Burlesque and Exotic Lingerie
Many people assume that burlesque refers to the art of female
stripping. On the contrary, burlesque encompasses a wide variety
of musical and theatrical forms. However, today's exotic lingerie
definitely has its roots in the burlesque tradition.
Burlesque has always thumbed its nose at conventional notions of
modesty and sexuality by wearing exotic lingerie and other
outrageous costumes. For example, Lydia Thompson, a British born
actress and burlesque performer, wrote and produced a play in
which young women played mythological figures dressed in tights.
This production was performed in New York at the height of the
Victorian era. At the time, when even the merest hint of the
female form was considered scandalous, young women appearing in
exotic lingerie caused quite a stir. Needless to say, the
performance was a smashing success financially, if not morally
and ethically.
As burlesque gained in popularity, exotic lingerie and
outrageous costumes became a mainstay of the art. However, it is
important to note that the purpose of the burlesque is to
titillate. Although burlesque managers attempted to get away
with revealing as much of the female form as possible in exotic
lingerie, nothing overtly vulgar was permitted. Millie DeLeon, a
famous burlesque dancer in the 1920s, used to don exotic
lingerie and toss her garter belts to the audience during every
performance. She was well known for revealing a fair bit of leg
and then exiting the stage leaving the audience howling and
clamoring for more.
In the early stages, burlesque provided an alternative to
restrictive sexual norms. A man could go to a burlesque show and
see his fantasies come to reality. Where he dare not ask his
wife to model exotic lingerie or perform a strip tease, he could
attend the burlesque and see his secret desires enacted on the
stage. However, the loosening of sexual mores in later times
sounded the death knell for the burlesque tradition. As
sexuality began to be expressed in a variety of forms, burlesque
and the exotic lingerie costumes lost much of their titillating
appeal. On the contrary, burlesque began to show itself in
others ways and the exotic lingerie of the burlesque began to
crop up in unexpected places.
In the 1950s and 60s, burlesque began to make its way into
bedrooms across America. Retailers began to capitalize on
women's desire to appear attractive for their husbands by
introducing several lines of exotic lingerie designed to feed
into male fantasy. Lacy
bras, garter belts, corsets and bustiers were just a few
examples of the types of exotic lingerie that became available
on the mainstream market.
In today's society, where many forms of sexual expression are
acceptable, burlesque is once again gaining in popularity.
Burlesque revues have popped up in places as diverse as
Montreal, New York and Oslo. It is too soon to say if burlesque
will have a full blown revival, but there is something to say
for art that relies on suggestively exotic lingerie in an
environment where anything goes.
Although burlesque is really a comic form, it has done much to
celebrate the female form in all shapes and sizes. Burlesque
dancers have always been on the curvier side. In its heyday, it
was not uncommon to see a fuller figured woman dancing about in
exotic lingerie on a burlesque stage. Today, as the art revives,
there are several burlesque troops that are specifically
composed of plus size women.
Much of the exotic lingerie that we see today has its roots in
the burlesque tradition. Exotic lingerie like corsets, bustiers,
gloves, sheer underwear, garter belts, fans and slippers were
all a standard part of the burlesque dancer's attire. Burlesque
was all about celebrating the outrageous and thumbing its nose
at conventions. Exotic lingerie and outlandish costumes were the
focal point of the burlesque dancer's performance.
Today, although the heyday of burlesque is gone, you can capture
a bit of that irreverent attitude with some exotic lingerie of
your own.