STYLE ICON: HILDA THE PLUS SIZE PIN-UP


Plus Size Style Icon is a fashion series inspired by kick-ass women we love in pop culture. They may or may not be plus size themselves but GUESS WHAT? You can wear their look no matter your size because plus women deserve to rock whatever goddamn style they want. So rock it. ROCK IT HARD. If you missed the other Plus-Size Icon Posts... fix that! They include: Ms. FrizzlePeggy CarterMiss Fisher (my favorite), Beth DittoFelicity Smoak (the Internet's favorite), and Eloise.
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Allow me to introduce you to one of the sexiest women to never exist: Hilda the original plus-size pin-up. The following is an obsessive exploration of her pretend life and wardrobe... and it may be a liiiiiiittle over the top. Not that its a bad thing, but you've been properly warned.

Hilda was visual magic created by Duane Byers in 1957 for a Bigalow & Brown calendar and she challenged the conventional pin-up for more than 20 years. I distinctly remember coming across her years ago and instantly knowing that if she was a real person... we would have been best friends. 



Not only was she gorgeous, but she was also a stylin' maven with fashion sense to spare. I've spent an unhealthy amount of time researching plus clothing options for us so that we can channel her all summer long! I must say- it was nearly impossible to find similar outfits that were both available, adorable, and appropriately sized. I cursed the clothing industry for hours, but after finishing I felt quite pleased with myself. So- be babely now, and thank me later. All image links run clockwise; enjoy the experience. Three cheers for being undeniably fat and sexy!







Daisy chain headband//oil painting kit//nudity is optional, but highly recommended 


I took the liberty of selecting a few extra accessories that I have a feeling Hilda would have loved. I used to own a petal cap like the one below... and I now regret not joining a fatty synchronized swim team like this one to properly show it off!


Vintage chiffon hair scarves are a summer must (if you're into that kind of thing) and you can watch a great tutorial video here if you have questions.

And lastly, lets just take a moment to admire this painting of beautiful Hilda who fell asleep while reading a poetry book and eating crackers in bed. No shame here; just the sweetest smile as she dreams about her next picnic adventure.


I just love her. 

Tell me: who is your favorite pin-up? And who would you style your wardrobe after?

24 comments

  1. I love her! I stumbled across her a couple of weeks ago on Pinterest but I had no idea how many other pictures there were of her out there! I've got a little board of all of my favourite pin ups but I think this beauty would have to be one of my favs! http://pinterest.com/pin/224617100137779425/

    xx

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  2. Oh, what gorgeous illustrations! Hilda is a babe. Her figure actually reminds me of mine- little waist with big hips and a rolling tummy! She makes me feel good about my shape! GO HILDA!

    Becky
    xx

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  3. This is amazing. I love this! MORE, lol.

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  4. Oh I adore her. Those daisy chains amuse me to no end.

    Katie @ Horrific Knits

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  5. Crazy thing is she's not even "plus-sized". She's just a regular sized girl. Pretty sexy if you ask me ;)
    Www.whosthafairest.con

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  6. I love the fact that he gave her a full chin and round face. So she isn't just curvy in a few places, she actually looks like a real "plus sized" woman.

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  7. I love her face, especially. Great expression.

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  8. Oh gosh, I love her! Especially her derpy face in the sandwich photo

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  9. this post is amazing! what a beautiful short haired beauty! now if we can just get some pinups with body hair ;-)

    i think i'll take hilda's wardrobe— it seems to mostly be swimsuits and i can really got down with running about half naked!

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  10. SO SO cute, and I love how you turned this into a fun bathingsuit moodboard. Hilda is a hottie! Love ya gal, always inspiring the heck out of me!

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  11. I love this post! I wrote a blog post about her a few months ago and how much she inspired me! I have pictures of her all over my house now! She's perfect. Thanks for links, too. I want that shower cap!

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  12. You did a great job. Thanks for introducing me to Hilda; I had never seen her.

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  13. I love love love Hilda! My friend gave me a vintage Hilda calendar for my birthday one year and I have it safely stashed away until I can afford to frame each page. I treasure it! <3

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  14. I love love love Hilda! My friend gave me a vintage Hilda calendar for my birthday one year and I have it safely stashed away until I can afford to frame each page. I treasure it! <3

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  15. This is awesome Jes. I just recently discovered Hilda via Tumblr. I wish I had seen her as a yougnster, what a confidence booster to see a pin-up closer to my own size. Kudos to you for all the work you put into this. That last picture of Hilda is totally me.

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  16. This is just fantastic! I just got a 50s inspired swimsuit for my beach vacation. I'm absolutely going to channel Hilda all week! I can especially relate to the pic where she's painting her house. That has been my whole last year or so!

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  17. the pin-up pictures are just exquisite! it has piqued my interest into pin-up girls!

    the swimsuit suggestions are great and couldn't have come at a better time for me as I am currently looking for swimwear x

    www.thatgoodgirlchi.blogspot.co.uk

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  18. There need to be more pin-ups like that and I love your swim suit suggestions!

    xx
    Kelly
    Sparkles and Shoes
    Don't forget about the switch to BlogLovin'!

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  19. I love the pictures & think they're adorable, but for the most part they seem to portray her as goofy & uncoordinated. Any sexiness seems cheeky & completely unplanned by her. I wish the artist would have actually shown Hilda in a purposeful sexy, come hither pose. That's my only Hilda complaint, hehe.

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  20. This is too cute! I love the outfit posts with the photos.

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  21. I've loved Hilda for years! Not only the funny situations she finds herself in, but the fact that she is kind of making fun of traditional pins ups in a funny way. It doesn't hurt that she has a cute dog too.

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  22. I wish I could remember which Etsy shop that I love uses a Hilda pic as a banner - it's all plus size goodness. Hilda is my new hero and I love her no-bullshit, getting-things-done-while-looking-cute attitude.

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  23. Great post! I have a pic of her in my office that I got from a thrift shop, you have some great pics of her!!

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