MATURE: Though the images in this article are safe for most audiences, the subject matter can be risque, and some off site links may contain adult content. Proceed with caution!

By now you've probably heard about the recent revival of the performance genre burlesque. Originally a risque form of musical theatre parody, burlesque began in Victorian England and crossed over to the United States in the Nineteenth Century.

Wikipedia says:

"Burlesque as a sensation was brought to America from Britain in the late 1860s by Lydia Thompson and her British Blondes, a troupe who spoofed traditional theatrical productions and featured ladies performing men’s roles, in costumes considered revealing for the time period. Since that time it has assimilated vaudeville, minstrel shows, striptease, comedy and cabaret to evolve into the follies of the twenties and thirties to the girlie shows of the 40s and 50s, which eventually gave way to the modern strip club. Burlesque, in its various forms, is a unique traditional American Folk Art."

In the mid 1990s the revival began, and "neo-burlesque" has since spread all over the globe. Inspired by performers like Gypsy Rose Lee, the subject of the Broadway musical Gypsy and an accomplished actress and author in her own right, today's performers celebrate glamour, feminism and sensuality.  The Burlesque Hall of Fame in Las Vegas, Nevada hosts the annual Miss Exotic World Pageant, which is attended by hundreds of performers and aficionados.

Despite the connotations, burlesque is different from simply stripping — it is an art form, dedicated to tease and titillate, to be sexy but not pornographic. Burlesque celebrates women rather than degrading them. (And some men! Boylesque, anyone?)  Burlesque encompasses and embraces all body types, races, genders, orientations, identities and cultures. It can make a political statement or a personal one, and always with a sense of humor and grace.

The burlesque community is alive and well on Etsy! True to its origin as a "traditional American Folk Art," the movement is based deeply in the DIY movement. I had the pleasure of chatting with the creators behind gothfoxdesigns, TabiFondapetting, and CheesecakeBurlesque to gain some perspective on the correlations between the neo-burlesque movement and the craft world.

Lorette Jackson of Gothfox Designs is based in Portland, Oregon. A retired performer (pictured left as Vulpine la Femme) who got her start in Seattle's flourishing burlesque scene, Lorette learned how to crochet, knit and sew from her grandmother.

How did you get involved in burlesque?
I got involved way back in the day (I think 2002) at the very start of Seattle's neo-burlesuqe movement, during a novice night. I don't even know how I ended up there or how I heard about it. I just found myself there one night performing my favorite act to this day, "Hot for Teacher" by Van Halen. Soon after, I joined a troupe of girls who were all great friends of mine, called Glitzkrieg Burlesque Bombshells. We were a crazy group of punks, rockers, geeks and even a Hollywood glamour dame. We were in it for the fun of it all. Right now, the Seattle burlesque scene is huge compared to most cities. You can see a burlesque show any night of the week in Seattle.

Photo by: ChrisB in SEA

Thoughts on the DIY nature of burlesque?
Burlesque and DIY go hand in hand. I know when I first started out I didn't know how to sew all that well, but I had my 'trusty hot glue gun' and bags of sequin. I was ready for anything! I think it's still that way for a lot of people. Unless you already know how to make costumes, you will be taking clothes you already have and bedazzling the stuffing out of them. Oh, and it never stops: I still want to cover everything with rhinestones. Once you are past the starting out stage you will either learn how to sew or commission other crafters with your costume ideas and spend a fortune on silk and rhinestones. Burlesque is a hobby where you will never make a profit unless you are doing three shows a night, five days a week.

What are your sources of inspiration for crafting and burlesque?
My source of inspiration has always been visual media. I watch a lot of movies while I craft. I have pasties based off of Gracie Law's head dress in the movie Big Trouble in Little China. How could I go wrong with ivory peacock feathers and pearls? I also have pasties based off of The Bride of Frankenstein, Snow White, Beetle Juice and I'm sure a few more.

Tabi Fondapetting (pictured right) is a burlesque performer based in Vancouver, Canada who focuses on pasty design, creation and sales and runs pasty making parties and other events.  After receiving a sewing machine from her mother at the age of 9, she got her start as a designer whipping up couture looks for her Barbies.

