Maybe I'm a little late to the party, but I'm totally loving this lace around the eyes thing! I saw a few pics in my Pinterest feed, then had to search for more. This dramatic and fanciful look would be so perfect for a glam party, or divine for a burlesque stage look. Or what about rocking this gorgeous and dreamy eye in a boudoir photo shoot? Smashing. Look at all of these beautiful eyes!

There are many ways to achieve this fantastic look:
- adhering actual lace around the eye
- using lace as a stencil to paint eye makeup through
- using a temporary tattoo with a lace design
- going super DIY and drawing your own lace design with eyeliner

Chanel made a big splash with the look on the Spring 2013 runway. Check out some of Chanel's lacey eye pics on chicprofile.com. 

Most of the photos above are recent, but one is a surprisingly vintage pic from Vogue magazine. Can you spot it?

To get a better look at all of these gorgeous pics, check out my Lacey Eye Pinterest board! To those unfamiliar with Pinterest (if there's anyone out there who hasn't been completely pulled in by Pinterest's delicious eye candy yet), clicking on the individual photos will take you to their original sources, some of which are tutorials. A cursory YouTube search for "lace eye tutorial" yields many video tuts as well.

I'd love to know: Have you tried this look? Let us know in the comments. Which technique did you use? Share a pic if you have one!

Okay, no corny Christmas jingles, I promise. We thought it would be fun to put together an entire Christmas burlesque outfit with the “12 days of Christmas” theme. This outfit can be given as a gift, one piece at a time, each day for 12 days. What a way to build up the excitement and keep your special someone waiting in anticipation!

We’ve included pieces that we have in our boutique, and also a few things that you’ll have to get locally at your favorite retailer. Use this as a starting point; mix things up and have fun!

1 - Ruffle Panties
Let’s start the 12 days of Christmas lingerie with a fabulous basic: a ruffle panty. If you’re going to be creating a burlesque inspired lingerie outfit, ruffle panties are the natural foundation. Tons of colors and different styles, and these lovelies are just so cute.
2 - Garter Belt
You will be needing some elegant hosiery, and the burlesque style calls for old fashioned stockings. A fancy garter belt makes the perfect second day Christmas gift and keeps the lucky giftee interested, knowing that stockings are also part of the days of gifts to come!

3 - Stockings
But, of course! You could move this one down the Christmas lingerie list to keep the excitement building, but I thought I’d just include it here. We have a ton of hosiery and stocking styles, so pick a few and give this day’s gift a little variety.

4 - Heels
Use this Christmas list as an exciting opportunity to buy some new heels! Yes it’s quite a burden, we know. You’ll no doubt already have a ton of favorite places to buy shoes from. May we suggest something with a closed toe and in patent leather? Zappos.com is one of our favorite online shoe retailers.


5 - Overbust Corset
So let’s imagine you’re trying on your burlesque outfit. What’s next? The corset. You have a couple of options. You can go with an underbust corset and then coordinate your ruffle panties, corset and a bra, or you can just get an overbust corset like one of these and make sure your ruffle panties match in a pleasing way. Now if you want to, you could stop the gifts here and you’d have a fantastic burlesque outfit. But if you want to go the full 12 days of Christmas Lingerie, read on.

6 - Gloves
As we progress with our 12 days and add to our burlesque outfit, gloves make a beautiful next step. Satin or lace gloves are the essence of glamour and can be fun to try on right after they’re unwrapped. Opera length gloves like these add a glamorous touch with a bit of mystery, which will keep the excitement and anticipation going.


7 - Hat
Talk about cute! Christmas attire is often about cuteness, so we should incorporate that into our 12 Days of Christmas burlesque gifts. Right now, these miniature hats are so popular and I see guests at burlesque shows wearing these all the time. Everything is cuter in miniature, so include one of these in your outfit to add some cute into your sexy burlesque look.


8 - Eyelashes
Burlesque has a big fantasy component to it, and sometimes the little things can add so much. Eyelashes like these are really inexpensive and add so much drama. These little gifts are flirty and really step up the “wow” factor. Only a few days left now!


