Lou Lou Fontana
Glamour, Grit & a Pinup Menace
There are some people you photograph once, and there are others who become part of your creative journey. Lou Lou Fontana falls firmly into the second category.
Over the past six years we've shared countless photo shoots, plenty of laughs, more spontaneous ideas than either of us could count, and somehow managed to turn "What if we just tried this?" into some of our favourite images. So, when it came time to choose one of the first features for Cars-Cocktails-Culture, Lou Lou was an obvious choice.
Sitting down with her over coffee (although, knowing Lou Lou, something from Burleigh Brewing may have been more appropriate), our conversation quickly wandered from vintage fashion to beer, pinup pageants, Audrey Hepburn, dogs, friendship and why she proudly calls herself a "full-time pinup menace."
Phil: For anyone meeting Lou Lou Fontana for the first time, who are you?
Lou Lou:(laughs) "Glamorous. An over-sharer... and probably a bit of a menace."
It doesn't take long to realise she's underselling herself.
By day, Lou Lou works for Burleigh Brewing— as something she affectionately describes as a "beer slinger"—but she's equally passionate about championing women and gender-diverse people within Australia's independent brewing industry through her involvement with the Pink Boots Society, an organisation that helps to further the careers and aspirations of women and gender non-conforming people in the brewing industries.
“Through that I have participated in stewarding at state beer awards and education sessions; in order to hopefully one day become a judge at beer awards. I'm really passionate about the independent beer industry here in Australia and want to uplift the experiences of those in this space, especially of women and gender non-conforming people in a very male dominated industry.”
Away from work, however, she's become one of South-East Queensland's most recognisable faces in the pinup and vintage scene.
“It wasn't about pretending to live in the past. It was about creativity, individuality and finding your people.”
Phil: You've been part of the community for over a decade now. Was there a moment when you knew vintage style had become more than just something you wore to events?
Lou Lou: "Absolutely. I started dipping my toes into vintage fashion around 2014 because I was going to events like Cooly Rocks On and Greazefest. After about a year I couldn't bear the thought of changing back into modern clothes when the weekend was over."
She smiles.
"I'd met this incredible community of people who didn't just dress vintage—they genuinely lived and breathed it every day. It wasn't about pretending to live in the past. It was about creativity, individuality and finding your people."
That sense of belonging would eventually see Lou Lou become much more than an attendee.
Working alongside organisations including The Lindy Charm School for Girls and Pinups of Australia, she found herself coordinating events, assisting backstage at pageants, hosting competitions and helping raise thousands of dollars for charity through the Harrigan’s Pinup Calendar projects.
Those experiences culminated in what she still considers the highlight of her own pinup journey—placing Runner-Up in the 2023 Cooly Rocks On Pageant.
"I retired on top," she laughs. "Now I'm just a full-time pinup menace."
"Now I'm just a full-time pinup menace."
Phil: One thing I've always noticed is that you never seem confined to one era. One shoot you'll channel 1940s Hollywood, the next you're a glamorous socialite by a swimming pool.
Lou Lou: "That's because I don't think vintage style should ever be restrictive."
She explains that much of her inspiration comes from films, theatre, music, drag performers and fellow pinups rather than one particular decade.
"I've got what I call a neurodivergent magic brain," she says. "Sometimes I just want to be glamorous, sometimes quirky, and sometimes my pinup wife, Ruby Alabaster and I decide we're matching because it'll give us the biggest dopamine hit imaginable."
Phil: Alright, here's a dangerous one... do you have a favourite decade?
Lou Lou laughs before I've even finished the question.
Lou Lou: “If I had to choose, I'd probably say the 1940s."
It's not simply the fashion that draws her in—it's the story behind it.
"I love that it was born out of necessity. Women embraced trousers, tailored jackets and practical clothing during the war years, but somehow managed to make it all look effortlessly elegant. It was strong without losing its femininity."
She grins, knowing exactly how to finish the thought.
"I suppose it's just another example that women tend to do things better." She says with a wink.
Phil: Is there a particular person, film, magazine, musician, or era that inspired you?
Lou Lou: It seems a bit cliche for a white woman with dark hair to say Audrey Hepburn, but she was so much more than The glamorous screen actress & Givenchy 's muse. She was an active participant in the resistance against the Nazi's in WW2 and raised awareness + millions of dollars to the famines in African countries.
