Two fresh pinup publications for my 50th birthday: Atomic Beauties “Bathing Cuties” special issue and this month’s Bombshell!

For my big birthday, Marilee Caruso and I shot a couple of cute sets at our favorite mid century central-coast California hotel. We created some cute 1960s-inspired images in our suite’s pink bathroom and some glamour-gown photos in the main areas of the room.

The room, like all the suites at the hotel, has a name – “Old Fashioned Honeymoon” – and features decor based firmly in the nostalgic Victorian craze of the late 1960s and early 1970s. 

Pink birthday images by Marilee!
Pink birthday images by Marilee!

The pink bathroom shots – which found a home in this month’s “Bathing Cuties” special edition by Atomic Beauties magazine – are probably my favorite. I found a 60s-ish pink babydoll set at Adoreme with a giant pink satin bow at the bust and bought a pink velvet bow from Vixen by Micheline Pitt to match.

More after the jump… Continue reading “Two fresh pinup publications for my 50th birthday: Atomic Beauties “Bathing Cuties” special issue and this month’s Bombshell!”

A Regency costume picnic for Jane Austen’s 250th birthday

Back in May, my friend Elizabeth and I attended the Greater Bay Area Costumers’ Guild picnic in honor of Jane Austen’s 250th birthday! Austen’s my favorite writer (my pinup name is an allusion to the heroine of Northanger Abbey), and I really like Regency historic fashions, so of course we had to go! 

New Regency gown at McNears Park
New Regency gown at McNears Park.

Like the Persuasion event our group sponsored three years ago in honor of Austen’s novel, this picnic took place at McNears Beach in San Rafael. The park at McNears is the former site of a 19th century bayside resort, so the views are lovely and there are a lot of weird old palms dotted picturesquely throughout the lawn areas. 

More after the jump… Continue reading “A Regency costume picnic for Jane Austen’s 250th birthday”

A Retro Lovely pinup cover in Bettie Page Lingerie!

Thanks to Retro Lovely, I’m on the cover of Vol. 244 of the flagship! The photography, set, makeup, and hair are the work of the always-fabulous Marilee Caruso, while the wardrobe was provided by Bettie Page Lingerie!

Catherine Morland on the cover of Retro Lovely Magazine
Catherine Morland on the cover of Retro Lovely Magazine.

The Bettie Page set is the Cleo Contrast Stitch Retro set, in stunning pink and light turquoise! Marilee reconstructed her pink and teal boudoir set for the occasion, creating an all-new seamless background with pretty gold stars. We love how it turned out!

The Cleo set is sized up to about 20 US. I usually wear size 18 US in Bettie Page Lingerie bottoms, but this panty and girdle are size 20 US and fit very big on me (we clipped them for the photos). The 40F bra they sent was just perfect (it’s my usual size for most brands, including Bettie Page).

More after the jump… Continue reading “A Retro Lovely pinup cover in Bettie Page Lingerie!”

New publications! Classic diner pinup in The Social Pin and Lucy Westenra cosplay in Retro Lovely Vampyre

Two more pinup publications this year, both with photography, makeup and hair by Marilee Caruso! My Rick’s Dessert Diner images are in the super-duper Social Pin Issue 72 (and on the back cover!) and my Lucy Westenra (of the Coppola Bram Stoker’s Dracula adaptation fame) pics are in Volume 1 of Retro Lovely‘s new Vampyre special edition!

On the back cover of The Social Pin #72!
Lucy Westenra cosplay
Lucy Westenra cosplay in Retro Lovely Vampyre.

More after the jump…

Continue reading “New publications! Classic diner pinup in The Social Pin and Lucy Westenra cosplay in Retro Lovely Vampyre”

New pinup with Bombshell PinUp Photography!

I have two new pinup publications with some great new collaborators: Liz of Bombshell Pinup Photography and Sam of Beauty by Samantha White! Our images are featured in six-page spreads in both Retro Lovely No. 237 and Bombshell‘s February Valentine’s issue! And, we got a cover!

The first set was a lovely Gil Elvgren-inspired Valentine’s Day collection of images featuring a beautiful vintage satin comforter set acquired by Liz. I brought some cool fake roses, my vintage See’s Candy Valentine heart boxes, and a goodly chunk of my lingerie wardrobe, and here’s the result:

Catherine Morland by Bombshell PinUp Photography
Catherine Morland on the cover of Bombshell Magazine, photographed by Bombshell PinUp Photography.

