Notorious Model and Performer Angela Ryan graces the very first Best Of Pin Curl print edition, and sits down with editor Shoshana to discuss fashion, kindergarten, modeling mistakes, and a world without MySpace. Angela Ryan will be signing copies of our inaugural print issue at our Issue Release Party at Gifts and Garters on Dec 5th.

Interview & Photographs: Shoshana of Through the Looking Glass Studio

Q: What’s on your Christmas list this year?

Designer shoes and lingerie will always make me squeal with delight, but on the practical side I would love a new laptop and some new photo editing programs though.

Q: You began modeling before MySpace. How did you get you start?

I started back in 2001 working with a photographer friend and when I got enough photos I started a Yahoo Group. My fan base there grew and I started planning trips to other cities to shoot with well known photographers when I could. I was a cocktail waitress and worked retail and was miserable so I decided that I needed a change. I quit my jobs and started modeling full time in 2004. Luckily, it was the right decision! I love my job now!

Q: How have MySpace/FaceBook/Twitter changed the industry?

I credit MySpace with the real launch of my career. I signed up in 2003 and I don’t know where I would be without it! Social networking sites have changed the way you can promote yourself and make you accessible to millions of people. It’s much easier to make a name for yourself these days. On the down side, since anyone can make a profile claiming to be a “model” it saturates the industry with people who might not take it as a seriously as someone who solely models for a living. You still have to be creative in the way you market yourself to make sure you stand out. Since new sites pop up all the time you really have to be on top of the networking trends.

Q: You refer to yourself as a fetish and pin-up model. There seems there is a lot of crossover between the two in the industry. Are fetish and pin-up completely separate beasts, or do they go hand in hand?

I think for the most part they are separate but they definitely have some common interests. Traditional wardrobe pieces like fully fashioned stockings, garter belts, girdles, and high heels are staples in both
worlds. Many of the top fetish designers now recreate retro looks in latex that many pinup models wear. Bettie Page paved the way to make being both pinup AND fetish more acceptable. I have a love for both and I’m glad I don’t have to choose one above the other!

Q: Who are your favorite fashion designers right now?

For high fashion it’s Alexander McQueen, latex by House of Bias, corsets by Jupiter Moon, and lingerie by Agent Provocateur.

Q: You recently got into the design business yourself, with the Angela Ryan Signature Necklace by Heart Sized Crush. How did this come about. Tell us a little of the design process?

Heart Sized Crush made an adorable necklace for my good friend Devil Doll to sell on her tour. I fell in love with it and she suggested I contact them about making one for me. Since this was my first time designing anything it took a few drafts to come up with the perfect necklace but they were super easy to work with and very patient with me!

Q: In addition to the ton of modeling work, you are also an accomplished performer. How would you categorize your shows?

Burlesque with a fetish twist! I try to blend traditional with modern and always keep it sassy and unexpected! My choreographer Eric Hall works diligently with me on challenging myself technically and creatively and pushing boundaries!

Q: What are the top three mistakes young models and burlesque performers make?

Being unprofessional, caring too much what other people think, and working for less than they are worth. You have to use your mistakes as learning experiences.

Q: What did you want to be when you were in kindergarten?

Madonna. Seriously. That’s who I was every year for Halloween as a kid. I wanted to be a rock star. I still pretend I am sometimes. lol.

For more of the Angela Ryan Interview with tons of unseen photos, grab the Best of Pin Curl 2009 edition. You can purchase in our shop or even better-get an autographed copy at the Issue Release Party on Dec 5th!

Pin-Up icon Bernie Dexter, who has graced the pages of Playboy Magazine as well as been called the Queen of Pin-Ups by BLID Entertainment, takes time out of her busy moving schedule to discuss music, nerves, and her clothing line for Lucy B.

Miss Dexter did her interview exclusively for the Best of Pin Curl 2009 issue available in our online shop or at the Issue Release Party at Gifts and Garters on Dec 5th. You’ll have to grab a copy to get the full interview and tons of unseen photos, but with it being the holiday season and all, we thought we’d gift you a sneak peak.

An Except of the Bernie Dexter Interview

Interview: Shoshana. Photo: Levi Dexter

Q: What are three songs that are in heavy rotation on your MP3 player right now?

