Bikini Bombshell vs Headline Honey

The rising age of neo-burlesque

Swinging tassels, glittering g-strings, dazzling rhinestones and covetous curves-all things irrevocably feminine and synonymous with the infamous era of the post-World War II Burleycue.

 It was the hey-day of burlesque queens such as Lili St. Cyr and Rosita Royce and their movie star counterparts Brigitte Bardot and Marilyn Monroe. These women, or rather bombshells of the era characterized the image of femininity and redefined the age of artifice through their created beauty.

With the aid of a little effort, time, “war paint” and undergarments such as the corset or girdle they achieved the epitome of feminine glamour. Seizing the hearts of men with their perfect coiffed hair, winged eyes, crimson lips, ample breasts, impossibly tiny waists, highly fertile hips- must I continue?

Banished and condemned by the feminist movements of the 60's and 70's, how then does this outrageously clinquant age of burlesque survive and find itself embraced by the 21st century mainstream?

The answer is simple - Change - a Change in the needs of the modern day woman, a change in feminist attitudes, - a need for change in society's perspective of women and a Change in the Burleycue itself.

Contrary to the popular theory of a dungaree and unshaven armpit induced nostalgia for the women of the 50's, it is the inevitable symptom of an evolving society that has revived and revamped the infamous Burleycue and put it back into the heart of 21^st century society’s mainstream.

The modern day burlesque revival is a feminist friendly one. Contrary to the working class male audience of the past, the majority of today's audience are middle class, urban and female. The performers themselves are no more the painfully young pretty things trying to etch out a living in the big city the only way they can. Rather, woman of the neo-burlesque movement are older and more financially stable, performing either as a chosen career or on the side as an interest. They are educated with degrees to boot.

 They're not doing it because of limited options. Some even have impressive high power jobs, "Miss Marion" who works as a PR for Dame Vivienne Westwood, calls burlesque a "research on femininity and voyeurism". Women are "doing it to explore an erotic female presentation outside of the mainstream and multi-billion dollar porn industry" says Rachel Shteir, author of "Striptease: The Untold History of the Girlie show".

To the woman of the 21st century, burlesque is empowering. Modern day women find the idea that the female body can command powerful.  Moreover, feminists feel a sense of victory and progression in reclaiming and embracing something that was formerly viewed as scandalous and exploitative of women. Women of the 21st century no longer feel a need to hide their sexuality in order to be a feminist and uphold feminist values.

Neo-burlesque performers have a choice. They take off as much as they want and choose when to stop. There is no necessity to take it all off. "The definition of feminism is about having the choice," says Neo-Burlesque Queen Dita Von Teese. "Burlesque channels a sexual power of a uniquely female persuasion in an atmosphere of celebration", continues Von Teese.

Fast forward half a century from its heyday and the modern day revamped Burlesque known as neo-burlesque offers the woman of the 21st century a juicy outlet to combat the stereotypes placed upon her.

 The Media, Hollywood and multi-million dollar porn industry make it too easy for women to fall into representing what they think men find sexy and look for in a woman rather than what they want and find sexy and empowering about being a woman. Burlesque offers a vehicle to embrace that. 

 The resurgence of burlesque is a cultural release from 21st century stereotypes. Replace gender discrimination, unequal wage and voting rights with the image pressures of the media, labelling and a desensitized Hollywood and we get a new yet parallel dysfunctional society for the Burleycue to debunk.

With the achievements of former feminists, the biggest issue for the 21st century woman is to come to terms with her self-image-to love her body and accept it for what it is. Burlesque offers a means to challenge the modern day stereotypes of what is sexy and beautiful. Girls are getting mixed messages with the media's "love your body, be healthy and less is more!" mantra. 

As post feminism fever begins to die away, women start to realize that, essentially, women are sexual beings, which leads them to the question, "Why is it so horrible to be open about wanting to be sexually desirable?" Strangely enough, the 21st century has turned this desire into something that must be as how they define appropriate. Super tight skinny jeans, super low tops, straightened hair, eye-liner and thongs (aka flip flops) are acceptible, but if you wear high heals, red lipstick and a sun dress you're trying too hard.

Women of the 21st century feel the pressure to look "beautiful" naturally. Society's, "you're beautiful just the way you are" message, clashes with "the fit long-limbed, bikini babe who wears no make-up gets all the guys" messages. Women are looking for an alternative role model for "sexy" than just that natural beauty who looks great in a bikini running on the beach with blonde hair flowing and no make up. Burlesque tells you that you can still be someone sexy even if you're not born with it. You can create it. Burlesque queen Dita Von Teese says, "I used make-up, hair and all these magical feminine tools to create something I wasn't".

