The Queen of Burlesque: Dita Von Teese

Tonight after work, I'm going to Hennessy + Ingalls in Los Angeles for a book signing with Dita Von Teese. If you don't know who she is, you should. Admittedly, I didn't know who she was until just a few weeks ago... Dita is one of those treasures referred to in my opening blog. She is pinup art come to life, and as classy as they get.

Featuring elaborate sets and gorgeous costumes, her burlesque "striptease" (Stripteese is the name of her new book) shows are spectacular, whimsical, utterly feminine, and FUN. Example: in one of her many acts, she bathes in a giant martini glass with an enormous strawberry sponge!

As a young girl, Dita was obsessed with pretty, lacy lingerie, she loved it, and got her first job working at a lingerie store. Later she became a stripper, but quickly grew bored of the lackluster routines the rest of the girls did, so she began to incorporate retro style into her dances, which eventually grew and developed into what she performs today. Personally, I think she's in an arena all her own, but Dita doesn't disparage other forms of erotic dance, and says pole dancing/stripping and burlesque are absolutely related, just different presentations.

I have my opinions about "gentlemen's" clubs and won't go into them here, however I will say that until discovering Dita, the whole public disrobement thing wasn't very appealing. Not when it's done out of insecurity, fear or desperation. When approached from a place of confidence, passion, and an empowered sense of womanhood, though, that's something else entirely. It's beautiful. And that's Dita.

Her look is a throwback to old Hollywood glamour; it's made her a modern-day style icon, and she's consistently on international best dressed lists - - so Google her for some vintage fashion inspiration!

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P.S. I tried to find a photo of Dita with her hair in a ponytail, and found none. Hmmm. I noted it, but that doesn't mean Grandma's won the war!

The Ponytail Controversy

Over the weekend I got into a mildly heated discussion with my grandma about ponytails. I think they're fantastic: they are to bad hair days what Fix-A-Flat is to a popped tire.

Quick, easy, convenient, and it gets the job done. And if done with a little flair, it's dynamite!

Grandma disagrees.

To her, the only acceptable ponytail occasions are those that involve dirty work, like feeding chickens on the farm or cleaning house (or changing a tire). In the past, women wouldn't be caught dead doing anything else with one of these. Ponytails, she said, are not glamorous.

Ok, Gram. So ponytails may not be glamorous in the traditional sense, but that's the creative license modern pinups get to take. Glamour is whatever makes us feel like a star. When I have on a killer outfit, this hairstyle can certainly do that. It's also versatile, and can be at times cute, flirty, even sexy.

The trick to a good (in my opinion, not Grandma's, lol) 'pinup' ponytail is shape and body. This includes the back (a flippy "S" is always fun), but mostly applies to the front. You can make waves and curls that are elaborate if you have time; if you're in a hurry though (usually I am!) or need to style on-the-fly, here are two options:

In-A-Pinch 'Pinup' Ponytail

With bangs: Gather hair at the back of the head (I'm assuming here that you've never before tried a ponytail), tie in place and use a flower clip or ribbon to disguise the holder. Then, using a medium-size curling iron (make sure you plugged it in and it's hot... again, just assuming. Also don't burn yourself), curl bangs tightly so the hair rounds evenly, and tucks under slightly. Hairspray to keep it in place.

Without bangs: Using a comb, gather a section of hair in front, what would be bangs if you had them (and if you do have them, use mousse or gel to combine the shorter with the longer strands); tease this section of hair starting at the roots and working up the hair (i.e. toward the ends, and tease from the back, so as not to display the mess you're making). When the hair is stiff, bend backward to make a rise, and bobby pin in place at the top of your head. Hairspray it. Then put the rest of your hair in a ponytail (see steps described above :P).

Jusqu'à la prochaine fois,

Bri

P.S. As a disclaimer, Gram is and forever will be my vintage fashion guru; after all, she lived through several of the eras I like to emulate. Most of my jewelry, scarves and other accessories, as wells a few shoes and dresses (including one she wore on her honeymoon in 1957!), belonged to her. She's helped hone my eye for what fits, what coordinates well, the different textures and colors that look best.

But we shall forever be at odds when it comes to ponytails!

Bienvenue!

Bonjour and welcome to The Beez Kneez blog!

Here in my little corner of the Web, I'm setting out to share my passion for everything vintage, from classic cars to big band music, old Hollywood cinema to Art Deco design. From the Jazz Age to the 1950's, I love it all! But most of all, I love vintage style: the fashions, the hairdos, the impeccably made-up faces...

As a "pinup in-progress", I am by no means an expert, however a continuing focus in these posts will be to give tips and insight into achieving different looks AS they're attempted (e.g. I tried Victory Rolls for the first time ever last week and it was a bit of a challenge... met with lots and lots of hairspray!).

Albeit vintage-obsessed for years, I've been stumbling upon many treasures lately that are just too good to keep to myself, so I will also suggest great places to shop, products to use, and events and venues perfect for meeting other vintage enthusiasts. And for showing off, of course ;-)

Right now, though, it's late - - and every bombshell needs her beauty rest!

Au revoir with love,

Bri