Bettie Page Experience

Last week i was involved in a photo-shoot, but this one was not just any ordinary photo-shoot. I am part of a roller derby team called Hot Wheel Roller Derby and as part of that team we all need photos for our alter egos, mine is Imelda Mayhem after the singer Imelda May.


I never really wear dresses and when i do it takes me ages to choose the right one. My main problem, if you want to call it that, is that i have a larger than normal bust and a very tiny waste. Which often makes it hard to choose what tops to wear and shopping is a nightmare. At Sasparilla my sister loves vintage clothing, Betty Page and Vivien of Holloway, as does my idol Imelda May.

So when it came to choose an outfit for the photoshoot i wanted to be as much like my idol as possible, but with a little flare of Imelda Mayhem. The only was to do Imelda May justice was to wear a Betty Page dress. I chose a Red Swing dress; tight around the waist and top of the dress patterned and in that old sailors uniform style. It meant that there was plenty of room up top. It fitted like a dream, it really made all of my good features stand out and it was good at hiding those "muffin tops" everyone likes to talk about these days.

To make the day even better we had a great photographer, Sophie Turner, www.boxhand.co.uk . It was clear that we had all not experienced such a photo-shoot before. All the girls were helping each other to get their make up on and to get their outfits sorted. Sophie helped all the girls decide what to wear making sure that their outfits looked good on them and most importantly that they suite their alter ego. So when we were in front of the camera we all felt fantastic and comfortable. I have to say that all the photos look fantastic, everyones personality shines and the photos are so vibrant. You can look at all the photos from the day here

If i learned anything from the photo-shoot is wearing the Betty Page dress is that it really pays to get somthing that fits your body shape just right and having that courage to maybe try somthing a little different. With out this experience i may not have had the confidence to try a different flare, but don't wait like i did, just go for it. And if you havent found that dress that doesnt fit you quite right dont worrie it will be there somewhere, maybe in Sasparilla or hiding behind that alter ego dieing to jump out.

All Photos Copy write Sophie Turner (www.Boxhand.co.uk)