Not all neo-burlesque performers have what society defines as a "good" body. This is why it has such a large female fan base as women feel empowered when they see other women who have wobbly stomachs or cottage cheese thighs being confident, like the performers of the American Fat-Bottom Revue that features plus-sized performers.

Rhinestones, makeup, corsets and embellished bras accentuate the feminine form and through the exaggerated femininity they can help achieve, empower women of all shapes and sizes. It shows women that sexiness and femininity can be found and harnessed. Neo-burlesque both challenges the society's definition of feminine and the ways in which you achieve it. 

The return of the burleycue marks a shift in feminist thinking. Women are seeking to return to the "visual pleasure" of being a woman, the "to be looked at ness" of the female body. Not just for the male gaze or male pleasure but their own - which includes their pleasure in being desirable to the opposite sex. Historically, scientifically and genetically, this is a primal instinct. Why not make it fun?

The liberated woman of the 21st century is no more afraid of being objectified, but rather seeks to be adored for what they can create out of what nature gave them. The theatre and glamour of burlesque creates the idea that the female body can arouse and command. To the modern day women, this is powerful.

(i'd like to add, that the issue of feminism, at the core, is very serious in places like Africa, Asia and the MIddle East where HONOUR KILINGS AND CHILD MARRIAGES take place. Places like these need the continuing support of those of us lucky enough to be born in countries where feminism has changed our lives)

*** CONGRAGULATE YOURSELF, this was a long piece of writing. This is a little something I wrote for school about burlesque and 21st century stereotypes placed on women and issues i face with stupid people.

 THE GREATEST FORM OF "LIBERATION" SELF INDUCED "SUBMISSION" .. what i'm trying to say is, the greatest form of "feminism" in countries where feminism has achieved equality for women, is not being afraid to be objectified, and turning being "a sex object" into a positive

today in pe i had basketball.. omigosh geez soem girls are agressive!

they were so agressive that htey tore a chunk out of my thumb! gosh.. it bled and it throbbed and all this blood spurted out before i even noticed!

i have to go to frensham for a soccer game on teh weekend. that's ridiculous! that is about 2 hours away from everyone in the same competition, frensham shouldn't be allowed to participate in the competition, they should participate in their own country division, its ridiculous to ask everyone to travel there!

it is obvious, but i will reiterate-i am one of the most UN ATHLETIC people ever!  I dislike tanning, so i avoid the sun, and therefore, hate swimming cause of all the prep-work i have to go through.

BUT that doesn't mean that i am a person who GIVES UP

PE teachers in my senior school are horrible! they are the laziest people who enjoy giving out work that never gets marked and doesn't contribute to anything. They don't have a passion for what they teach and feel the need to establish their importance through bullying their students and belittling those who have problems with PE.

to illustrate the pigheadedness of our PDHPE teachers.. this is what happened

it is a requirement for us to complete a "bronze medallion" swim and survive course. i am not a strong swimmer and have a partner who is a worse swimmer, yet we work together as we know we are both not strong swimmers.

Today, my friend and i were practicing the Contact tow... and had to do it FOUR times.. as we were having trouble. after doing this, we met up with the rest of the class who were practicing something like defence positions. so we asked the teachers what we meant to do.. teh teachers just ignored us and asked us to join in. so we join in and ask some other girls to help us when we complete that, and the class is moving on, the teacher individually directs each group as part of the activity.. THEN GUESS WHAT?  .. the teacher leaves us out and ignores us.. so we ask, "what are we doing? can you come to us next".. then they say, NAH DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, YOU CAN'T DO IT.. YOU WON'T BE COMPLETING BRONZE MEDALLION ANYWAY... i was SO pissed off, and they asked us to come out of the water half way through the lesson... and i walked away from them

HOW DARE THEY.. i admit that i am a bad swimmer, but THAT IS NOT THE POINT. i am WILLING TO TRY. i am willing to tire myself out swimming, i am willing to get a tan to say that i have tried. THEY DON'T EVEN WANT TO GIVE ME THE CHANCE TO TRY. even if i FAIL THE BRONZE MEDALLION it doesn't matter because at least i have tried. WHO DO THEY THINK THEY ARE. i am the one paying their salaries!

this afternoon i am going ot practice and then show them tomorrow, and if they still won't let me do anything on thursay (the exam).. i will just go and do it anyway. NO ONE IS GOING TO TELL ME WHAT I  CAN AND CAN'T DO.

and readers, DON"T LET ANYONE TELL YOU WAHT YOU CAN AND CANNOT DO.