How did you get started in burlesque?
I got involved in burlesque when I was looking for a way to celebrate femininity, sensuality and women in general. I really wanted to be surrounded by people who loved themselves and each other and I found those people in the Burlesque community. I started taking classes with a local performer, Little Woo, and was instantly hooked.

What is the scene like in your community?
In Vancouver we have an extensive burlesque community. Our community is so large here that we’re able to host a 10 day Vancouver International Burlesque Festival and fill seats at each event. This year will be the fourth year of the festival.
                                                                                                                                Photo by: Jessica Parkes
How did you find Etsy?
I came to Etsy after I learned to make pasties. I fell in love with making them and dreaming up fun designs. I phoned a girlfriend of mine and said, "What am I going to do with 35 sets of pasties?" That girlfriend suggested Etsy and I started a store right away. I loved the idea of Etsy.

Any other thoughts you'd like to add?
Yes, I think pasties are an excellent way for women to work on their self esteem and body image. Nothing gets you feeling confident and sexy like vacuuming in frilly panties and matching pasties. It sounds absurd, I’m sure but my Sunday morning chores have never quite been the same since discovering pasties.

The "Shake Senora" number, from L to R: Ricky Hard, Champagne Sparkles, Midori Colada, Dollipop and Kitten Kaboodle (Photo by: Jamie Drouin)

I spoke to Ricky Hard of Victoria, British Columbia's Cheesecake Burlesque Review (aka CheesecakeBurlesque.etsy.com), an impressive ensemble with a diverse group of members. They recently returned from a successful excursion to the Vancouver for the Taboo - Naughty But Nice trade show, where they peddled their fabulous sparkly wares. Ricky fell into burlesque by chance. She says she was "looking for something drastically different in my life to add some excitement, self expression and just the right amount of fear."

Regarding burlesque and handmade:
The Cheesecakes truly are DIY queens. We make all of our own costumes and props, produce and advertise our shows and manage, sew and create our merch. All of the performers I've come across make just about everything or are, at the very least, able to personalize and adjust fantastic finds. One thing is for sure, people aren't in burlesque for the money. Whatever the amount of money coming in, it usually all goes back into costumes and props. I think realistically, performers hope to have a passion that pays for itself. From the nipple tassels to shoes to hair pieces, every part of a costume represents who that performer is, and rarely does the performer pass their identity on for someone else to make.

What inspires you? 
A lot of inspiration comes from members of The Cheesecakes because we all have our individual styles  — some from the raver/Burning Man scene. The nipple tassels we make represent a fun and sassy side. We like to give people the option of being goofy, gregarious and relaxed with themselves instead of the constant pressure to be sexy and smoldering. Before, during and after every show we talk with women and men about the performances and our products. We listen, and provide the best quality and styles for both performances and products from their feedback. We constantly look for ways to improve.

It seems to me like the Cheesecakes have impacted and empowered a unique audience with their performances. What's your take on the community and the audiences?

The majority of our audience is made up of women from 20 years old to 65. They love how we look like them and how we shake it until it hurts. We've gotten such great feedback from our audiences who "laughed so hard my face hurt" and "felt so much better about my body from seeing you girls up there."

From the Cheesecake's press kit:
Picture a gaggle of curvy, confident and bubbly women who decided to create an outlet for their secret and not-so-secret alter egos. The Cheesecakes needed a way for themselves and for women like them to strut on stage, be silly, and cast off the shackles of their 9-5 jobs.  Any student, veterinarian, environmental scientist or government worker you meet may have been out the night before performing for fundraisers, entertaining a crowd or helping add some sass to an event. The audiences identify with performers, and the Cheesecakes make sure audience members feel involved through their local shows, website, community involvement, merchandise and inclusive attitude!

This Season of Love, celebrate your inner Gypsy with some sequins, feathers, and sparkle!

Search for Burlesque on Etsy | Season of Love Gift Guides | More Burlesque Posts