decorated with bunch of studs or other meatal details, like chains or even safety pins. There’s a lot of space for experimenting and creativity and the originality is the only thing that matters. For start, you can check out the some accessories from our recent collection.

Of course, there are also tattoos and piercings. Often a lot of those. There’s a long punk tradition of putting these permanent signs and decorations on own body. As they say – tattoos and piercings are like drugs – once you try them, you are addicted. It’s all a part of the punk habit to shock – that’s why punk tattoos and piercings are often found on various unusual body parts. Here’s a wide choice of body jewelry and we hope you’ll find some for yourself.

Punk Rock Tattoos & Piercings — Tattoos & Piercings

The details are also very important – details give a personal stamp to every style and make it complete. This rebellious style is very suitable for so many fashion games. You can always add some patches on your old clothes, and this page is full of cool ones. Or, if you want to add a crazy tie to your regular clothing combination, you’ll probably enjoy this fashion line. Really, there are no rules. The only rules are to use your imagination and be rebellious as much as you can.

Finally, it’s not all about fashion and its habits – it is just a base. The rest is up to you, your ideas and attitude. Let your imagination run wild and enjoy the Punk Rock!

Pin Up Fashion Style & Rockabilly Clothing | Punkabilly Blog

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Month: January 2014

Vintage swimwear