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Fashionista Tamara Suleiman is encouraging women to embrace their curves and all their edges by launching her own ‘pin up’ clothing business in Bahrain to help celebrate females of all shapes and sizes whilst making them feel glamorous.
The American 31-year-old, who has family connections to Lebanon and Palestine, adored dressing up like her idol, the iconic actress Marilyn Monroe.
She understand what it’s like to be different, battling teenage angst and bullying after being ‘body shamed’ whilst growing up in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. “When I was a chubby youngster people and even relatives used to call me ‘dab-doob’, which means ‘teddy bear’ in Arabic,” explained Tamara, who now lives in Seef.
Tamara faced many battles over weight and the experience soon convinced her that the only way to find happiness was to love herself and not try to please others. “When I started to become skinny by starving myself and almost becoming anorexic, then they called me ‘disgusting’. That was a life lesson learned.
“I stopped focusing too much on my body and began to enjoy life by participating more in outdoor activities, trying out new foods and, of course, dressing up in ‘pin up style’ as it gave me confidence to show off my big hips and thighs.”
The fashion genre, which features pencil skirts, gloves, scarves, puffy skirts and patterns such as polka dots to name but a few, boasts a Burlesque, Rockabilly and Old Hollywood Glamour appeal from the hairstyle to the shape of the shoes.
It was carried off with aplomb by famous actresses and models who appeared more full-figured in past decades and, while the ladies were mostly covered up in fitted, or flared dresses and rompers, they oozed class.
The ‘pin up’ label was a term coined because photographs of the style icons from the movie world were pinned up on locker doors, walls and poles. Despite a style that offered minimal skin exposure it still had an army of admirers.
Many fondly reminisce how the era celebrated women with curves unlike today’s much criticised fashion industry which still generally focuses on waif-like prepubescent Size Zero models, although a backlash from ‘ordinary women’ has created a shift in focus by major designers and labels.
That’s great news for entrepreneurs like Tamara. She mastered the art by studying the times of the glamourous Hollywood era, which also featured stars such as Rita Hayworth, Lana Turner and Ava Gardner.
“Ever since I was a child I’ve always loved watching classic movies and that’s where I got most of my fashion inspiration from, including hair and makeup styles,” she explained. “Living in Saudi I never had access to ‘pin up’ wear so I usually created my own using accessories and borrowing my mum’s old pencil skirt which she eventually gave me to keep!”
Although Marilyn Monroe remains her role model as she dug deeper into the style she started following Dita Von Teese, an American burlesque dancer, model, costume designer, entrepreneur, singer and actress and Miss Victory Violet, a blogger and hairdresser, who describes herself as a ‘body confidence advocate’ and full-time ‘pin up’.
“I will always love Marilyn,” she said. “I still love her style, her acting … and her birthdate is the same as mine, on June 1. My best friend and I loved to emulate her, wearing pearl accessories, laced gloves and even polka dot anything, to add a little flare to our school uniform. However, we both used to get bullied and they called us names like Michael Jacksina, a female Jackson basically. Nonetheless, it never took away the way we loved to dress.”
The current pin up revolution is being championed by celebrities such as Beyonce, Katy Perry, Scarlett Johansson and Dita Von Teese who have added modern touches to the style for their music videos, movies and stage performances.
After graduating from high school Tamara pursued her style passion and attended the École supérieure des arts et techniques de la mode (ESMOD), a French private school of fashion with bases in Dubai and Beirut, Lebanon.
Her dress sense became more retro and when she moved to Bahrain in 2013 she had fully transformed into a ‘pin up’ girl in her own right.
“I finally had access to order my own ‘pin up’ dresses and accessories whenever I travelled to London,” she said. “Plus, when I really got into ‘pin up’ I began accepting my body the way it was and loving my curves.”
Eventually, people began taking notice of her sense of style, passing compliments and asking her where she bought her dresses and swimwear from. That’s when she decided to become a fashion buyer focusing only on ‘pin up’ designs.
She launched @tamarita.fashion on Instagram last July and hasn’t looked back. Tamara sources dresses from the UK and swimwear from the US and although she is currently selling online and delivering out of her home, she has plans to expand the enterprise.
“My dream is to one day open a ‘pin up’ boutique here in Bahrain,” Tamara said. “I have received so many positive reactions and I believe there is the potential to attract an even larger group of admirers because most ladies here like to dress in a conservative but creative manner.
“No matter what your body shape or height is, in my opinion the ‘pin up’ dress will show off a curvy figure in a modest and playful way. High-waist bikinis and retro bathing suits with built-in corsets are also popular.
“The ‘pin up’ fashion style will always remain classic and the trend will never die… same as gothic, preppy, bohemian, hippie, hip hop … it’s all a matter of people’s personality.”
Tamara’s selection of dresses, skirts, jackets, swimwear and accessories are being snapped up for between BD10 to BD30. Since her business launch, she has participated in several markets and Pop Up events.
When she isn’t busy dressing and supporting women in loving themselves, she also teaches Zumba at different gyms across Bahrain. She added: “Women should know that you don’t have to be skinny to stay fit and healthy, or to dress ‘pin up’. It is all about being body confident no matter what shape you are.”
