Show off your curves with a different style of lingerie

The current fashion might be for stick-thin models, but there was a time when women were celebrated for their curves. Early stars like Marilyon Monroe and Jean Harlow made the hourglass figure famous, demonstrating their femininity with fashion that nipped and tucked in all the right places. As fashion has evolved it’s become harder and harder to find looks that match this bygone era, but we’ve just found a source certain to please your inner pinup: Wheels and Doll Baby. Wheels and Doll Baby is a unique design label based in London, and during a long legacy of catering to everyone from Michael Jackson to Dita von Tesse, they’ve created a collection of glamorous, alternative lingerie that is both modern and vintage at the same time.

Wheels and Dolls firmly embraces the dessous dessus school of lingerie, or wearing innerwear as outerwear. Their fantastic skull corset is one of the best examples, making such a loud statement with its pirate-skulled print that you wouldn’t dare to cover it up. Similarly, the more burlesque Irma Satin Corset was created to be shown off in public, preferably with the matching button skirt shown modelled by Miss Von Tesse above, and an adorable retro cardigan. They even have chemise-like dresses from leopard-print to polka-dot, all conjuring the evocative style of a curvy and confident 50′s film star. We love that this lingerie is all about curves and shape, embracing the woman’s figure and allowing women of many sizes to adopt this flattering look.

To top it all off, Wheels and Doll Baby has an impressive collection of Fifi Chachnill’s amazing French lingerie, which also celebrates the curvier retro styles of the 50′s in a modern style. Sets like Fifi’s silk polka-dot collection perfectly compliment the flirty feeling of Wheels’s clothing, allowing women to indulge in this new style top to bottom.

Get the pinup look and still pay the mortgage

Unfortunately, all this pinup-chic doesn’t come cheap — the average price for a FiFi set is about $285, and pieces like the skull corset aren’t far off at $170. Luckily, this style is becoming more and more attainable as burlesque and pinup styles have crept back into the fashion world, riding on the coattails of style icons like Dita in the US, and Immodesty Blaize in the UK, recently featured in Britain’s Next Top Model. For a similar look that won’t break the bank, look for retro-inspired gingham and polka-dot sets, such as this Mimi Holliday Emerald set, or Miss Mandalay’s Gingham Girl (currently on sale). You can also add instant sex appeal to a garmet by investing in a waspie or waspie belt, which will provide an hourglass figure and retro look all in one. Wide belts and waspies are very popular at the moment, so it shouldn’t be too hard for you to try out this style before investing in a more elaborate piece.

If the current trends aren’t capturing your imagination and you’re looking for something a bit more fun, the pinup look promises a sexy homage to a different age that can flatter any woman or body shape. It’s one of the rare fashions where the curvier, the better, so give it a try!