She used her privilege to amplify voices that needed uplifting and to fight against evil.
"I suppose it's just another example that women tend to do things better."
Phil: Every pinup seems to have that one accessory or finishing touch they can't leave home without. What are your favourites?
Lou Lou doesn't hesitate.
Lou Lou: "I'm so glad I managed to get in before she closed the business, because so many of my outfits have been completely transformed by a silk scarf and matching hair clip from Jacqueline Creative."
Then there's another tradition she refuses to break.
"And every single event I go to... I somehow can't leave without buying another hair flower from Georgie Girl by Sandy."
She laughs.
"I've definitely got more than I need, but that's never stopped me."
It's those little details, she explains, that complete a look. While the dress might catch your eye, it's often the carefully chosen accessories that bring an outfit—and the personality behind it—to life.
Phil: Is there a particular image that best represents your personality?
Lou Lou: “I often like to create a backstory for the character that I'm trying to portray. That often comes in the form of 'Midge', An alter ego I created for a Slim Aaron inspired shoot I did with Phil a few years ago. Since then, there have been several iterations of Midge who often gives me the bravery, the sass and the bravado that Lou Lou Fontana might not sometimes have, if she feels uncomfortable or uncertain about the shoot she's about to go into. So definitely Midge by the pool, on the phone, with a glass of Rosé and cig in hand!”
Phil: Speaking of shoots... we've photographed everything from faux psychiatric hospitals to Playboy Bunnies stranded with a broken-down car on the way to the Playboy mansion. Do you actually have a favourite?
She groans.
"That's like asking me to choose a favourite child."
After a moment she settles on two.
"Our Ratched-inspired shoot and the stranded Playboy Bunny session."
Neither involved months of planning.
"They both happened almost on a whim."
Ironically, that's exactly why they worked.
"There wasn't enough time to overthink anything. I wasn't worrying about posing or whether I looked right. I just committed to the character."
I can't help but agree.
Some of my favourite images have come from the moments neither of us planned—when one random idea sparks another and suddenly, we've wandered completely away from the original concept.
Somehow, those unexpected detours almost always become the strongest photographs.
Quick Fire with Lou Lou
Phil: Right... no overthinking. First answer that comes to mind.
Lou Lou: (laughs) "I'll do my best!"
Phil: Heels or flats?
Lou Lou: Heels. Every time.
Phil: Favourite classic car?
Lou Lou: Yours... the Bonneville! (I know how to stay in the photographer's good books.)
Phil: Favourite vintage film?
Lou Lou: Sabrina.
Phil: Favourite artist or band?
Lou Lou: Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats.
Phil: Best place you've ever travelled?
Lou Lou: Singapore.
Phil: One possession you could never part with?
Lou Lou: My friendship ring that I share with my bestie.
Phil: What does a perfect weekend look like for you?
Lou Lou: Getting dolled up, eating good food and drinking delicious drinks with the ones I love. (Bonus points if I can bring my dog along)
Phil: What achievement are you most proud of?
Lou Lou: Creating a fabulous, independent and safe life for myself where little Lou Lou Fontana would look at adult Lou Lou Fontana and say "Wow, she's really cool!!"
Phil: What are your goals for the next few years?
Lou Lou: In terms of goals for me within the pinup world, I would love the opportunity to participate in an international pinup pageant, namely, the Mooneyes in Japan
Phil: Finally... what would you say to someone who's curious about entering the vintage world but feels intimidated?
Lou Lou doesn't hesitate.
"Be curious."
"Be kind—to yourself and to others."
"And be brave."
It's simple advice, but perhaps that's exactly why it resonates.
As our conversation comes to a close, she leaves me with one final thought that perfectly sums up her approach to vintage culture.
"I love the style of the past, but not the values."
Quoting Dandy Wellington's famous words—"Vintage vibes, not vintage values"—she explains that dressing this way isn't about romanticising history. It's about reclaiming it.
“For me dressing in this way is not a costume, it is a way of reclaiming an error that had abhorrent treatment of women, people of colour, the LGBTQI+ community and people with disabilities. Here in 2026, we've come a long way, but still have a long way to go.”
Like one of her greatest inspirations, Audrey Hepburn, she hopes to use whatever platform she has to advocate for kindness, equality and inclusion.
"...while fooling people into thinking I'm just a silly little trad wife," she laughs.
…………Knowing Lou Lou, I wouldn't expect anything less.
