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[tilleymarrencostume-blog]

Are vintage burlesque costumes different to more modern burlesque costumes?

In this i have looked into the differences between modern and vintage burlesque and how their costumes compare and contrast throughout history. 

Vintage Burlesque

The images above are of various burlesque and circus performers which show the variations within burlesque costumes and show the span of what burlesque costumes are like. In the image above to the right the woman has created a costume purely on humour rather than the striptease act that burlesque is known for. Compared to the more modern costumes used within burlesque these are very similar to what performers wear now, they use the same ideas and concepts to create new and inventive costumes. 

These images show the mass difference between all performers within burlesque. there are the more traditional burlesque performers which use fans which is still used within modern day burlesque as shown by Dita Von Teese as well as many more modern day burlesque performers. 

Modern Day Burlesque

Dita Von Teese wearing more traditional burlesque costume.. She is shown here to wear the more seductive and elegant costumes which she follows through even when creating a more modern and unusual costume. Her style is very symbolic of the 1940s and 50s which were full of Hollywood glamour. Looking at her teen idols you can see how they inspired her style and creativity one of which was Marlene Dietrich who was a popular singer and actress in the 1930s and 40s. Rita Hayworth was another of her icons who was an actress in the 1940s and 50s. Their styles are shown within Dita Von Teese’s iconic look.

Dita Von Teese’s silhouette is very corseted and is a throwback to when Victorian corsettry was brought back into fashion in the 1950s for showgirls. 

Above is Dita Von Teese in motion during her martini glass performance. 

Dita Von Teese stated within an interview with Time Out London that “what makes them different, makes them great. Instead of thinking ‘that’* is what burlesque is” *when she refers to that she is referring to herself as a inspiration of what new burlesque performers think of at first. Her statement about being different in the burlesque scene is what burlesque is all about, it is about expressing themselves in a fun and creative way. 

Rock Hart wearing wooden corset made by Richard Stubbs. Rock Hart is known for wearing unusual costumes, some of his most popular are; his boxer act in which he wears common boxing wear which has been embellished with his name and lots of glitter, within this act he wears matching boxing glove pasties which follows the whole theme on. 

However in this act he wears tribal wear and to go with it he wears a wooden corset made by Richard Stubbs. the wooden corset is a unique take on the traditional corset which dates back to the mid 16th century. The boning used in a corset tended to be, bone, metal or wood. 

Shir Madness wearing a costume made by herself, with led lights. Shir madness takes a very modernistic approach to a burlesque as she makes costumes which look best in motion. She performs acts with a hula hoop in which she utilised movement which he costumes reflect as she uses a lightweight fabric which conveys movement very well which will work for her in her act. the LED lights she uses within her costumes create a blur of light as she moves around the stage making it mesmerising to watch. The skirt and lights are almost ethereal and angelic.