9 - Makeup
Along with those eyelashes, a bold makeup look can be a lot of fun. We don’t sell makeup in our boutique (yet) but here are a few makeup packages from Sephora that will really compliment your burlesque outfit and make a wonderful gift for your 12 days of Christmas Lingerie. A great kit for amazing eyes is "Smoked" by Urban Decay.
10 - Jewelry
One of our favorite pieces of jewelry to add to a burlesque outfit is a bold choker. It really gives an outfit that cabaret style that is so fun and eye-catching. Arthlin, a fantasy & romance inspired jewelry boutique on Etsy.com, has a lot of wonderful chokers to choose from, such as this red satin flower choker.

Now if you are really going the full 12 days of Christmas Lingerie, burlesque style, then I know you’re still with me. The last two days are the fancy wrapping and the cherry on top!

11 - Bustle Skirt
Add a bustle skirt to add on to the bottom of your corset. This is an ostentatious little item that adds interest to the waist, creates some volume and might just transport you to the 19th century. We have a few different styles to choose from. 

12 - Pasties
So assuming that the 12 Days of Christmas will end with your very own private show, complete with a burlesque-style striptease, let’s make the final day of gifts be pasties! The “crowd” will love it, trust me!


-Beth 

It’s currently November, which, in Texas means I can pretty much walk around in shorts without  so much as a chill, but as the holidays roll around, that won’t be the case. Unfortunately, for many burlesque dancers, the time for skimpy apparel has long since passed the point of comfort. So, here’s the problem many of us face – how in the heck do we stay warm, while getting ready to take it all off?

The art of burlesque can be very strenuous, but sometimes a frenetic jiggle just isn’t enough to keep the circulation going! Here are some tips on how to maintain the illusion of the tease, without complete exposure to the elements.

Layers – A great way to keep the heat on is to start with heavy layers. Think opulent velvets, or furs (faux fur tends to be cheaper AND warmer). Cashmeres and wool overcoats can make for a dramatic reveal, and by the time you’re done dancing in all those heavy layers, you’ll definitely have worked up a sweat. Pair a floor sweeping velvet or wool coat with a satin and lace chemise, or a bra and panty set in icy tones for a glamorous (and cozy) finale.


Take a Cue from Figure Skaters – Dancing on ice is certainly a challenge for temperature regulation, but figure skaters have got it down! Many figure skating costumes give the illusion of bare skin, without really revealing a thing. A nude bodysuit, or even nude hose covered with fishnets and topped with a burlesque corset will give the impression of bare skin from afar. If you aren’t going for a full reveal, don’t be afraid to choose a bodysuit studded with crystals. You can also take advantage of a warm nude colored bodysuit for dances like a fan dance, or you can sew pasties or tassels right onto a burlesque teddy for some added excitement that won’t leave your teeth chattering.


Know Your Venue – Before you choose your burlesque costumes, try to spend some time on the stage in your chosen venue with the lights on, and the climate control set for a show. This will let you know exactly how much cold you need to plan for. If that’s not possible, plan several versions of your burlesque costume, so you have options when it’s time to perform. While putting together your burlesque outfit, also plan for what you’ll be wearing to mingle before and after the show. A wrap or voluminous shawl is a great way to turn a plunging neckline into a comfortably elegant ensemble.

-Rouge Dubonnet
 

With Halloween over, and the Fall in full swing, many of you will be thinking about holiday lingerie and buying lingerie gifts for your lady, or for yourself! It’s a fun time, and we’ve got a few opinions on the matter. Color is a major aspect of lingerie selection since lingerie is such a visual thing. Let’s talk about the three big traditional lingerie colors to help you decide what you like, and to get you in the holiday mood.

White
The color white is significant in our culture as a symbol of innocence, grace and purity; think about angels and wedding dresses. With so many types of lingerie constructed from sheer fabrics, a white color often lends a soft and ethereal quality to the wearer. Just as a wedding veil will obscure the face, creating a little mystery, sheer white hosiery can create a very pretty effect against the legs. White lace can be very flattering too, without being too busy since the pattern is much more subdued against all but the darkest of skin tones. If you have very pale skin, white lingerie may get a little lost on you since there isn’t much contrast. For you lovely ladies, read on and consider black or red colors for your holiday lingerie ideas.