That Certain Female Charlie Feathers, Snake Eyed Mama by Levi Dexter & Steve Hooker, & Frankie’s Got Quiff by Batmobile

Q: When was your first pin-up photo shoot?

My first professional shoot was for Space Cowgirls. I remember walking in & seeing the make-up artist. She was a cool girl I knew from the rockabilly scene and I was so embarrassed! I remember telling her not to tell anyone she saw me there! Hehehe!

Q: How has the industry and “the scene” changed since you then?

At the time when I started it was a very small. There were only a hand full of girls and I thought they were so amazing. Carina Acevedo, Lana Landis & Nancy from Glamour Lux were my faves. I do not think these girls even model anymore. I never see them anymore. The scene is so huge now! It is great to see it grow.

Q: You Bernie Dexter for Lucy B line of lingerie has been getting quite a lot of attention. How did this partnership begin?

I had been hired to do modeling for Michelle of Lucy B. We really got a long and she would ask me to fly to New York to do the lingerie shows with her. We realized we both *love* vintage lingerie & had extensive vintage lingerie collections. One day she just asked me. It was always a dream of mine to have my own line of lingerie! Lucy B. made it happen.

Q: If 100 years from now, there is a Bernie Dexter legacy, what would you like that legacy to be?

If I leave any legacy at all I hope it will be to inspire young girls and women to be fit, healthy, and smile!

You can find Miss Dexter’s clothing line at BernieDexter.com, Lucy.com, and Love Jones at the Hard Rock Hotel Las Vegas, just to name a few.

Corset designer Jennifer Gonzalez of Jupiter Moon 3 talks shop discussing corsets, time management, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and evolution.

Q: What’s the story behind the name- Jupiter Moon 3?

It’s a long story.  When I was starting out part time, as a hobbyist, I went through several company names.  Nothing ever felt right, and nothing stuck.  But all of the names I came up with had something to do with planets, I’m not sure why.  I was “Triptych Moon” for a short while, then “Eight Thirty and Earth” after an exciting Burning Man experience in 1999.  Then one night, in 2002, I had a dream that I was on Jupiter with my family.  I looked out at the horizon, as the sun was setting behind me, and in the sky I saw nine of Jupiter’s moons cascading in each others partial eclipse, one behind the other, in a sort of orange-yellow spiral.  It’s the most beautiful thing I have ever dreamed up!  I need to paint that some day!  Why I chose to add the “3″ is a mystery to me.  It’s my lucky number, maybe that’s why.  However, I may drop the 3 eventually, people rarely know it’s part of the name.

Q: Tell us about the early days of Jupiter Moon 3, how did you get your start?

My mom taught me to sew at an early age.  But when it came to corsets, I had to start almost from scratch.  I think it was fate; I was a poor starving artist!  I couldn’t afford to buy a corset.   I was going to college at the time in the Bay Area in California when I got started, in 1997.  I fell in love with Romantasy corsets in San Francisco, and couldn’t afford to indulge.  But I was determined to have a corset, so I started creating my own patterns for simple waist cinchers, it was more affordable.  Gradually I moved on to more intricate underbusts and overbusts.  It was a difficult process, and it took me many years to perfect.  I’m still perfecting my designs, it’s a never ending process.

Q: How did you take your corset making business from a hobby to your full time job?

When I started making corsets and costumes, my designs caught the eye of my friends.  A few of them placed orders with me, then friends of friends, then people who heard of me through word of mouth.  After I moved to Texas in 2000, I started selling as a very part time income, just for fun.  I never thought I could make a career out of it.  After I started selling online in early 2004, my designs were selling like hotcakes, and I was able to make Jupiter Moon 3 my full time career.  I was almost forced to; I was receiving so many orders, I didn’t have time for a “regular” job anymore!

Q: The rewards are often obvious, but what are some of the biggest challenges you face as a small business owner?

