Plus Size Pinup: Fran Robertson

Meet Fran. She makes costumes and hairpieces (specialising in the weird and wonderful) and works as a wardrobe stylist as well as doing hair and makeup. She dabbles in portrait photography, is an all round awesome babe and to top it all off she is a Miss Pinup New Zealand 2016 finalist. I was excited to be able to catch up with her to ask a few questions about her style, being body positive and being a plus size woman in the Miss Pinup New Zealand 2016 finals.

1. What’s your favourite place to shop?
Locally – City Chic, the New Lynn Hospice Shop, and Rita Sue Clothing
Online – Collectif Clothing (and Moxie Mama Wear for great petticoats!)

2. Who/what inspires your fashion choices?
My gorgeous pinup friends (who I am always poaching ideas from!) and my eternal love for ridiculously bright colours and tropical prints!

3. Is pin up an everyday look for you? What aspects of this do you carry over to your everyday life?
It certainly is! In fact, I barely own casual clothes – I had to buy a pair of leggings for the last scout camp I went on, so I could still do all the activities without showing off too much leg!

4. What vintage era is your favourite and why?
Definitely the late 1950s and early 60s. This was a key period in history in regards to politics, cinema, and the changing roles of women in the workplace. It was also a time when people were getting really creative with entertaining, so home décor was on a whole other level!

5. How did you become interested in pin up culture?
I’ve always been interested in fashion history, and have also always been a touch eccentric, so it was inevitable that the two would collide! But it goes well beyond clothes, you know? The whole culture is hugely empowering – thanks to the courageous women before us who paved the way for today’s interpretation of feminism, we can be whoever we want and dress however we want, without having to live through the societal expectations of the time period we draw influence from. I hear a lot of girls saying that they were born in the wrong era, but I couldn’t disagree more! We live in a world where we have the choice to dress however we like, and can connect with people all over the world with similar interests and ideals, and I think that’s the coolest thing ever!

6. What made you decide to enter Miss Pin Up New Zealand 2016?
I’m on a bit of a quest for self-development at the moment – It’s really important to me to try everything, and be brave! This is a competition that I’ve seen a huge number of my friends use as a platform for growth, and I really just wanted to have a crack at it! Plus, it’s a really good excuse to utilise my skills, meet new people, and make pretty new things!

7. How do you show your body love?
Cosmetically, I’ve turned my areas of body-insecurity into something to be proud of – I’m covered in beautiful art work done by an amazing friend of mine, and I dress to accentuate my shape rather than hide it. I’ve also been a strict vegetarian for the last 16 years, and I’m caffeine-free, which helps me to feel good on the inside too!

8. What do you do in your spare time?
I’m a big fan of cult cinema – 1960s B-Grade horrors and grindhouse flicks – as well as comic books and video games! I’m also heavily involved in Scouting and a lot of my time is devoted to my roles within the organisation as both a leader and a youth member.

9. What’s one piece of advice that you’d give to your teenage self?
Never let being ‘right’ be more important than being friends, and always apologise when you forget that.

10. Describe your style in six words or less.
Colourful, kitschy, eccentric, and carefully curated!

Make sure you take the time to vote for Fran in Miss Pinup New Zealand 2016, and head along to the Very Vintage Day Out to support her as she competes for the title! You can follow Fran’s adventures on her blog, Facebook and Instagram.