The term "pinup" comes from the desire to pin up pictures of the models in lockers or barracks. Pinup girls were the embodiment of seductive innocence, good girls framed in provocative situations or environments. Pinup art could be painted portraits or photographs.
Popular themes for pinup art included buxom models wearing feminized athletic uniforms, shapely women in period lingerie and classic beauties saluting men at arms. Renowned pinup artists included Charles Dana Gibson and Alberto Vargas.
Modern interpretations of pinup art include styling popular models and actresses in retro or vintage clothing, as well as adding a contemporary spin with the use of roller girls or burlesque queens, such as Dita Von Teese.