pocket venus: dita von teese

plussixfive Interviews Dita Von Teese

plussixfive Feature Interview: Dita Von Teese
by Mae Chong
January 10, 2012

Her astounding performances, signature elaborate props and adorned costumes have lead her to be the international queen of Burlesque, and has also become a muse to fashion designers worldwide. Blessed with flawless beauty, Dita Von Teese has the ability to mesmerize all as she gracefully relives the golden age of femme fatales and glamour girls. Clearly more than passionate about the art form and the culture that it has brought along with it, Dita Von Teese gives us a quick lesson on the true essence of Burlesque.

What does Burlesque actually refer to?
Burlesque was the name of a type of show that became very popular in America in the early 1930s until the late 1940’s when the theatres closed. Burlesque was the more risque version of a vaudeville show. They say that Burlesque was sparked by a group of British dancers who came over to America and caused a sensation. But the true bump and grind striptease set to music is definitely an American invention. We took the British showgirls’ idea of high kicking in flesh-toned tights which were quite titillating at the time, and turned it into an iconic performance, now known as striptease. These shows were grand; the strippers wore extravagant gowns and strutted across the stage to a live orchestra and slowly worked their audiences into a frenzy! Every single great Burlesque star from those days was an American.

Imagine a time of grand shows with sexually-themed comedy, racy dancing girls and beautiful women who stripped down to tiny rhinestone g-strings and nipple covers. Some of these strippers grew to be great stars, who made it to the daily headlines, appeared in Hollywood films and inspired movie-star styles. Now almost 80 years later, I find it shocking that some consider what I do as too risque.

In recent years, Burlesque has been commercialized/sanitized by the media, what’s your take on this?
I like to that “Faux-lesque”. It’s not about lip syncing to Fever, dancing around in fishnet stockings, chicken feather boas and mix-matched lingerie. American classic Burlesque was made famous by striptease artists, and it was elegantly performed. End of story. I think that this sanitization is an insult to Burlesque stars like Gypsy Rose Lee and Lili St. Cyr, who stripped to pasties and g-strings; and to the fabulous Sally Rand, who prided herself in dancing so perfectly buck-naked while maintaining her mystery. It’s important to respect its authenticity and risque, and not to rewrite the essence of Burlesque to suit censorship. My aim isn’t to change the perception about what is it to be a stripper, but rather, to educate people about what Burlesque acutally is. It does not service to its history to say, “I’m not a stripper, I’m a Burlesque artiste”; it’s not a bad word. Gypsy didn’t mind the term because she felt her elegance spoke for itself, and so do I.

In the light of the big Burlesque boom, people have been trying to capitalize on the stylistic elements while regarding the striptease as tawdry, which is unfair to the real women of Burlesque. Without these women, a Burlesque revival wouldn’t even have taken place. I have always enjoyed doing my shows, no matter what the joint looked like or who the audience was. I have to admit that I take a bit of delight in simply telling the business class person seated next to me that “I’m a stripper.” I don’t require acceptance or validation, because when it comes down to it, there will always be someone that won’t approve of what you do, so the best I can do is to stand by it with conviction and integrity.

What is it about corsets and lingerie that appeals to you?
I love the exaggeration of the feminine form.

You used to make your own costumes. Tell us more.
I’m proud to have done the painting, glittering, crystalizing etc. on my bathtub, my powder compact, my carousel horse. I still enjoy getting in there and doing it once in a while, but with less time, I had to let it go and leave it to other people. To be honest, sometimes I’d rather rhinestone than anything else. I miss the satisfaction of putting those crystals on, and finishing a project. But it can also be fun to have it delivered instead of being googly-eyed from staying up all hours of the night glueing swarovski crystals and then having perform too! So, anyway, I direct it all now, and write a cheque for the work. Evolution.

Till date, what’s the most memorable performance you’ve had?
It would be impossible to say, there have been so many moments that felt like it was the best moment of my life, and then another one comes along. One of my milestones would be performing at a huge gala for Louis Vuitton with stars like Catherine Deneuve and Sophia Loren in the audience. Being the first guest star in the history of the Crazy Horse Paris was an amazing experience on every level too. And most recently, selling out a string of shows at major venues was pretty amazing for me. I never thought that my little hobby would have turned out like this.

Your style of dressing is inspired by the 40s and 50s, and often conservative; plus you seem rather shy by nature when offstage. However, we see a polar opposite when you’re performing. Why do you think that is so?
I don’t know, but it’s entirely accurate. Most of the performers I know are like that too. I’ve just never been very outgoing; I’m shy and quiet with people I don’t know. I think dressing extravagantly is a way for me to counteract my shyness. I have also been more reserved about about verbally expressing myself, but I was able to dress in outrageous outfits for some reason. I was a dancer all my life too so I was accustomed to performing, but not so accustomed to speaking. So, I guess I’m shy about some things, not about others, that’s all. And for whatever reason, I feel very uncomfortable in miniskirts or anything too body-baring in public. I’m definitely not an exhibitionist.

Apart from the fact that you’re usually performing in a martini glass, why Cointreau?
Well, it always seemed fairly obvious that I should team up with a spirit brand- since I’m most known for doing this act where I bathe in a cocktail glass. I mean, I have been approached by many brands, but Cointreau’s “Be Cointreauversial” campaign and the brand’s elegant approach to enjoying cocktails appealed to me in a very special way. I too love the history of the famous French brand, the fact that they embrace the spirit of Burlesque and understand this same kind of “wink of the eye” approach that I strive for when I’m doing my shows. Like me, they understand the magic that can come from combining elegance and the risque. A great partnership and going strong since 2007!

What’s the best thing about being the brand ambassador for Cointreau?
They are an amazing, historic French brand, and they really understand me and my world, and my aesthetic. They are constantly coming up with incredible new ideas that are glamorous, elegant, sexy and luxurious! It really is a dream-job, I love speaking about Cointreau and our projects together, like my luxury travel bars that we create each year. I have to say, I’ve loved learning how to mix my favorite cocktails perfectly for my party guests!

If there was one person that you could perform for, whether dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Florenz Ziegfeld! I would have loved to be in the Ziegfeld Follies!