Southern Oregon Pin-Ups Provide a Boost of Confidence Through Vintage Fashion
Click the play button below to hear my interview with the local Piston Penny:
Southern Oregon has numerous things to be famous for and proud of, from the scenery to the climate all the way to iconic and unusual things like one of a kind cheeses and a live and let live attitude. Southern Oregon is a unique place all of its own. Something unique and most intriguing of all is what begins to happen in the small town of Grants Pass when the rainy season makes way to longer days and later sunsets. It begins with classic cars and hot rods and moves forward through to phosphates and sock hops.
Digitally created fan art of Piston Penny created by artist Shiloh Silveira, October 2017.
(Shiloh Silveira)
The local pharmacy begins its busy season of phosphate and milkshake sales. The crowds fill in and hope to get in early just for a place to sit at the iconic bar. They sit on their stools as they wait for freshly made, brightly colored and bubbly phosphates and traditionally made milk shakes so thick and rich they require an extra-large straw and spoon. Shops all over old town sixth street, blast music from the classic fifties era and natives and visitors alike can’t help but feel the urge to twist, shake, rattle and roll as they stroll through downtown. For Grants Pass summer time means car shows and cruises, milkshakes and concerts, and even more interesting Summer Time means, pin-ups.
Sha Lehmberg as Piston Penny poses in a classic soda fountain setting. (Copyright Ratrod
Ray Photography)
As soon as the weather begins to warm you can see it slowly grow, this phenomenon of sorts. Women of all ages, body types, and ethnicities begin flashing cherry red lip stick, classic cat eyes, pin curls and peep toe heels. Summer time for Southern Oregon means stepping back in time and revisiting the golden age of the 1940’s and 1950’s. This strange occurrence happens each year and has since before many of us can remember.
Sha sits in a classic pinup pose with her 74 FJ40 Land Cruiser. (Mason Lehmberg)
For Sha Lehmberg, her love of all things pin up began over six years ago when passion for classic cars began blending into fashion. Pin-up fashion gave her a way to build her own self confidence and also spread into a world of sisterhood and lifting up fellow women. She first began her journey by delving down the rabbit hole of pin-up tutorials on YouTube and states that for her, the rest is history. After attending a few car shows in her full attire, and then competing in pin up contests, she began being recognized, even after competition losses. She has done numerous charity work for the community, continuing events for the local humane society. Even more fascinating is that she even gained small notoriety all the way in Sweden. Her pin-up identity of Piston Penny, has become a security blanket of sorts that gives her confidence to flourish as an individual and pushes her to further her work of celebrating women. For Sha and many other women in the local pin-up community the lifestyle is about so much more than fashion. It is
about showcasing an identity that is true to yourself,
no matter your body type, race, or social grouping.
As pin-up culture has only grown over the years since the original wartime ladies that were painted on planes and posted up in barracks it has evolved into something deeper. Though they may not be painted on fighter planes or encouraging troops to keep their spirits high as they head off to war, pin-up culture is still spreading strength and encouragement. This time the pride comes to all genders, especially women. Pin-up fashion has migrated towards a movement of body positivity and love for being a woman. With women like Oregon raised, Cherry Dollface leading the way through to normal being overrated and that our flaws and individuality make us sexy, more and more women find their comfort and strength in this vintage ideal. Pin up is a non-stop movement in women’s empowerment, that even after all of these years continues to grow and inspire strength in the future generations.
Sha Lehmberg poses at a booth selling Pin Up calendars
at a local charity function, August 2014. (Mason Lehmberg)
