Bettie bangs are a retro favourite

Long before Dita von Teese wiggled her way on stage, Bettie Page was queen of the burlesque world. The legendary model, movie star and dancer scandalised the 1940s and 50s with her racy pin-up girl look - although many of her photoshoots are tame by today's standards!

Fifty years on, burlesque is phenomenally fashionable, with false eyelashes and fishnets no longer resigned to saucy models. But it's not just fashion and entertainment that have been inspired by pin-up girls; last week's Dior show featured clip-in fringes, affectionately dubbed 'Bettie bangs'. Super stylist Orlando Pita was responsible, and explains here how to get the look.

Dior famously always look to the past for inspiration, and the Spring/Summer 2011 show was no exception. The show's programme featured the famous Bettie quote, "I was never the girl next door", and models in 1940s-style wigs rocked Bettie bangs - which worked fabulously with the retro cat-eye sunglasses. Says Orlando; "I think it's very sweet. I love the short fringe."

Orlando sprayed the hair with T3 Orlando Pita Elevate Heat-Seeking Iron Volumizer before wrapping one and two inch sections around a one-inch curling iron. After sliding the iron out, each curl was pinned to the head to cool. When the pins were removed, he created a centre parting and brushed the curls out. Every model had to have the same mid-length hair, so for those who had longer locks, Orlando rolled it up from the ends, securing with pins. The clip-in fringe was added last.

This eyebrow-baring look is tricky to carry off, but that hasn't stopped vintage vixens like Katy Perry and Beyonce attempting the look. Both stars have worn retro-styled wigs for the Bettie look - a wise move, as that fringe would be a nightmare to grow out!

However some stars have carried off the look - Christina Aguilera owes much of her look to the pin-up girls of the past, and her softly styled fringe offers a more wearable take on the trend. Victoria's Secret model Petra Němcová carries off a full fringe well too - she's opted for a V-shape, softly curving down towards the nose. 

This vintage look has long been popular with retro fashion lovers, and rockabilly fans the world over have championed the look as their own - but will it be a hit in the salon?