I was cruising Tumblr today, procrastinating as usual when I came across an extremely beautiful and inspiring post;
The post contained beautiful pinups you don't see everyday. Beautiful older women graced my screen each one of them styled in the golden age of old Hollywood. I had to find out more about the person who took them and the women he or she photographed. After a little internet sleuthing I found out the artists name, Erwin Olaf.
Erwin Olaf's career started back in 1988 in the Netherlands. He quickly became well known in the art community and eventually all over Europe. He soon garnered enough attention and started doing commercial work for Nokia and Levis. Despite all the commercial work he was getting, he still continued to work on his own projects, this particular series Mature was taken in 1999.
Much of Erwin's work focuses of societal issues; race, religion, gender and sexuality. Mature focused on societies obsession with youth. All of Erwin's models were over the age of 60 and were featured in vintage inspired lingerie and classic seductive poses. Erwin states,"The series is a reminder that people can be sexy at any age. We should celebrate our body and embrace our age rather than adhere to the society’s narrow-minded formulas and expectations." To see more of his artwork checkout his official site
Pinup Girl Clothing shows us beauty is obtainable at any age, race, gender or size and it is so inspiring to see other people, artists and photographs that reflect that same mentality.
XOXO
<3
Ashleeta
Denise
Oct 19, 2012
Felinaea Fatale
Thanks for sharing this. :)
Oct 19, 2012
Helen Gonzalez
Thanks for posting this! The photographer Erwin Olaf and Pinupgirl fashions share the same philosophy"that beauty exists in all no matter size age gender or race". This article is very inspiring. I have been purchasing pug now for about 2 years and I feel wonderful in them. I am 61 but when I a wear pug dress I do not look like or feel like grandmother of 12 that I am. Im grateful to broadminded thinkers such as Pug and Olaf.
Oct 24, 2012
Betty Lou
Thank you for posting this article. I am in my late forties. I am reinventing myself for about the ninetieth time in my life. The key to staying young and vibrant is to learn new things, do what you love and enjoy every moment.
Nov 14, 2012
Pamela Fox
This is so beautiful to see. Thank you for writing and posting this.
Dec 18, 2012
Michelle Pia
This is magnificent! Thank you much for sharing! <3
Dec 18, 2012
Marick B. Kalchert
I'd like to apologize first off because I know I'm going to sound like a meanie pants. These pictures are really, really unattractive. It's not that I don't think that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, but a lady should always look her best. I've had a couple of kids and thankfully, I am still young enough to work my body into nice shape. However, if a very attractive young female took some pinup photos, I guarantee you, they would still be airbrushed to whiten her teeth, get rid of blemishes, hide the rolls, and erase the scars. I don't know why someone didn't have the idea to use a little leg makeup or position some of these ladies in a way so that their "dunlaps" wouldn't hang on their lap. Liver spots, skin ulcers, wrinkles are just not sexy. I'm sorry, but they are not. Nonetheless, these photos have potential to be sexy and you can be proud of who you are without exposing all of your flaws to the world. Yes, these are flaws, but a pinup photo should be like a pristine painting and a pristine painting wouldn't sell if there were smudges, rips, or tears. Modern art would be the market for that, not classic beauty.
Dec 18, 2012
Ashleeta
Marick, in all honesty I think all your statement does is reveal you inability to be comfortable with aging or people of an older age. I also think that's exactly why photos like these are created to combat attitudes towards old age like yours. I find it really unfortunate because its going to happen to all of us no matter how hard you try to fight it with Photoshop.
Dec 18, 2012
Ashleeta
your*
Dec 18, 2012
Sonya Hickman
Marick, you don't sound like a 'meanie pants', you just sound close minded and a wee bit simple.
I love these pictures, age should worn with pride.
Dec 18, 2012
Ronda Harris
Dec 18, 2012
Soozi Qu
I agree Ashleeta. Marick, one day you'll be like this older lady....if you're lucky. She's in great shape still with nice legs a tiny waist and a fabulous mane of hair. All the attributes of a pin-up. Along with chutzpah and attitude! You can only HOPE to be like that one day, as I do.
Dec 18, 2012
Vanessa Santiago
Dec 18, 2012
Audrey Elizabeth McLean
I love this. I am truly amazed at the strength of self worth these ladies have. No offense to the nay sayers here but I feel they lost the spirit of the message of these pictures that I see. Lumps, bumps, saggy bits and all.....these women are beautiful. They have the courage and self worth to be up there. You can only hope to aspire to be like these women at that age. Beauty is more than if your skin is flawless and you have toned muscles.
