Say hi to, Phoebe Nyx our April Pinup of the Month! She's Charlotte NC's resident amazon with fabulous stage presence and an addiction to the colour green, that is evident in her dress and stage byline, 'The Chartreuse Chanteuse'. You may have noticed that our usual. question heading colour for our Pinup of the Month interviews is green, but this month we have been drawn over to the green side by Phoebe, and we love it! Thanks Green Lady, it's been great finding out more about you!
How did you choose your Pinup name? I’ve loved and studied Greco-Roman mythology for as long as I can remember, and so I turned to the classical world for a chance to play with name meanings. I'm also an amateur astronomer, and I wanted to incorporate my love for the moon, night, and stargazing. Phoebe means moon, light, and bright, and is an epithet of the goddess Artemis. Nyx means night, and it's the time of day when I'm the happiest, out stargazing.
As a pinup and a burlesque variety act, I'm delighted to be moonlighting in the evenings, and my name tells you so! And, let’s face it, as a 5’11” woman without my heels on, just like the moon and night sky, you're going to have to look up to appreciate it! *giggle*
Why do you love pinup?
I love the style and silhouettes of the 40s and 50s, from the stunning fit and flare of Dior’s New Look to the victory rolls and waves to the bold lip and winged liner! Pinup is a way to connect with not only the fashion and music of an iconic era, but also the strength and beauty of our mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers, the generation of women who paved the way for modern feminism.
Would you like to share your favourite beauty tip?
Ooh! There are so many! I feel like I'm constantly learning. It's rare to see me without The Pinup Trifecta - big hair, winged liner, and a bold lip, but I'll be darned if I let the Trifecta get in the way of me enjoying myself! Hair was the hardest for me. My hair is frizzy, wavy, and unruly, and I'd never been able to get it to hold curl with heat. It hates hairbrushes and behaving.
Once I learned to wetset my hair about once a week with pre-mixed LottaBody and pincurls, and I keep my curls longer by just running my fingers through them on Day 1. A quick re-pin (about half the bobby pins I use in my set) in the evenings, and I'm good to go! A good setting lotion has been the difference, and my Denman brush keeps my curls and waves neater without disguising my natural texture.
Find what works for your hair by being willing to experiment. If you're new to pinup, it's likely your hair will need time to adjust to fewer washings, so work your way up gradually.
What’s your favourite aspect of the Pinup and Rockabilly subculture?
I love the instant connection and camaraderie when you spot another pinup, whether it's online or in-person. This community is so encouraging, body-positive, and supportive, and the fellowship is beautifully international!
When did you know that pinup was the right thing for you?
I think I've always known! I was a little girl who loved foam rollers, diners, classic cars, and antique malls, and a high schooler who adored films like Grease, A League of Their Own, and Swing Kids, and bands like Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, The Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, and the Brian Setzer Orchestra. When I had chances to dress up, you'd catch me in 40s style fitted or 50s fit-and-flare dresses, dancing with friends in zoot suits and fedoras. I’d truly connected with the era’s revival, and wanted nothing more for my personal style than to be a pinup! As an adult, I have the time, patience, and passion to make it happen, and I couldn't be happier to have settled in to mid-century vintage.
What drew you to burlesque and what do you love most about being on stage? I’ve been a performer as long as I can remember...between orchestra, folk music, Renaissance Festivals, costumed characters, and burlesque, I'm always around a crowd. There's a rush, a feeling of flying and soaring when I sing and play music, that is beyond compare. I need to create and to make art, and burlesque allows me to do so in a way that connects with a rich performance history!
What advice would you like to give to new pinups?
Be patient with yourself as you're learning, know that this is a warm, welcoming, fabulously friendly community, and have an absolute blast! Find your own way to pinup, your own style and aesthetic, and be uniquely you!
Favourite business shoutout!
I love What Katie Did, B.A.I.T. Footwear, and Lucky Lou Shoes for reproduction vintage, RetroVerte, Erstwilder, and Daisy Jean Floral for jewelry, and my hometown shop, Kitsch-y Cool Vintage, for true vintage pieces. When I walk in to Sleepy Poet Antique Mall, where Kitsch-y Cool’s shop is located, the staff smiles and says, “Hi, Green Lady! Welcome back!” That's a lovely feeling!
Images by Altered Ego Images (www.alteredegoimages.com),
Ethereal Visionz Photography (www.facebook.com/etherealvisionsstudio),
Ron Tencati Photography (www.rontencatiphotography.com)
HMU by Phoebe Nyx