Fancy Dress Party...

[Vermilion]

I'm having a party (yay) theme = the letter 'B'

Naturally I have chosen burlesque and just wondered :-

a) what would you consider an essential element of a Burlesque costume - bearing in mind I am a UK size 16 (so is that 14 in the US?) So no bare midriff, ok?

b) what would you go as?

c) essential elements to make party go with a swing?

x
V

 

[FallingToFly]

Do some quick research on the burlesque heyday.

Serve cocktails that were popular during that time period.
Keep the menu simple, get good music from the time period when it was at its height, and grab a ready supply of props for those guests who may not have their own. Maybe some old military hats and jackets (if you can scrounge some up).
Set the stage- see if you can find some pretty decent pictures of an old-fashioned burlesque club and do a mock-up.

 

[R. Richard]

Go way back. Try Salome, the dance of the seven veils. You can make the veils as transparent or opaque as you wish. The shifting veils conceal as well as reveal.

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

To me, burlesque will always be either The Moulin Rouge and Toulouse LeTrec or the comedy routines like Abbot and Costello. The fluffy can-can skirt and vest / corset top with ruffled panties and black stockings would be a stuneer look by yourself. If you can get a partner to go with, do the garrish colors and oversized suit coats and baggy pants, while the other wears tight and too short. Carry a seltzer bottle too

 

[Vermilion]

To clarify - it's not the whole party that's Burlesque, just me. Everyone else just has to come as something that starts with the letter 'B'.

I was thinking fishnets or stockings with seams, a corset, a skirt shorter at the front than the back and gathered at the back into a draped bustle with a big bow.

To finish - feather headdress and elbow gloves.

The shoes though... Not sure which to wear. Guess it depends what colour corset I find.

I think I may have a new AV when I've got some pics of me in that get-up!

x
V

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

To clarify - it's not the whole party that's Burlesque, just me. Everyone else just has to come as something that starts with the letter 'B'.

I was thinking fishnets or stockings with seams, a corset, a skirt shorter at the front than the back and gathered at the back into a draped bustle with a big bow.

To finish - feather headdress and elbow gloves.

The shoes though... Not sure which to wear. Guess it depends what colour corset I find.

I think I may have a new AV when I've got some pics of me in that get-up!

x
V

WOOOHOOOOOO!!!!!!!

sounds like you have it together perfectly then.