Dita von Teese and the battle burlesque
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Long before Steve Antin brought his PG-13 ‘Burlesque’ to movie theaters sans the striptease, Dita Von Teese was teasing the world in her pasties and G-string, splashing around a giant martini glass to introduce the art form to the mainstream.
And she’s showing no signs of slowing down. On Monday, she debuts ‘Strip, Strip Hurray!’ at the Roxy. The show, which runs through Wednesday, includes two new numbers. (‘One is a new version of what I did for MAC’s Viva Glam, except this time I’m riding Swarovski crystal-covered steer horns instead of a lipstick,’ she says matter-of-factly.)
Dita the brand is going full steam ahead, too. Thursday night at Fred Segal on Melrose, she vamped for the cameras at a cocktail party to celebrate her newest release with Cointreau. Just in time for the holidays, she has come out with My Private Cointreau Coffret, complete with cocktail shaker, martini glasses and a bottle of Cointreau with her image silhouetted on the front.
The blush pink satin coffret with fishnet overlay doubles as a jewelry box, and even has a secret compartment in the back (for those pasties, perhaps?). The set ($299) is exclusive to Fred Segal, where partygoers sipped cocktails from martini glasses decorated with feathers (I’m definitely going to try that at home).
Von Teese, who will appear on an upcoming episode of ‘CSI,’ was dressed to the nines in a Collette Dinnigan sheath dress with puffy sleeves and an even puffier updo, seamed stockings and Brian Atwood heels. Asked about the timing of her new show, she said, ‘In light of the film, I wanted to show people there is a burlesque scene alive and well today.’ She is bringing in some of her favorite performers to join her on stage, including Dirty Martini* from New York and Perle Noire from New Orleans.
Asked what she thinks of the film ‘Burlesque,’ Von Teese admitted she hasn’t had time to see it, not that that has stopped her from commenting on its lack of authenticity.
‘I will see it on video,’ Von Teese quipped. ‘Because apparently it’s going to be there pretty quick.’
--Booth Moore
Top photo: Dita Von Teese attends the launch of her Limited Edition Set ‘My Private Cointreau Coffret’ at Fred Segal on Thursday in West Hollywood. Credit: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images. Bottom photo: Cointreau Coffret. Credit: Cointreau
*[Updated 12/14/2010, 9:28 a.m.: In an earlier version of this post, burlesque performer Dirty Martini was incorrectly identified as Toni Martini.]