FADS & FANCIES Utopia Press England 1950s

Some of the most illusive publications of the 1950s were published in England by the Utopia Press. An extensive series of titles, drawing from the American, pin-upy covered pulps of the 1930s, included Studio Frolics, Ritzy Stories, Footlight Follies, Cowgirl Capers and Outdoor Antics. The contents were also similar, each title filled with "sexy saucy" stories of seduction. Simultaneously a sister publication Fads & Fancies which can properly be described as a fetish fashion magazine, presented "written by readers" letters and short fiction all related to obsessions with lingerie and high heel clad corpulent women in big hats and very tight clothing!

The common thread through all the Utopia titles are the incredible illustrations, both the text and full-page artwork and the color covers, signed by Janine. One of the particular areas of interest to the creators of Fads & Fancies were what we would call today, bbw (big beautiful women) posed provocatively with bulging curves brought on extremely tight, undersized lingerie; typically corsets, girdles, garter belts and brassieres. Here's a selection from my archives. More details from an earlier post.

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UTOPIA Publishing: Fads & Fancies 1950s Janine

The exceptional fetish fancier's magazine, first published in England, 1948 by Benson Herbert. Each issue from Utopia bore a different title (see link) similar  to those posted listed here: Snap, Haywire, Blue Stories, Cuban Capers, Heebee Jeebees and Hubba Hubba. Serious collectors of these magazines, filled with stories and illustrations about voluptuous females in restrictive clothing and foot wear, estimate about 80 different titles were published. 

The obsessive texts brought to life the stylized illustrations, signed Janine, used throughout each issue and on each cover. Janine, a pseudonym for Reina Bull, was an accomplished illustrator of fantasy and sci-fi book covers. The illustrations, of well endowed  busty ladies with large derrieres, bulging thighs and calves, were caricature-like fantasy creatures. 

Particular obsessions were for corsets, tiny waists, stocking tops revealing garter belts and straps, ultra-high high heels, tightly laced calf-high boots, stockings, girdles, restrictive foundations and frilly, frou-frou lingerie from the turn-of-the-century. 

The first five covers are of the original magazines found on the web. The second group are reprints from the mid-1960s (from my archives) with two replacement cover illustrations by Gene Bilbrew, possibly pirated. 

Click here to see Steve Holland's excellent blog about Utopia and Reina Bull.

Following are Utopia reprints circa mid-1960s. Fads & Fancies numbers 4, 5 and 6. The covers for numbers 5 and 6 are illustrations by American fetish illustrator, Gene Bilbrew, aka Eneg.

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