Looking for Dita Von Teese costume ideas? This page is dedicated to emulating Dita's famous retro glam style. While there are no official Dita Von Teese costumes, you can easily put one together yourself.
Learning about the fashion styles of the 1930's, 1940's and 1950's will help you to create a glamorous and authentic pin up girl look. There are many great options for dresses and shoes.
Pin up makeup is an essential part of any Dita Von Teese look and there are tutorials for both light and dark skin.
Your hair is your crowning glory and there are many vintage styles to choose from. There are links to several tutorials as well as videos on this page to help you achieve your look whether you have long or short hair.
To finish off there are many excellent additional resources about Dita Von Teese and vintage style.
Inspiration
Dita Von Teese draws her inspiration from the Hollywood Golden Era (1920s – 1960s). She is especially drawn to actresses Betty Grable, Marlene Dietrich and Rita Hayworth as well as pin-up icon and fetish model Bettie Page. But instead of trying to be these women, she takes elements of their style and blends it in a way that works for her.
Dita is her own stylist and does all her own hair and make-up and she makes her own wardrobe decisions. Trained in costume design she has been known to orchestrate every detail of her own photo shoots. It's so inspiring to see that you don't need a team of stylists to be on the ‘best dressed' list. If Dita can do it, so can you!
So if you want to dress like Dita Von Teese, whether it be for Halloween, a costume party, or everyday wear, then do as Dita does. Be inspired by her, incorporate elements of her style into your routine, but make it your own. Do what works for you, your figure and your complexion. Pretty soon you'll have your own retro glamour look that others will want to emulate.
Starting in the 1930's women's clothing emphasized shapely feminine curves in stark contrast with the shapeless flapper dresses that had been so popular during the 1920's. Broad shoulders – enhanced by shoulder pads or puffed sleeves – were popular and helped to show off a slender waist. Dresses were calf length by day and ankle to floor length for the evening. Lower necklines were also popular.
By the 1940's it was acceptable to wear knee length skirts or dresses. The emphasis on feminine curves continued throughout the decade and dresses were often cinched at the waist with buttons up the front and a pleated skirt. Polka dots became popular as did floral prints throughout the summer and solid colors for winter.
Fashion in the the 1950's was toned down and more conservative than in the 40's. Shoulder pads were gone, skirts and dresses were mid-to-low calf length and accentuated a slender waist. Skirts were either narrow or full.
When shopping for vintage clothing from the 30's, 40's and 50's you will often encounter the terms ‘Wiggle Dress' and ‘Swing Dress'.
Wiggle Dress – A modern term used to describe what was called a ‘pencil' or ‘sheath' dress. These dresses enhanced the bust, accented a slim waist and had a hem that was narrower than the waist which accentuated curves and created a ‘wiggle' when walking.
Swing Dress – A dress with a skirt that flows out from a gathered waist. The dress could be halter-style or have short sleeves.
You would never catch Dita von Teese wearing a pair of modern shoes. She has a very large collection of vintage shoes that suit her style perfectly. If you're going to put together a pin-up look then shoes that play the part are essential.
Shoe styles during the 1930's and 1940's were chunky with rounded toes and thick heels. Throughout the 30's two-tone shoes were popular as well as lace-up shoes and medium heels with an ankle strap. Leather was scarce during the 40's because it was required for the war and so reptile leather and mesh became popular materials for footwear. Cork or wood was a popular material for soles. Typical colors were black, brown, white, red or blue.
The 1950's brought about a dramatic shift in footwear and shoes were v-shaped at the toes. The ‘stiletto' became very popular during this decade and shoes were purchased to match the color of each outfit.
Pin up girl makeup up is all about the art of creating a flawless matte finish. You won't see shimmery eye shadow or lips.
Dita Von Teese describes the color or her foundation as ‘alabaster' which she believes is perfect for creating a vintage Hollywood look. But, if you are tanned or have dark skin, then you will want to start with a foundation that is closer to your skin tone. The second makeup video below is an in depth tutorial for creating a classic pin up girl look with dark skin. There are some excellent tips and the final result is stunning.
Pin up makeup features neutral eye shadow so the eyes don't detract from the drama of the bright red lips. A glamorous effect is achieved by creating a cat-eye with liquid eyeliner and adding false eyelashes. The eyes are framed by high-arching filled in eyebrows.
Light pink blush is lightly applied to the apples of the cheeks to create warmth and the look is finished with a bright red matte lipstick. Typically the lips should be lined with a darker shade of red and you can use a hint of gloss in the center of your lips to highlight them.
Source: wizzley.com/retro-glamour-dita-von-teese-costumes/
Image Credit: Wikimedia
