“For the burlesque queen, the single most important contributing factor

to her success was an elaborate wardrobe.” (Liz Goldwyn)

Burlesque costumes have the ability to tell a story, to dazzle the audience and to transform an ordinary woman into a sex goddess onstage.

In this lecture we will follow the development of the burlesque costume from its birth in the 1860’s to nowadays examples, with attention to style, references and storytelling. What did burlesque costumes look like in different time periods and why? What inspired burlesque artists from the past? And how can we improve our own costumes?  

This lecture will be both a historical overview and a practical lesson in the artistic principles of costume design.

Next to being a performer, Luscious Lily is a costume designer with almost 20 years of experience in dressmaking. If you have any questions on sewing techniques or a project that you’re working on, bring it with you! There will be some time to share tips and tricks.