Pinup Girl Clothing Announces: The Magic of Mary Blair Collection by Pinup Couture
Pinup Girl Clothing is pleased to announce the release of THE MAGIC OF MARY BLAIR Collection by Pinup Couture, a Spring/Summer 2015 line of 1950s and 60s-style dresses and skirts that showcase illustrations from artist Mary Blair. Available exclusively through Pinup Girl Clothing—a Los Angeles, California-based manufacturer, boutique, and online retailer—the collection will include Blair’s original art and illustrations.
Blair—active in the 1930s through 70s, but perhaps best known by her work done for The Walt Disney Studios in the 1940s through 60s—created enchanting, immersive, playful, and inventive illustrations that perfectly encapsulate the mid-century modern aesthetic in cheerful detail. Blair’s whimsical use of bold graphics, juxtaposition of complementary and contrasting colors, and exuberant imaginativeness refused to be ignored in a male-dominated industry, so much that Blair prevailed in showcasing her talents across animated and live action films, advertising, clothing, greeting cards, retail window
displays, theatrical sets, and children’s books. Pinup Girl Clothing is honored to partner with Mary Blair’s Family Estate to spotlight Blair’s accomplishments and contributions to the twentieth century with this new collection of New Look-reminiscent frocks.
Founded in 1999, Pinup Girl Clothing produces and showcases vintage-inspired garments, styled after classic 1940s, 50s, and 60s silhouettes, but with a modern woman in mind, coining the term pinup-style clothing. Headed by CEO and co-founder and Head Designer Laura Byrnes, this LA-based, predominately female-run company believes in “Couture for Everybody”, a movement dedicated to providing an array of women’s sizes from extra small to 4X. “We believe that all women deserve the right to look and feel beautiful,” said Byrnes. “Our clothing is made to empower women, allowing them to be the best versions of themselves.”
Pinup Girl Clothing
THE MAGIC OF MARY BLAIR collection will consist of a dozen dresses and eight skirts, with all of these designs available in extra small to 4X. The collection incorporates Blair’s whimsical novelty motifs of travel—such as trains, planes, and caricatures of commuters—and girlish flair like umbrellas, butterflies, kittens, lips, and roses. Some of the art included was previously used in the 1950s for handkerchiefs and scarves manufactured for Carol Stanley Studios, New York. The collection will also showcase one of Blair’s personal artworks depicting a mother embracing her child. These designs will be incorporated as all-over and border prints on classic Pinup Couture designs, including the flirty and famed 1960s-style Jenny Dress which features adjustable straps and a gathered full skirt, the stunning 1950s-style Heidi Dress, which showcases a sweetheart neckline, covered belt, and flattering swing skirt, and the sleek and sexy Evangeline Dress, a fitted, wiggle-style style making its debut in this collection.
“This collection is a dream come true for Pinup Girl Clothing,” muses the company’s Creative Director and Assistant Designer, Micheline Pitt, who employed her own artistic talents in bringing Blair’s designs to life. “I started my career in animation—frequently the only woman in room—and Mary is my idol. She accomplished so much, refused to be overlooked in a male-dominated world, and stands out as inspiration for all graphic designers, illustrators, innovators, and dreamers today.”
“The Mary Blair Family Estate is thrilled to be associated with this exciting project,” said Blair’s nieces, Jeanne Chamberlain and Maggie Richardson. “Fashion played an important role in Mary’s life—her ‘look’ often taking center stage as she entered a room. She would be so proud to know that the magical designs she created so many decades ago have become timeless, multi-generational, and universally loved. And, she would have delighted in working alongside the dynamic and uniquely creative feminine energy that is Pinup Girl Clothing. This new collection not only captures Mary Blair’s art beautifully and boldly, as Mary painted it, but it also captures the whimsical spirit behind the art…that makes us all smile.”
The line will be available online at PinupGirlClothing.com and in the company’s flagship store, Pinup Girl Boutique (3606 Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA 91505). The first look at the entire collection of garments will be available on PinupGirlClothing.com in March, with an in-store and online launch of the entire collection by the end of April. The final pieces will be made available on Monday, April 27, 2015 on their online storefront with a launch party at their Burbank Boutique on Saturday, April 25, 2015 before their annual Pinup Parade in the Park event at Disneyland on Sunday, April 26, 2015.
