Like a lot of people, you might assume that models are beautiful bimbos who simply show up, hop around under the lights and go home. If so, you couldn’t be more wrong. Take it from the students who just took model and photographer Bettina May’s pin-up workshop (suggested here as a great gift for couples): looking like a cover girl is seriously hard to pull off.
West Town’s vintage Beauty Bar provided a perfect backdrop to Wednesday’s class, with a steady stream of 1950s pop hits pepping up everyone’s step. A hands-on, how-to class, Ms. May began with a step-by-step demo of her own make-up, explaining the particulars of fashion in the post WWII era. Because production of make-up was limited due to rationing, women learned to create a dramatic look with the basics: black eyeliner, mascara and fearlessly red, highly contoured lips.
False eyelashes have become a staple to the pin-up look, and although arguably the most daunting addition to eye make-up ever, Ms. May didn’t duck her duty. She walked through a short series of sure-fire steps to get them to stay in place, such as anchoring them at the base of the eyelashes rather than the lid.
If this weren’t ambitious enough, Ms. May next revealed her best secrets to those luxurious “bombshell” ringlets requisite to a pin-up. (They’re not that difficult, but you’ll need to get used to sleeping with your hair in rollers.) One by one, she unmasked the mystery behind iconic styles like the victory roll, Betty Grable bangs and the glam-girls hairnet, or snood.
Heads covered in hot rollers and hankerchiefs, the women set about putting their faces and their outfits together. Between conferring about tops, shoes and accessories, they took turns having their hair styled by Ms. May and her assistant, Dee.
Once the last head was set, Ms. May gave a crash course in posing – i.e. contorting one’s body in the most unnatural positions possible while exuding cheer and nonchalance. To make matters worse, the camera needs help to convey curves, arches and tone, which means straining every muscle to the limit of each pose. This must be held motionless for the shot, all while trying desperately not to fall out of an invariably precarious perch. By the end of 30 snaps, it was hard to consider modeling anything less than a profession worthy of respect.
Luckily for Wednesday’s class, the shoot took place in a bar with well-stocked shelves. There’s nothing like a dark rum and soda to help you through your first day on the job.
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