Black
Black is flattering, slimming and looks good against every skintone including dark skin. Most holiday lingerie that we sell has a variety of fabric colors but often contains some black because it looks so flattering on everyone. For all but the darkest of skin tones, black legwear and lace is very eye catching and will draw a lot of attention. Think about the lace welt of stockings peeking out from under a cute dress or worn boldly with a garter dress, the black color will be hard to miss! Now, if your skintone is a lovely dark tone, you’re lucky! You may not get as much pop out of black, but brights such as canary yellow, aqua blue, or magenta, or pastel colors like soft pink can look absolutely stunning on you! 


Red
And just in time for a discussion about holiday lingerie, red is such a popular color. Red is a bold color with so many different hues to consider. The thing to remember about red lingerie is that if the outfit has a lot of fabric and is all red, you might overdo it with the color. We think that a very simple matching bra and panty set in red can be a real show stopper! But an entire corset with ruffle panties and stockings all in red? Well that might be a bit much. Ladies with a very pale skin tone often look the most stunning in red lingerie, but we think that everyone should try red and see how it looks on them. Start with adding in red as an accent color, such as wearing red stockings with black ruffle panties, paired with a black corset with red trim.


In our next post, we’ll show you a few of the many untraditional lingerie colors that are hot right now. As always, we’re here to help you look your best, so feel free to ask questions and post comments. We’d love to hear what you think!

Themed parties are so much fun. Our whole business is about burlesque, burlesque outfits and costumes, so when it comes to related party themes, we have all sorts of ideas to make it work.

There are a few risque party themes that come up all the time and that get everyone excited because they offer the girls a chance to be kinda sexy and naughty, and the guys can step out of the modern day shlubbiness that is so normal today and dress up a bit. So it works for everybody! Here are a few favorites and some costume ideas.


Burlesque - Moulin Rouge Era
A classic burlesque era that offers a lot of burlesque costume options to choose from (if you’re a girl). The look of the day involved lots of lace, petticoats, and wild color combinations. This is your chance to get that corset you’ve always wanted, since a corset is a foundation garment of this time period. Pair your corset with cute ruffle panties, a garter belt and striped stockings, and you’ve pretty much got the look. You can also wear long opera length gloves and lots of sparkly jewelry to make the outfit pop.

Read our tutorial on burlesque and pinup hairstyles

For the guys, well your best bet is to look refined and dapper, but with furry Edwardian facial hair. You’re in luck though, since beards and mustache wax is back in style with a vengeance. Just wear a suit and a some sort of hat and you’re all set.

Burlesque - Roaring 20s Era or Gangsters and Flappers
The 1920s was entirely different, although burlesque has always maintained a lot of it’s 19th century audaciousness. This era was much more streamlined and sleek, so for a burlesque costume for a 20s party, skip the corset and gloves, and go for a sleek dress (with a drop waist if you can find one) with more subdued hosiery. Concentrate on the hair and makeup, and also wear heels that are lower with a block heel, instead of stilettos. They didn’t have those yet!


For the guys, your party costume can be either the refined gentleman wearing a slightly oversized suit (zoot suit) with pinstripes, or you can take it casual and wear a simple white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, a short fat tie, a pair of high waisted trousers and a hat. It works.

Pimps and Hookers
Alright, I mention this costume party theme because it comes up all the time. If you wanna get kinda trashy, this would be the one. It’s the roaring 20s era combined with the 1970s. You’re on your own here! But our advice for all the wannabe hookers, a little tease is a lot hotter than letting it all hang out everywhere. Maybe go as a “call girl” from the mid century and wear some seamed stockings, a tight minidress and long gloves.

Circus and Carnival
The revival of the 1890s is in full swing today in Austin and every other major city. Men are forming facial hair clubs, circus performance groups and vaudeville style acts are popping up all over the place. Our burlesque costume boutique really fits with this theme well and offers a lot of ideas for a party with this theme. If you’re a girl, you can pretty much try any style from corset to minidress. The look mainly involves a lot of stripes, vibrant colors, and hosiery. Add a really tall feather in your hair & you’re golden! Consider wearing a cute two piece or corset with ruffle panties and stockings with garters. If it’s a little cold out, break out that vintage full length coat and amaze the crowd when it comes off at the party!


For the guys, you can go with just about anything, from refined gentleman to hobo. Brown trousers, rolled up shirtsleeves and suspenders, combined with a stylish, worn-in hat will do the trick. Or if you’re feeling feisty, be the circus strongman or a lion tamer! Your options are pretty much endless.

-Patrick