Madame Risquée (WHOIS) often gets asked what you gals (and guys) should wear to a Burlesque event. besides fun and sexy corsets plus mini hats or vintage style clothing, there are more options. The madame has asked clothing shops owners about their idea what to wear and has some ideas herself:

Madame Risquée's statement on what to wear:

Dress up fancy, in costume: chique, suave, funny, funky, sexy, freaky, rock and roll, glamorous.
Themes to consider: Steam Punk, Golden Era Movie Star, Tropical, Vintage; Roaring 20s, Flashy 40s, Flirty 50s, Sexy 60s...even Risquée Renaissance! ... silent-movie, diva, glam, pin-up, masked, Hollywood... Simply enjoy dressing up.

Find Madame Risquée on FaceBook HERE, To receive the newsletter go HERE. Both are mainly about shows and parties in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Burlesque Clothing Styles by Nina Young

Attending a burlesque show provides the perfect excuse to get really dressed up! Both men and women will often put a lot of effort into their outfits, and in order to look the part clothing must always have a hint of historical styling.

The art of burlesque originated from Victorian times when the steel boned corset was at the height of fashion. Burlesque performers and showgoers alike can often be seen laced into beautiful corsets, giving them the most gorgeously feminine hourglass figures. In keeping with the fashions of those times, women would not been seen dead leaving the house without a hat! A typical burlesque outfit will often include a mini hat or a fascinator, either with or without a veil. Dress codes are formal so do put your best heels on and wear accessories such as evening gloves and retro style jewels.

Another strong influence in burlesque clothing styles is the fun and flirty old fashioned showgirl look with lots of frills, flounces and feathers! A corset suits this style too and is the perfect thing to wear with your stockings, frilly retro shorts, feather bustles and ostrich feather hair bands.

If you'd rather not grab as much attention as the showgirls then why not try a 40's or 50's style dress, teamed with a matching hat showing off a style of the same era. There are plenty of modern pin up style shoes which would finish this look off perfectly.

Men can also look the part in quite a variety of different styles too, but again styles must always have an historical flavour. My personal favourite is the Victorian gentleman look, with a beautifully tailored suit and waistcoat and a grand looking hat. To make that look even more fabulous try experimenting with a touch of Steampunk. Steampunk adds fabulous elements of futuristic looking items such as brass goggles (which can be worn over your top hat rather than your eyes).

If you'd rather look a little more conservative or the event demands more chic attire then you cannot go wrong with a classic tuxedo and dress shirt, which women adore!

About the Author:
Nina has been designing and making clothes since the age of 8. Please visit her online burlesque boutique Love Burlesque or take a look at her own designs at Bite Me Couture.

Copyright of photographer Kate Robson

Burlesque Burlesque...

.. It's your chance to wear your fabulous dress!! Very Cherry offers a great range of 1950's style glamour dresses, retro clothing, cutest cardigans, shoes, handbags, accessories and even your seamed stockings are easy to get!

Look fabulous and show your feminine curves, and have fun!!!!

www.VeryCherry.nl...
(Online shop + shop in Rotterdam)

Dress UP

Combine 50's cut dresses with garter-belts and stockings. Play with your femininity to show just that little bit of your feminine weapons. Be the gorgeous wife of the big Mafia boss...Or be the showgirl he secretly admires and go for corsets, feathers, sequins, and again, suspender belts and stockings! Above all...Play with your femininity and sensuality. Burlesque is about playing with your sexuality in a naive, playful elegant way!

PS: Do NOT forget to pay attention to your hair and make-up, that gives you the finishing touch. Check tutorials on You-Tube (use 50's or Pin-Up hair and make-up as keywords).

www.ilovevintage.nl...
(Online shop + shop in Amsterdam)

Fifties style

Burlesque is a flashback to the 1950s. WOII was finished and the good times arrived. The time that smoking and alcohol was healthy. The time of romantic and an explosion of very feminine fashion styles, decolleté, pencil & circle skirts with sexy stockings and high heels. Red nails & lipstick.

www.CherrySue.nl...
(shop in Amsterdam:
1ste leliedwarsstraat 6)

Historical twist

Burlesque clothing is sexy, flirty and glamourous!

Let your feminity shine in 40's/50's wobble dresses with fancy fascinators and shimmy away in the smoky spotlight of the stage.
Or give it a historical twist, like a sexy courtisane from the 18th Century, or bustle it up with a pair of pasties and a Victorian look.

Anything that sparkles, has feathers, high heels, long gloves and shows your curves can give you that ultimate Burlesque feeling!
Welcome all Femme Fatales, Bustle Ladies, Courtisanes, Mobsters and all you other creatures who fancy to shake a tail feather!

LaRoseCouture.com
(Online shop and by appointment)

Something more spicy

Webers Holland proposes something more spicy than the usual retro burlesque styles. Like Betty Page we like to play with fetish themes. An original mix of contemporary pvc and feather outfits by Desiree Webers, platform shoes from the USA, classic corsets, mini hats and pasties from Daisy Lee. Maybe you think it's more for the stage but we encourage you to experiment!

In our shop we stock the largest collection platform shoes and pasties (including mastix) in Amsterdam next to our pvc, leather, feather, lace, lycra, corsets and stockings collections.

www.webersholland.nl
(shop in Amsterdam: Kloveniersburgwal 26)

Dark & Flirty

We believe that a burlesque evening is the night to dress sensual. Be a flirt in a
50’s style dres, or be a queen in a tight lacing corset and full-on Victorian skirt.

And why not transform yourself to the dark mysterious lady, flirting with the room with
just a blink of an eye… A romantic gothic touch with deep velvet and black lace, or
little fetish edge with a leather corset? Be divine in sizes 32 up to 58!

Shop online at www.Succubus.nl and check our agenda for events

www.Succubus.nl
(Online shop)