I do everything for my business.  Designing, sewing, secretarial work, web design, promotions, everything.  I do this so I can keep my costs down for my clients by not paying someone else to do all of these things for me.  But it creates problems at the same time.  One of my biggest challenges is keeping up with all of those tasks and still finding time to actually sew.  I work about 60 hours a week on average.  Sometimes a lot less, sometimes more.  A 14 hour shift is quite normal for me.  I try to keep my clients happy, and not let them feel neglected, but answering the plethora of emails I receive is increasingly difficult with more and more orders being placed.  It’s something I’m still adjusting to after all this time!  I do find my balance, it just means more hours.  I have to turn down orders occasionally, otherwise I would get too backed up, and orders would just take too long.  But the positives greatly outweigh the negatives, I work at home, I make my own hours, and I don’t have to ask the boss if I can go on vacation, so I don’t complain too often!

Q: What are the have been the biggest evolutions or revelations in your work?

Every day is an evolution.  Every corset brings new challenges, new ideas, new revelations, and my work is constantly evolving, improving, and changing.  I look at corsets I made several years ago, and I can pinpoint every little detail that I have worked through, changed, and improved on with more recent corsets.  I am always adding new details, new support methods, anything to help my corsets and my skills improve.  I will never plateau with my work, it’s a constant challenge to make them better and better.

Q: You have done custom corset and costume creations for some of the biggest names in the industry including Masuimi Max and Angela Ryan. What has been your funniest custom order? Which has been your most challenging?

My funniest costume order has nothing to do with corsets.  When we were dating, my husband asked me to make him a Master Shake costume for Halloween, from Aqua Teen Hunger Force.  It turned out so much better than I could have imagined, and it was hilarious!  He has worn it on three different Halloweens now.   I joined him two years ago as Frylock, with high heels, black hose and garters, since I couldn’t float or make my legs invisible!  It was my first un-corseted costume in more years than I can remember.

My most challenging piece was a costume I recently completed for Masuimi Max.  She wanted a circus costume, and putting together all of my ideas was like putting together a puzzle with no picture to refer to!  I had all of the components in my head, five pieces, but no idea if they would look good together when it was completed.  I challenged myself and went for it anyway.  The skirt in itself was a challenge, the finished edge was over 65 yards of organza with a rolled hem.  It was also the most crystals I have ever added to a piece.  The costume turned out to be my favorite creation yet!  A close second is the Snow Queen costume for Angela Ryan!

Q: Without giving away any trade secrets, can you take us through your creative process? What makes your work so unique & of such high quality?

My creative process is an assembly line.  Most people would probably work on one corset at a time to avoid the monotony.  Not me!  I work on four or five corsets at a time.  On day one, I will iron and interface all of the fabric, then pattern and cut out each one.  On day two or three, I will sew all of the pieces together, including bone accents, making a sort of corset shell.  Then I will cut and tip all of the bones.  I will sew in trims and other accessories.  After that, I will sew each shell to it’s lining and finish the fabric part.  Then I sew on lace, glue crystals, sew on bead work, and whatever else my client wants, those are my crafty days!  On the last day, I will grommet all of the corsets.  This whole process can take days or weeks, depending on the intricacy of the orders, and how many corsets I am working on at the time.

My corsets are quality because I try to pay attention to every stitch.  My corsets are original, and will remain so, because I design my own patterns, and because I taught myself how to make them.  No other designer sews corsets the way I do.  I have a very different process than other corset makers.  All of these details keep my work unique, and I pride myself on quality and dedication to my work.

Q: What should women look for in a quality corset?

The most important factor in a corset is having it made custom.  It’s very difficult for a woman to find an off the rack corset that fits her perfectly.  It does happen, but custom is perfection.  If her grommets are closed at the bottom and open at the top, or vice versa, or even closed in the middle and open at the top and bottom, it’s a bad fit.  She would be so much happier in a custom corset.

Another important thing to look for are the supplies.  Steel boning is a must.  Plastic boned corsets shouldn’t even be considered corsets, in my corset-snob opinion!

An excited child waking up Christmas morning to find an adorable new puppy, what’s more timeless? If you’re thinking of adding a four legged friend to the family this year, please adopt. Think of every reason you can to purchase a pet, rather than adopt…..now give us ten minutes of your time, we just might change your mind.

In the U.S. over 7 million healthy dogs and cats are euthanized every year.

That’s over 19,000 per day! If you live to be 100, and said the name of one animal every day that was euthanized, you would not be able to honor the memory of even 25% of these animals. In Dallas/Ft.Worth alone, over 100,000 dogs and cats end up in shelters annually, with 69% being destroyed. But it’s not all doom and gloom.

