The British Belles: The 12 Days of Christmas... Olive Martini

Hello! Olive Martini here, proud member of The British Belles. You may know me as infirmaryblues on Instagram. I’m 19 years old (soon to be 20 on Monday!) and I live in Manchester. I work full-time in an office job, and I spend the majority of my time trying to salvage my hair from the torrential rain. My life goals are to create the perfect victory rolls and to find industrial strength, smudge-proof red lipstick.

There are so many things I love about pin-up culture, especially the confidence boost it has given me. The style definitely caters to all shapes and sizes, and I have never felt more comfortable in own body than in the past 12 months. I don’t feel any pressure to be any thinner, which is something I’ve always felt before I was introduced to pin up. I would definitely attribute a lot of that to the flattering style of clothing – pencil skirts and wiggle dress changed my life. Secondly, everyone in the community is so welcoming and supportive. Take the Belles for example. Many of us – myself included – have yet to have the pleasure to meet each other in real life, we were simply brought together through a mutual love of vintage clothing, red lipstick and Diana Dors.

My pin-up inspirations? Dita Von Teese, Marilyn Monroe, Diana Dors, Jayne Mansfield,Betty Grable, Diablo Rose, Bettie Page… and of course, my fellow Belles.

This year, I’d love Santa to bring me a Pin Up Girl Clothing Jenny Skirt in Pink Castle Print, Michelline Pitt’s hair and make-up DVD, Dita’s ‘Rouge’ fragrance and a life-time supply of seamed stockings.

Olive's Top 5 Old-Hollywood Flicks:

Some Like It Hot (1959)

My ultimate favourite! I must have seen it a dozen times and I never grow tired of it. Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon are comedy genius,

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

Starring Jane Russell and my beloved Marilyn Monroe, I absolutely adore this film. I like to channel my love for it by wearing my Pin Up Girl Clothing 'Lorelei' Dress!

How To Marry A Millionaire (1953)