The New York Pin-Up Photography Meetup Group

Photographs: David Rosenzweig

Strike a pose
Wanna rock it like a Vargas girl? Do your homework. McDermott studies facial expressions and positions on thepinupfiles.com before hitting the studio, and recommends noobs try the “Zero to 60” look. “Start with no expression, and at the count of three, go to completely surprised,” she says. “It looks more sincere than holding the same posed look for 20 seconds.” Of course, sincerity isn’t exactly a hallmark of pinup photography. “When you’re doing a cheesy pinup, you have to act cheesy!” says McDermott. Practice Sin Dee’s signature move, for example: Start with your feet together, bending at the knees and sticking out your butt. “Suck in the tummy and throw your shoulders back,” she says. “Put a hand on your hip and blow the camera a big kiss while winking. Classic!”

Hit the town
Jacci Fredenburg, 27, a stylist and corset designer, joined the Pin-Up Club six months ago; her favorite retro haunt is Yaffa Café (97 St. Marks Pl between First Ave and Ave A, 212-677-9001). “I love the leopard-print wallpaper and the pinup decor,” she enthuses. Jessica Villanelli, 32, a pinup from Jersey City, favors the tiki bar Otto’s Shrunken Head (538 E 14th St between Aves A and B, 212-228-2240) and the salon-themed Beauty Bar (231 E 14th St between Second and Third Aves, 212-539-1389). Sin Dee, meanwhile, ranks Fontana’s (105 Eldridge St between Broome and Grand Sts, 212-334-6740) as tops, thanks to its “great red diner-style booths and pinup artwork.” Another fave: Labor Day weekend’s Coney Island Rockabilly Festival (myspace.com/cockabillyrecordsnyc). Sin Dee says the fest is packed with “old-fashioned men just waiting to be picked up.” And really, what sort of retro girl wouldn’t love a dandy boy?

PUT YOUR NEW PINUP SKILLS TO USE!
Original Sin Hard Cider is hosting a pinup contest at Double Down Saloon (14 Ave A at Houston St, 212-982-0543) on Thursday 2 at 9pm. The winner will be immortalized on an Original Sin poster by cheeky retro artist R. Black. (Past winners serving as judges include illustrator Molly Crabapple, go-go dancer Amber Star and model-cum-designer Storm.) To enter, e-mail sininfo@origsin.com. Ogling is free.

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