Nowadays, vintage is the new black! Pin-up girl hairstyles, swimsuits, and dresses are all the rage. Everyone loves the classy look of a pin-up girl, and vintage is definitely in.

It’s neat to see WWII art making a comeback. What makes you feel more American than a WWII cartoon of Uncle Sam or the old pin-up girl postcard? And don’t forget about Rosie the Riveter or a fighter plane with a fantastic mural on it. These things remind us of America’s history during wartime, or, as Dickens said, “The best of times and the worst of times” in America.

During many wars of the past, our nation was united against a common cause, and patriotism ran through the veins of American culture. With the return of all things vintage, let’s bring back the “vintage” attitude of patriotism and respect toward the veterans who sacrifice daily so that we can keep the freedoms we enjoy and take for granted every day.

Origins of Pin-Up Girls and Aircraft Nose Art

The term “pin-up girl” was first used in the early 1940’s during WWII. Also during WWII, the armed forces allowed the decoration of the noses of their fighting airplanes with paintings, posters, and other forms of art.

There were four main types of nose art, including pin-up girls, comic strips, Hollywood icons, and Disney art pieces, but the pin ups quickly became a favorite.

We can sit here and talk about how classic WWII art was and how amazing the airplanes looked with their noses painted, but even better than reading about the WWII era is being able to see historical pictures of the classic pin-up girls and other vintage nose art.

We hope you enjoy the image below, and please feel free to share it with your friends. Like we said, vintage is the new black!

A Visual Overview of WWII Pin Ups and Nose Art