Dec 18, 2012
Marick B. Kalchert
Oh, it's fine to all of you responding to my original post, to call me names, I suppose. Nothing hateful in that, right? My issue isn't with age, my issue is that a free pass is being given to the photographer because he photographed women of an elderly age, when he did a poor job. I'm 30 and I have two kids. When I was younger, I modeled and didn't think twice about how my body looked on camera. Now, I do. I still enjoy taking pictures, but as I age, I have to pay more attention to my angles and to my "imperfections." I also have known photographers who take crappy pictures of women of all shapes, sizes, and age. I've known many good photographers, too. I'm also sure that all of you who are "defending" something that didn't even call for defense, have never used phrases like "real women have curves" implying that a skinny body can't be beautiful. All women are beautiful, but I like wearing makeup and pretty clothes and being a girl because I like being pretty. I don't feel like the photographer did a good job at making these ladies look pretty. My great grandma was a burlesque dancer in her 20s. For her entire life, she never left the house without looking her best, her hair done, her makeup in tact. I hope I have as much class as she did in her 90s. If a photographer ever took a photo of her with a harsh light and details on her "flaws," she'd make him redo it until he got it right.
Dec 18, 2012
Ashleeta
Marick THATS THE POINT thats exactly what this artist is trying to portray he's TRYING to portray all the perceived "flaws" of aging did you read his statement at all? It seems like this is all over your head let me repost his statement again so you can try and understand.
"The series is a reminder that people can be sexy at any age. We should celebrate our body and embrace our age rather than adhere to the society’s narrow-minded formulas and expectations."
Dec 18, 2012
Trixie Lane
I would like to respond to Marick. I too feel the lighting could be a tad more flattering. I don't think you have photo shop it out or anything, the poses are good, but the lighting does seems to be magnifying their aging instead of playing up their personalities. However, I think they are artful photos just the same. Just more editorial in displaying the Age. Which I believe was the purpose of the photos.
Does not mean I have issues with an aging body, I am 54 and still take pinup pics. Our oldest client was 67 and she was gorgeous! Her husband said to her during her edit, "You're as beautiful as the day I met you!" as her took her hand and got a tear in his eye! So darling!
Dec 18, 2012
Marick B. Kalchert
I'm going to make one last statement then I'm done. My perspective is that we live in a society that says "Don't try. Don't dress your body up, go to Wal Mart in your pj's. Don't look your very best. Have no self respect." At the end of the day, I thought we were discussing art for art's sake. If it makes you feel better to target me to vent your hostilities on society, then go for it. I'll accept blame for eating disorders and all that's wrong with our world. I'll try harder to make sure I always go for the popular opinion and never state a point of view that might contradict someone else's way of thinking. There. Be happy and carry on with the original post. Good day.
Dec 18, 2012
Dorothy B. Williams
AWESOME!! This is so cool! Thank you, Ashleeta. I can't wait to tell others about this photographer.
Dec 18, 2012
Teri C.
Dec 18, 2012
Anninoprowrestling
Ashleeta I would really like to do a story on this individual I write for Get it Wright Here I think its a great concept are u in contact with any of the models on the site http://getitwrighthere.com/pro-wrestling-legend-of-the-month-killer...
Dec 20, 2012
Soozi Qu
Wow, this article as stirred up some controversy although the general opinion is that it's great! I think we 'get' what the photographer was trying to do and I have to say....seeing older women in these poses IS confronting! I found it so and I won't lie, but only because we are a youth-driven media soaked nation that isn't used to seeing what the other end of the lifecyle can look like. We all try not to get older, or look older, so maybe we shy away from these types of images, do you think?
I am 53. I've been dressing like this for years, long before it became fashionable or there was a name 'pin-up' to describe clothing, shoes, hairstyles or photoshoots. I often wondered about the 'aging pin-up' from yesteryear and why she isn't adequately represented in today's society or pictorials. Let me say this.....if you dress vintage as you age, it ages you. Sad but true. I find I now have to steer away from my beloved original vintage dresses and go for more reproduction styles. I can't wear too much floral, brooches or severe hairdos. My jewellery has to be funky rather than authentic and my eyeliner can't go to the edges of my eyes or it drags the lids down, given an older appearance. Oh it's fraught with peril to be a 50's gal who is in her 50's in this day and age!
But this pictorial gave me a lovely warm fuzzy feeling. These women were not just doing pin-up posing, they were doing sexy raunchy posing! I was taken-aback and then really pleasantly pleased. We are strong. We are women. We are sexy. No matter what age. Viva la difference!!!!!
Dec 20, 2012