Burlesque Costumes for Club Noir

So to Club Noir we go....

I don't know about you ladies but I'm not really a pumpkin, robot or ghost-made-out of-old-bedsheets kind of girl. When I think of Halloween I think of luscious ladies and dashing men cut in garb of centuries old, slashes of red here and there, pointy blood dappled nails, devils horns....just the right amount of naughtiness that - let's face it - has prevented us from hanging up the trick or treat bags a long time ago.

Okay I'm a goth at heart but that hasn't done Dita any harm!

Anyhoo, I've had a good think and raked through hundreds of sites to get some ideas about how to approach this whole club noir business and here are the ideas I have come up with, please feel free to adapt, ignore and brazenly nab if you wish:

Usual Suspects (you will most definitely not be the only one on the night sporting this choice of outfit but it can't go wrong and you...will...look... devastating so who cares!)

Can-Can girl
- Tutus Skirt with netting underneath or bustle at the back, corset, fishnet stockings, ankle-length boot shoes, velvet choker, ringlets tied up in a messy french plait at the back, lots and lots and lots of makeup.

20's Flapper
- Flapper dress (or thin strapped slinky dress whatever's easer to find), stockings and suspenders, dolly shoes, pearl necklace, head band with a large feather attached, pale make up, fluched cheeks and cupid bow lips.

Strip-Tease
- This involves wearing the least amount of clothes you feel comfortable with, if you prefer not to bear flesh but still like this idea a mid length trench coat, suspenders and stockings, some gloves and red lippy should see you through.


Marie Antoinette (French Mistress extraordinaire)
- Beehive and ringlets, small bows or cute clasps through hair, pale silk dress with bustle(and netting underneath for added bounce), shoes to match dress, fan, pale powdered skin, pale pink cheeks and a little beauty spot above the lip to finish it off.

Hammer House of Horror Virgin (maybe there are some things that you can't bring back but Halloween is all about pretend anyway ;)
- Get that floor length nightie out thats been hanging at the back of your grannies wardrobe and make sure you are flashing lots of heaving bosom (wonderbra may be required at this point), make a few rips and tears here and there, add a little blood spatter, sexily distressed hair, 60's style eyeliner and pale lips with flushed cheeks. Vampire teeth also if you can wear them that is.

Head of the Orphanage
- This is most defintely a vintage shop job, if you can imagine Nicole Kidman in 'The Hours' with the dark victorian dress and hair piled up on top of the head. This is the more subdued of the outfits so would therefore be more dramatic on someone who is a little more outrageous in their everyday wear.

The Starlets

Dita (the Dream Queen of Halloween)
- Waist-cinching corset, wriggle/pencil skirt, sky-high stilletos, hair set in rollers, pale skin, red lippy, half moon nails and the flashiest jewellery you can find.

Bettie Page (Burlesque's Pinup Girl)
- black basque, suspender belt(see van doren belt from previous blog), stockings, high heels, long gloves, fringe. If you prefer a little more clothing a cute cherry print halter neck dress will do just as well, add a burlesque bow (try 'Little Lily Designs)to finish the outfit off.

Marilyn
- The White Dress. Enough said.

And for the men...

Jack the Ripper - top hat, dark dirty clothing, grizzly face, dark eyes, perhaps some intestine falling out the pocket? You can adapt this character to your own beliefs too, was he a surgeon? or an artist maybe? Lots of fun to be had.

20's shoes shine/paper boy - by far the cutest. Short trouser, long wooly socks, waistcoat with grandfather shirt and tie underneath, all topped off with a flat cap. You can add to this by bringing your own shoe shine brush or a copy of Ye Times of )lde. Prrr is it wrong I find this sexy?

Circus Ringmaster - Don't think you need reminded what a circus ringmaster looks like but just be careful with that whip Ow!

And....em Frank n Furter? - think this is most definitley the one best left to the extroverts out there but I've yet to see a good Frank 'n' Furter so would be pleased to see someone make a good effort at this one on the evening.

Really hope this helps and you all have a great time, and if you need any help sourcing your Burlesque Costume of choice then feel free to email me at girlwiththeredlipstick@googlemail.com

Burlesque Festival in Glasgow

Glasgow will be hosting an annual Cabaret Festival scheduled between Sunday 5th - Sunday 12th July 2009. It will kick off with a high-profile charity gala and will include highlights from high profile Burlesque performers coming from all over the UK in shows, performances and small theatre productions.

This is absolutely great news. Glasgow has already been the place to be of late when it comes to Burlesque shows, the fantastic Club Noir nights (next one to be located at the Carling Academy, October 25th; Tickets £12) which have been so successful they are now touring in London, the monthly Cheesecake evenings in Capitol on Sauchiehall street and not to forget Dr Sketchy's Anti-Art school. It's great to see Glasgow has found a niche, hung onto it and shot everyone else down with all guns blazing.

The great thing about these evenings is they bring old-time glamour back to a Primark ladled society. Ladies, get rid of the polyester v-neck and shoehorn yourself into a glam corset or even a nice little 20's flapper outfit. If, like me, you are worried about showing off the baggy skinned product of your Mars bar obsession, then get yourself some decent magic pants or a.n other shapewear. It's amazing what these things can do, if you buy a decent make they really work!

I'm thinking about getting the dress in the pic, its from www.pinupgirlclothing.com and if I get the right shapewear underneath (and pray my boobs dont fall out) I think it will make me feel great on the night. Im also loving strappy boot heels that seem to be in shops everywhere, they are kind of a take on the gladiator sandal that was out during the Summer but with a bondage feel prrrrrrrrr.

I love seeing little businesses do well on My Space and came across 'Little Lily Designs'. After bringing up a small child Lily decided to start making her hobby of making bows into a business. It's done so well she is getting mentioned by the big Burlesque stars. These bows are so cute and really vamp up any dull old outfit. Check out her My space page or website at www.littlelilydesigns.net or you can try making your own, www.mookychick.co.uk does excellent little tutorials if you are a dab hand with the needle and thread.

I'm in the dressing up mood now so I'm going to go on the Google hunt for deals on some sexy but slimming lingerie...am sure my date Saturday night will more than appreciate it ;)

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