Sam’s makeup was amazing, Liz’s hairstyling was sublime, and my Bettie Page lingerie, What Katie Did Demi corset, vintage jewelry, trusty dusty Manolo Blahnik Sedarabys, and Catherine D’Lish lilac Cassandra robe did their jobs!

The second look was very bondage-y, inspired by our Pinup Queen, Bettie Mae Page. I brought my hand-tooled leather collar and black lingerie, and borrowed Liz’s PVC corset, shoes, and props. Sam gave me a bold red lip and Liz gave me Bettie waves. And we were off! 

More pics from our two-look shoot after the jump…

Continue reading “New pinup with Bombshell PinUp Photography!”

A new Retro Lovely Showcase issue dedicated entirely to Catherine Morland!

So here’s some fun news! I now have a Retro Lovely Showcase special edition dedicated entirely to my pinup work with great photographers like Marilee Caruso, Miss Missy, Bettina May, and Feathered Flash!

Catherine Morland Showcase special edition by Retro Lovely
Catherine Morland Showcase special edition by Retro Lovely.

You can purchase a copy here for $25, including shipping, a sticker, and my signature!

Posters are available too, for $15 signed and shipped!

This issue, the cover poster, and my 2024 pinup calendar are also currently available via my Linktree.

More Retro Lovely Pinup to round out the year!

I have a couple of shoots coming in the new year and a set featuring my 1780s chemise a la reine that’s on the way, but now it’s time to share my last two pinup publications of 2023: Retro Lovely No. 231 and Godiva No. 61!  Marilee Caruso Photography did the photos, hair, and makeup for both shoots! 

Catherine Morland cemetery shoot in Retro Lovely
Catherine Morland cemetery shoot in Retro Lovely.
Catherine Morland cemetery shoot in Retro Lovely
Catherine Morland cemetery shoot in Retro Lovely.
Catherine Morland cemetery shoot in Retro Lovely
Catherine Morland cemetery shoot in Retro Lovely. That’s Mark Hopkins’ crypt in the background (right).

The Retro Lovely flagship set is another Halloween homage, this time at location in an historic cemetery in Sacramento! This was our third attempt to shoot this set, after tries one and two were postponed due to bad weather. Five months after our first attempt (January), we finally got the weather we needed.

I love the results: black and white, witchy, vintage! The entire outfit is Micheline Pitt, with very cheap (signed!) Manolo Blahnik Camparis I got secondhand.

The Godiva set features Marilee’s boudoir at the studio, freshly-painted green this Summer! I wanted a “New Year’s Eve” afterparty vibe, and Marilee delivered with warm lighting and festive props!

Catherine Morland in Godiva
Catherine Morland in Godiva.
Catherine Morland in Godiva
Catherine Morland in Godiva.
Catherine Morland in Godiva
Catherine Morland in Godiva.

My outfit consisted of lingerie by Dita Von Teese and a Demi Corset, stockings, and garter belt by What Katie Did Demi Corset. The shoes are my trusty Christian Louboutin Piou-pious.

As always, you can order these issues, my 2024 calendars, and any of my recent issues via my Linktree: https://linktr.ee/strangegirl

Roses and the historic Tower Theatre in Retro Lovely 229

Last month, Marilee Caruso and I took some Summery outdoor pinup images in the garden in front of Sacramento’s historic Tower Theatre. They turned out just as I’d hoped, and appear in Retro Lovely Number 229! One of the covers for this issue features Suzi Q in a great jukebox-themed pinup set also photographed by Marilee!

Catherine Morland by Marilee Caruso
Catherine Morland by Marilee Caruso.

Marilee did the fabulous 1940s-inspired makeup and hair, and I’m wearing Vixen by Micheline Pitt (her 1950s Swing Sundress in red vintage roses print – it comes with the scarf!). The bat sunglasses are also by Micheline Pitt, from her La Femme en Noir line. The shoes are by Remix (I think they’re the Veronica style, but I’ve had them for at least 8 years at this point so I can’t be sure).

Catherine Morland photographed by Marilee Caruso
Catherine Morland photographed by Marilee Caruso.
Catherine Morland by Marilee Caruso
Catherine Morland by Marilee Caruso.

We were going for mid-century old Hollywood glamour, and this locale provides that vibe. 

You can purchase this issue, and all of my issues here, or via the links in my Linktree: