May 2012 You don’t have to be a cabaret performer to enjoy the beauty of burlesque dresses. If you take a look at the famous burlesque stars you’ll see that burlesque dresses are based on a retro look that has come right back into fashion. In fact burlesque dresses make a classic fashion statement that won’t come and go with the latest catwalk trends. Burlesque dresses will stay in style for years.
The trick to creating a wardrobe of burlesque for everyday wear and special events is that you need to concentrate on the type of glamorous clothes worn in the 1950s and before. You then need to carry off these burlesque dresses by giving them a 21st Century look. Sounds too difficult? Then look at the burlesque dress worn by the famous Dita Von Teese – now I wonder if that’s her real name?
A look at Dita Von Teese’s wardrobe gives an idea of what burlesque dresses look like. Her vintage burlesque dresses are the height of femininity, with tight bodices and full skirts, usually in beautiful fabrics. You just know that under her burlesque dress she will be sporting the essential garment for this look – the waspie corset. These are the sort of burlesque dresses you can wear to be stylish but not outrageous, and of course there are also short burlesque dresses that look more in place on a stage and are fun for parties, celebrations and roleplay at home.
A good corset is a necessity to make your burlesque dress look right. The feminine appeal of burlesque dresses lies in accentuating an hourglass figure, and the right underwear can help with this, whatever your shape. If you’re on the slender side you’ll be able to find a corset with padding and uplift to create a cleavage for the décolletage of burlesque dresses.
If you’re more on the ample side then a burlesque dress is certainly a flattering look. Corsets are a great aid to smoothing out all the lumps and bumps around the midriff, while firming hips and making the most of your curvaceous bosom in burlesque dresses designed for exactly this type of figure.
For this look trousers are not usually worn, so a burlesque dress is accompanied by great attention to beautiful legs. As the retro look means a burlesque dress for everyday wear can arrive at just below the knee this makes them ideal for more leg shapes than some other styles. Even if you’re wearing a short burlesque dress you can find stockings to make the most of your legs. Of course, burlesque dresses go with extremely feminine shoes so you’ll need to get used to walking in stilettos. There’s nothing like a pair of stilettos to show off a shapely ankle and get you walking with a swing, and they also change the whole way your figure appears.
Along with the stilettos everybody will know you’re wearing stockings and suspenders, as these are de rigeur with a burlesque dress. Whether you like to wear burlesque dresses every day, or only for special occasions, they certainly make you feel extremely feminine, attractive and a bit of a diva. Match your burlesque dresses with a neat handbag, jewellery, and a retro hairstyle possibly based on the casual styles of Veronica Lake or Lauren Bacall as these still have contemporary appeal.