You can be part of the solution.

Choose the Right Pet for You

Thousands of animals are surrendered daily by owners who chose the wrong pet for their lifestyle. By taking the time to choose the correct pet for your situation, you may save a life. Here is a website that helps you make the right choice.

Never buy an animal. Choose adoption.

This is simple supply and demand. If no one is purchasing dogs, breeders will stop making more. Hopefully one day we will get to the point that all dogs and cats have been adopted and being a “responsible breeder” is possible and viable. We are not in danger of that day coming any time soon.

Myth: I want specific purebred. This means I have to purchase my dog.

Fact: There are rescue groups all over the country that deal with specific breeds. You can get a purebred dog without purchasing a dog.

I have two beautiful purebred Siberian Huskies. I adopted one, and rescued the other when his litter was left on the side of a Texas highway. They are beautiful, fun, and loving dogs and I am constantly complimented on them at dog parks all over the city- and I didn’t pay a penny to a breeder.

Links to Purebred Rescues in Dallas/Fort Worth:
Adopt a Husky
Adopt a Pit-bull
Adopt a Cocker Spaniel
Rescue a Greyhound

There are countless others, just Google “Adopt a ______ (breed) & _________ (city you live in)”

Spay/Neuter

Myth: It is cruel to spay/neuter an animal.

Fact: Recovery time is a matter of days in most cases. Spaying and neutering also eliminates a slew of health problems for your pet including: pregnancy complications, reproductive cancers, hernias, and Perianal gland adenomas.

Myth: I have a purebred, and he/she is too beautiful/smart/exceptional not to reproduce. I am giving a gift to others by creating more dogs/cats in this line.

Fact: No matter how exceptional your pet is, the fact is that pet overpopulation has reached crisis levels. There a literally millions of animals in shelters waiting to die. If even 1% of those animals are as amazing as your pet, that’s far too many to justify intentionally making more animals.

Myth: I will be a responsible breeder.

Fact: I argue that there is no such thing. Responsibility involves looking out for the welfare all of all animals, not just the ones you have in your yard and who can add to your income. What happens all too often is unwanted pregnancies. No matter how closely you watch your pet, there is a stray animal watching them closer, and they will break fences and leashes to mate with your pet. The results are often unwanted mixed breeds that end up in shelters, and ultimately are put to death.

Myth: It is too expensive to spay/neuter.

Fact: There are low cost programs all over the country, the most notable being the SPCA. At the Dallas SPCA you can spay/neuter a cat for $40-$45 and a dog for $50-$100 based on weight. Contact the clinic here to schedule an appointment.

Can’t Take on Another Full-time Pet, But Want to Help?

Foster Animal Rescues all over the country are in dire need of foster families. Many cover the costs of the foster care including vet bills, food, medicines while you provide a loving temporary home. While being a foster parent can be challenging when it comes time to release the pet to a permanent home, the rewards are amazing!

Donate Donate time or money to an organization that rescues animals. Or purchase items from their stores for everyone on your holiday list. Something as simple as choosing to purchase your holiday cards from a rescue organization can save a life, and encourage others to do the same!

Broke? Loving dogs and cats in area shelters are in need of folks to volunteer to feed them, walk them, and snuggle them.

It’s that time of year again & shopping is on your list of things to do. To make the season a little merrier for all on your list, we have compiled a list of Pin Curl Magazine’s Favorite Things! What makes this list even better is not only are they amazing gifts, but every company is individually owned and operated! Give an amazing gift while helping out small business owners, and most are in your own community.

$10 & Under

Pin-Up Balm $4
PinUpBalm.com
With a huge assortment of flavors, all natural ingredients, and their super cute vintage pin-up tins, these lip balms are the perfect choice for healthy lips all winter!

Chocolate Secrets Handmade Two-Piece Box $5
ChocolateSecrets.net
This independently owned chocolate shoppe is a Dallas treasure. If you’ve never been to Chocolate Secrets, you are missing a divine experience in handmade chocolates!

