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A Road Leading to Hollyville

  • Writer: Pamela Marie
    Pamela Marie
  • Jan 11, 2018
  • 4 min read

I'm a firm believer in "everything happens for a reason," and mainly from personal experience. For me, everything has really led from one thing to another in a positive way. I'll spare more of the personal life stories for the moment that one day I might be brave enough to share.


In 1999 I joined a group at the Bristol Renaissance Faire as a performer in the Guild of St. George, being a part of the Queen's Court. I really was not the actress type to get up in front of a group of people, draw attention to oneself, talk loud with confidence, or do comic relief with a bunch of improvisation. I largely joined because of someone I was engaged to at the time, knowing that this was going to be a large commitment of his time away from me. However, there was always a peeking interest in the fashion and designs of these gorgeous and intricate gowns. I had a fascination and curiosity of who these people were to have the honor of performing such roles as historical courtiers of Queen Elizabeth I.


As reluctant and nervous as I was, I agreed to joining, but had no experience or knowledge in sewing skills. I quickly learned how expensive it would be to have someone else make a dress for me. I was lucky to have so many encouraging people that guided my way in helping make my first couple of dresses. I did a lot of hand sewing details at first, and became quite skilled in millinery. Eventually, I got brave enough to use a sewing machine and began teaching myself how to put garments together through a lot of trial and error. My first piece I made was actually a farthingale (underskirt that has a series of circular hoops that helps to distribute the weight and shape of the many layers of skirts worn at a time).

My skills grew throughout the 10 seasons as a full-time performer and I was taken under the wing by the costume director of the Guild at the time (and now owner of The Hen House in Milwaukee, WI). I loved the challenge of creating reproductions of portraits of the Elizabethans. I began taking commissions and eventually went on to become the assistant costume director.




While I learned and grew so much in not only my sewing skills, but also personally with my time in the court, I began to realize how much of my summers I was missing. There were family functions and activities that I missed in making my commitment, so after 10 years, I decided it was time to move on and fulfill my life in other ways.




With the connections that I made with my time at Bristol, and my ongoing interest in reenacting, I was invited to join a USO group at the Rockford WWII Days Re-enactment. Once again, I found myself making my own dresses, only now for a different time period. I became even closer with one of my friends, Molly, who I've known from the Renaissance Faire, who we went on to volunteer with the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight as their "Bombshell" Girls.




Within all the planning, a few of the girls of the group decided how beneficial it would be to learn how to swing dance for all the hanger dances we would be going to, and thus begins my new true and new found passion. As I really began going through the most positive change personally, it also was the most challenging. It lead to a struggle on my marriage with a controlling husband, which ultimately also led to a divorce. It was a difficult decision, but in the end, was the best for both of us.





The more I would go out and dance, the more of an obsession it became. I loved dressing up when I would go out and found something that I was actually really, really good at it, too. I became more and more confident, did a lot research, and watched an ongoing amount of YouTube tutorials to learn how to style my hair and makeup.






Swing dancing became my life, and it was also how I went on to meet the man of my life with the most supportive husband I could ever ask for. In continuing my dancing adventures, I went on to compete in a pinup calendar contest for Miss Heartland Swing. Winning the title in 2012, it earned me a spot to compete for Miss Camp Hollywood, where I took the title of Runner-Up.

Pinup modeling became a hobby that I was persistent with and that I still do today. I've worked with dozens of photographers, and have been internationally published in over 20 magazines and calendars. My modeling Facebook page has gained over 39,000 followers over the years.

Photo taken by Charles Torrealba Hair and Makeup by Ruby Torrealba


In 2017 I organized and hosted a retro themed fashion show, "A Retro Affair." I wanted to create an event that would help support the local pinup models and give them an opportunity to meet and support other girls with similar interests without having to compete for a title to feel accredited. The show supports body positivity by accepting models of all sizes, shapes, ages, and color. It's also where PMdesigns by Pamela Marie officially made it's debut, featuring retro style Disney characters perfect for events that became popular by Dapper Days.


The first year of the show was a success, raising $3,500 for the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight and sending 7 veterans on their flight to Washington D.C. After the show, I realized that Milwaukee was lacking a place for the retro/pinup community in our area to purchase this style of clothing and accessories. By the end of 2017, Hollyville, where every woman is glamorous, was launched as an online boutique that I hope to open as a storefront in the Milwaukee area.


I have a genuine appreciation for all those that have shown their support, even in the smallest of ways over the years, and look forward to those I have yet to meet, work with, and get to know.


~Pam


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