EXCHANGE: Lovers of fashion celebrate vintage styles

ALEDO, Ill. (AP) - The top of Malina Lee's vibrantly red hair was swept up and pinned into perfectly coiled curls and rolls; the remainder trailed down her back in bouncy, flowing waves.

She pursed her lips, closed her eyes and with jet black eyeliner, Nicole "Red" Perez of Bettendorf added classic wings to her eyelids.

It was late morning on a Saturday, and Lee and about a half-dozen other women were getting dolled up at Lee's boutique, Odd Bettie's, for the afternoon's Dangerous Dames Pin-Up Pageant in the city's Central Park.

Lee, who also lives in Aledo, was preparing to host the pageant with Becca Nicke of Moline. Nicke and Perez co-own Abernathy's, a Davenport shop that offers eclectic vintage and handmade clothing and more.

All three women are part of a close-knit, Quad-Cities area crew hailing from all walks of life but bound together by a common love for vintage style and fashion. Their common interest in all things retro is what drove Lee and Nicke to create the group they all belong to, True Pinups Quad Cities.

In 2013, Lee started traveling across the Midwest for pinup contests and car shows. "I fell in love," she said. "During that time, I had a lot of women asking me many questions about how I got started doing pinup contests, where did I find my clothing, who did my hair, etc. I decided what better way to do all of that at the same time than have some sort of get-together?"

Thus, True Pinups Quad Cities was born. The name was chosen "because I felt (the group) gave women a way to find their true self," Lee said.

Lee said vintage fashion is something everyone is drawn to in one way or another because it is so "unique and classy."

"The way each piece of vintage clothing is made - you can tell a lot of time went into designing each detail," she said. And pieces were "built to last, unlike today's clothing."

Retro hairstyles also go far beyond the beach waves, side-swept bangs and messy buns of today. "Victory rolls, finger waves and bumper bangs are something you don't really see people do to their hair" these days, Lee said. They are reminiscent of "a beautiful era where people spent a lot of time and effort (on) making themselves feel and look beautiful."

True Pinups Quad Cities meets as often as members' schedules allow, Lee said - about "once every few months."

Lee's shop moved to a new location in Aledo last year, and after this year's record-breaking flood, Abernathy's moved to a new Davenport address, too. "It's been kind of crazy with us both moving shops," she said.

Gatherings include everything from brunch at area restaurants and picnics to outings to catch local bands, thrifting trips and more, Lee said.

The group has about 50 members of all ages and places in their lives. "My favorite thing about (the group) is that it gives me a chance to meet people in different walks of life," Lee said. "And if I can teach them something, such as find (the) confidence to meet new people, wear something they always wanted to wear, build self-confidence, or find a reason to make (themselves) feel beautiful . that is my favorite part."

Lee said women have joined the group for many reasons. "They might be looking for a way to make new friends. ... Some women want a reason to get dolled up and show off their love for vintage fashion, and they feel more comfortable doing that around other women who are dressed the same. A lot of women work so much or have children, and it's hard for them to find time to take for themselves, so this gives them an outlet to do so."

"It doesn't take any money to come and join us," Lee said. "You don't have (to) come with your hair pinned up or have a vintage outfit; you can come as you are, and if you're interested in ... vintage or retro clothing, we will tell you where to find them."

Women also shouldn't be worried about their size when it comes to finding vintage and retro clothing, Lee said. "In our pinup community, we have outlets to find clothing in all different sizes," from extra small to 5X and larger.

There is "no barrier to be a part of True Pinups," Lee said. It "doesn't matter your age, size, or where you are in your life; if you find yourself interested in joining us, please do. We would be so excited to have you join the most uplifting, empowering and evolving group of women you'd ever meet."

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Source: Quad Cities Online, https://bit.ly/2lNcBeL

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Information from: The Dispatch - The Rock Island Argus, http://www.qconline.com