It’s possible you already know of 1950s pin up girl, Betty (or Bettie) Page.

I’ve only learned of her recently, and she occupies a strange place in the history of ‘pin ups’. For one, she was certainly utilised by nudist magazines of the time, and does make a terrific advert for naturism. On the other, many of her photographs have a bit of a bondage theme in them, despite which she maintains the aura of innocence. It never looks cheap or sleazy.

On the Marketplace, it’s possible to buy a trademark Betty Page hairstyle and unleash your inner Betty. After the gallery of Betty’s photos, that’s exactly what I’ve done, and also tried to pick up a few Betty Page styled clothes with which to be Betty in Second Life, if only for an afternoon.

 

Even in slightly more sexual poses, Betty maintains an innocence

Betty as featured in a nudist magazine of the 1950s.

Dressed, she looked like a stunningly beautiful ‘girl next door’ type

 

An aura of innocence was maintained even when she brandished a whip

A winning smile disarmed the BDSM image some photo-shoots portrayed.

A striptease set Betty carries off with style and aplomb. Nothing sleazy is going on here.

Open leg shots don’t even detract from a sense of innocence.

There are few ‘sexual’ shots featuring Betty. 

Having found a suitable (free, L$0) dress at Vita Bella, I headed over to the Fin, Relive the 50s store and deposited myself into one of their window displays. I checked out their groovy record player with discs from avatar-ised Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe before I channelled my Betty persona beside a retro television set.

 

I think that if I can locate a pair of stockings, gloves and high-heeled shoes, I really do look the Betty part, don’t you?

Abigail