Eye Dust by Medusa’s Makeup $6
MedusasMakeup.com
You cannot find more vibrant colors with more built in bling than Eye Dust by Medusa’s Makeup. We are partial to Barbarella, Helter Skelter, Soylent Green.

Wicked Winter Collection Votive Gift Set by Evening Eclipse $9.99
EveningEclipse.com
We cannot rave about their scents enough, and with this gift set you get to experience all four scents in the winter collection including my favorite, twisted cocoa! Better still- it comes beautifully packaged with a glass votive cup.

$25 & Under

Peacock Fascinator by Tara to the T $22
TaraToTheT.etsy.com
The extraordinary Tara Tonini has done it again! This fascinator is not only beautiful; it’s super easy and comfortable thanks to its attached wrapped headband. Though her work is known all of the country, Tara still makes every accessory herself right here in Dallas!

Day of the Dead Small Handbag by Dakota Darling Designs $25
DakotaDarling.com
We adore the Day of the dead motif with all of its colorful skulls, and no one does it better than Dakota Darling. She also offers a giant flat bottom purse design with inner pockets that is perfect for toting all of your daily baggage! Another plus: Dakota loves custom orders!

Miss Kitty Craft Apron by MiaMaria Designs $25
MiaMaria.etsy.com
Covered in vintage pin-ups, this apron has lots o’ pockets which makes keeping track of your glue gun and rhinestones a breeze!

$50 & Under

Snitches Get Stitches Black Pencil Skirt by Poisoned Creations $36
PoisonedCreations.etsy.com
We love the idea of dressing like a tough Bettie! The skirt is made of black stretch twill and at the bottom right of the skirt is a metallic silver knuckle duster with a zipper down the back middle. Seams are serged and top stitched.

The Temptress Rhinestone Pasties by Laura Darling $45
LauraDarlingDelux.etsy.com
We love …Laura, darling’s sense of bling! No one will be able to resist you in the Temptress. Pale pink satin is adorned with hundreds of match pink rhinestones, surrounded by black Chantilly lace then finished with a plush black tassel.

Victorian Doll Mini Top Hat by Cryptic Culture Gear $49
CrypticCultureGear.etsy.com
This fabulous mini hat is uber-feminine! It is made with vintage lace (around the brim), beige faux-suede, pink lace, a mini vanity mirror, feathers, bows and flowers. An amazing edition to a costume, or a spectacular showpiece in and of itself!

Dakota Darling, Evening Eclipse,  MiaMaria, Poisoned Creations, & Tara to the T will all be selling their awesome goods at Gifts and Garters on Dec 5th in Dallas.

Originally posted here: http://www.queensofvintage.com/we-love-vintage-manicures/4

We love vintage manicures

by Lena

The most noticeable difference to today’s manicures is in the painting technique. It was considered to be a sign of good breeding during the late Twenties and early Thirties, to paint only part of the nail, leaving the moons and the tips un-coloured.

It may be more time consuming to achieve than painting the whole nail, but it does make the manicure last longer, particularly if you spend a lot of time typing!  This style was considered more conservative and left the painting of the whole nail to those women who were more considered ’extreme’. By the late Thirties however, Helena Rubenstein was an advocate for painting the whole nail, moons and all, heralding a new look in nail fashion.

The basic steps of a vintage manicure are the same as those you would practice today:

• Start by filing the nails into an oval or almond shape before soaking, so they don’t shred or tear.
• Soak the nails in a mild soapy solution. When the skin has softened, use an orange stick to push back the cuticles and remove any dead skin.
• Massage in cuticle oil, then remove any excess from the nail with a remover.
• Cover the whole nail in a clear, hardening undercoat and allow to thoroughly dry.
• Apply French Manicure strips to the moon and the tip area of the nail to create the block-out effect.
• Apply the polish slightly overlapping the strips. Apply two coats and allow to dry thoroughly in between. You may also want to apply a hardener on the last coat.
• Before the final coat is completely dry, remove the French strips, to prevent any lifting or tearing of the polish should it be completely dry.

1 oz Spiced Rum (Sailor Jerry’s or Captain Morgan are good choices)
.5 oz ginger brandy
4 oz eggnog
1 Ginger Snap cookie

Blend all liquid ingredients in blender until desired consistency is reached. Pour into tall glass and garnish with cookie for dunking.