oh they were gorgeous - the Ladies of Burlesque

These days the charming figure of Dita von Teese seems to be omnipresent, whether at a Dior store opening or as the face of a new MAC lipstick.

But in effect, Ms von Teese is not doing anything new.

Doreen Lord was the original girl in the champagne glass.

Sally Rand pioneered the feather dance.


And of course, who could forget about the bold and brash Gipsy Rose Lee and her legendary memoirs? Her mother allegedly run a lesbian boarding house and ended up killing her lover who is alleged to have made a pass at Gipsy...

Other Ladies of Burlesque include the pioneer of the genre, Little Egypt, who danced at the 1893 World Fair; Mae West, the madam of double entendres (is that a pistol in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?); Lili St Cyr who is said to have inspired Norma Jean's makeover and of course Bettie Page.

What these women have in common, is that they all conveyed sophistication and mystery. A voyeur's delight, shall we say?

Enjoy!