Burlesque essentials according to Dita Von Teese
I recently went down a rabbit hole of Dita Von Teese content. I read every article, listened to every podcast, and tracked down every book I could find. What started as casual curiosity quickly turned into deep admiration for her influence, her discipline, and the way she has shaped how we understand modern burlesque.
Around the same time, tickets for her latest show were released. That moment lit a spark and sent a quiet current of burlesque fascination through me. I became increasingly interested in the recent history of the burlesque movement and the role Dita Von Teese played in bringing it into contemporary culture while still honouring its roots.
Her aesthetic draws heavily from corsetry, stockings, glamour, and theatrical striptease. Her love of vintage silhouettes combined with a bold, sensual sensibility created the perfect conditions for our modern understanding of burlesque to emerge. It is confident, playful, highly stylised, and deeply intentional.
In her 2006 book, Dita Von Teese outlines a list of essential items she believes every burlesque performer should own. Rather than being prescriptive, the list reads as a foundation that performers can build upon and personalise for their own acts and personas.
Burlesque costume essentials include:
Sparkling pasties
G string
Full back panties and a flesh tone brassiere for a more family friendly version of a show
Stockings and garters or suspenders
Feathers, a fox stole, or another dramatic and glamorous prop
Shoes that can be easily removed during a performance
Opera length gloves
Each of these pieces plays a role in the ritual of burlesque. They are designed not only to be visually striking, but also to support movement, timing, and the slow reveal that makes burlesque so captivating.
If you are looking for a scintillating G string, panties, or pasties for your burlesque costume, you can find sewing patterns in my Etsy store. These patterns are designed to be customised, allowing you to create something that feels unique to your act, your body, and your creative vision.