.. but srs.. i am scared about swimming 400m in 13 minutes... aiyah!.. BUT I WILL TRY 

well, today i kinda had a rough day at school and can't concentrate on my work or anything so i think i should jsut blog to get it off of my chest.

well it kinda started yesterday.. on teh way to the prefects induction, the teacher stopped me and asked me whether i knew about a debate tonight... but i didn't knwo... so she wanted me to be there so i had to go ask the other girls in my team

so i went to ask the one she told me to talk to..C. so i asked why didn't she tell me as i take french and science with her, and she said she told V to tell me, her exact words were "oh my gosh didn't V tell you? that is so typical! she's so stupid, anyways i'm so sorry i really want you to be there" this was on monday

so the next day i went to ask V if we had to go to the debate tonight, and she said yes, now i know V quite well, so i was curious as to why she didn't tell me.. turns out that C told them not to tell me.. so V just went with the flow as she heard the news from O and that C doesn't speak to her cause she isn't cool enough

and it also turns out that monday night, C calls up all hte other girls and tell tehm to have a meeting on Tuesday morning, but doesn't call me even though she told me that i am meant to go...

then after school, V and O come rushing to me and said that they don't have enough points and that O is too scared to speak and want me to take their place etc.

this really disturbs me... first of all, poeple are not being genuine and are manipulating other people and friends aren't sticking by friends

we're meant to be a "team" but they are ganging up against me, C especially, wanting everyone to gang up against each other... its really scary

especially because C is always following me in class and wanting to talk to me and seems to be such good friends with me, but is such a backstabber...

it shouldn't be this way. proper peopel don't do things like this. .. i always thought these things only happen in sitcoms or dramas...

but infact i am surrounded by it, even closer than i thought... i am really scared that after a few years i will be influenced by these things... i really hope that i don't

or even worse, there maybe might be something wrong with me and i don't even know it.

all i can do is pray and ask for God's guidance...if  i am doing something wrong, i really hope he will show me, cause i have spent hours thinking about it and still can't find anything that would trigger this

A collection, inspired by a love of beautiful vintage lingerie, Wonderbra by Dita Von Teese, is designed to actively encourage women of all ages to embrace their inner-glamour and beauty.

-basically its a collection designed by burlesque queen Dita Von Teese using inspiration from her passion and knowledge of vintage lingerie.

Multi-Teese a provocative, multi-talented set in black which allows the wearer to arrange the straps a multitude of ways, this range features a unique quick-release magnetic closure on both the bra and the bottom, making daring stripteases a cinch

Spot-Teese a fun and flirty range featuring a casino chip motif in caramel, overlaid with a sexy sheer black tulle and accented with a floral detail that can decorate the bra or brief

Satin-Teese is a return to classic elegance and retro glamour that comes in two colours; soft peach and dove grey, and offers the 50’s top wire design

*note: i just pasted the pictures and descrīption from the official site..

important quotes about the collection:

"Lingerie shouldn’t be something you just put on for your lover; you should do it for you. It’s not about seducing men, it’s about embracing womanhood"

-Dita Von Teese

My favourite woman besides my mum and my grandma.  she is such an inspiration in so many ways, my mum is normalluy like: oh my goodness yumyumpiggy, you are so bad, how can you take something like that is inspiration la, so bad so bad, i don't believe you like that kind of things one...or people in my youthgroup are like.. gosh how wierd, she was married to marily n manson and she's a stripper that is just so wrong

but why don't people just be more mature and see the ART and SKILL needed to do things, the majority of public are always too eager to point out the bad things in people, things that make them different. its so annoying. 

for example, people are like, dita von teese is such a whore, she is a stripper, how can you admire that , she was married to marilyn manson or any self respecting woman won't take her clothes off for money its just like selling your body.

but what about people who suck up to their boss for a pay rise? or people who in everyday life snub people who look poor or less "popular" for people who seem richer or more "popular" etc.

people don't see all the good things, she makes her own money using the skills she has. She knows what she lieks and wants in life. she is a master of what she stands for. she has an interest.  

...hmm well i jsut wanted to share the new collection with everyone.

i think i wil lpost a more sophisticated version of my ramblings another time.

feel free to tell me what you think about hte new collection, i don't really liek the first one-apparntely it has some special clasp or something/...????