With the growing popularity of burlesque stars like Dita von Teese and Immodesty Blaize, many of us are wanting to create a similar look at home with our lingerie collection. Luckily many designers are hot on the trend and have created some knockout pieces so you can be a star in your One-Woman Act at home!

We’ve uncovered some of our favorite items that have been inspired by the art of burlesque, which are naturally over-the-top and glitzy! Some of the brands that best capture the look are Mint Siren, What Katie Did, Velda Lauder, Ophelia Fancy, Kiss Me Quick, Eternal Spirits, Fifi Chachnil, Playful Promises…well, the list could go on much longer.

If anything, the accessories really create the look with pieces such as gloves, thigh highs, garter straps, pasties, anything that cinches your waist (a waspie) and plenty of Swarovski crystals and ostrich feathers. Now if only we knew where to buy a life-size champagne glass to perform in!

Dita von Teese; the ultimate inspiration for the modern-day burlesque performer; the fringe panties, gloves, cheeky stockings and feather hattie create an impeccable look.

Sally Rand & her infamous fans...

Ophelia Fancy; UK label known for its theatrical lingerie

Kiss Me Quick

Eternal Spirits

Mint Siren; UK label by a designer in the burlesque industry! Pasties & waist-cincher are a must!

Fifi Chachnil

What Katie Did

Velda Lauder

burlesque performer Catherine D'Lish created these pieces...sold at Faire Frou Frou!

Since Pudding opened just over two years ago, its winter fashion show has been increasingly popular – so much so, that this year’s event was moved to a bigger venue and the Pudding team joined forces with top London cabaret legend The Marquis of Gray, to provide their customers with a glamorous evening of music, magic, cocktails and, of course, gorgeous lingerie!

Owner Helen Masters said, “Last year’s fashion show was so popular that we had to turn people away, so this year we decided to go bigger and better than ever before. We sponsored the Bohemia Cabaret in the summer and our customers loved it, so it was a great opportunity to join forces with the Marquis of Gray again for a really fun night’s entertainment”

The 100+ guests were encouraged to dress to impress, with burlesque style corsets being de rigeur  – luckily Pudding provides a fabulous selection of customisable corsets (you choose the colour and the fabric) so the audience had no excuse not to be well dressed!

The fashion show, featuring four Reading based models, showed a range of styles from top designers such as Pleasure State, La Perla and Lise Charmel on display, as well as the corsets themselves, by premium corsetiers Vollers. The timing was also ideal for anyone hoping to get some Christmas Present ideas . The models sported a stunning Dita Von Teese inspired look, courtesy of local hair and make-up artists Natalie Parratt and Steve and Ellie from Essensuals in Guildford.

As Helen said, “Our gift list service is very popular and people in the past have used the fashion show as an opportunity to spot their favourite styles and give someone a hint for Christmas. As we keep our customers sizes and preferences on record, all anyone interested in buying a gift needs to do is pop in, say their partner’s name and we can do the rest! We can even drop a hint on behalf of our female customers so they make sure they get their favourite wish list item as we also offer a Christmas Gift Hint service by text message!”

Anyone who didn’t make the show, can see the stunning Pudding range online at www.puddinglingerie.com or in the salon which is open Mon-Sat 10- 6 pm with an early opening of 9.30 on Saturday and a late closing of 8pm on Thursday – plus to help shoppers beat the Christmas rush, Pudding will be open every Sunday in December in the run up to Christmas from 11am-5pm and will be offering bubbly and mince pies every Thursday night until 8pm to relieve Christmas shopping stresses!

Far from the standard runway show, Enamore’s 2010 catwalk was a fashion performance/striptease, featuring burlesque dancers and models selected for their boisterous personalities and striking natural attributes. With amazing burlesque performances from Fifi Fatale, Violet Crumble and Miss Dolly Rose, who could resist!

The show featured the Enamore 2010 lingerie collection designed by Jenny Ambrose and matching jewellery and accessoriess designed and hand made by Catarina Vassalo as well as a sneak peak at the Miss Toy for Enamore collection. Miss Toy is a sultry silk collection of come to bed ensembles with a fashion twist winking to the fantastical. The Miss Toy collection is set to come out before Christmas 2010.

This was also the launch of the cheeky nipple tassle and pasties range designed for Enamore by Alice Holloway. Holloway-Smith Femme studied jewellery at Central Saint Martins, and dressmaking in the backroom of a dance costume shop and can now turn any breast, boob, or bap in to a veritable feast for the eyes. Watch out for the first designs coming out on our website in time for Christmas 2009!

The venue décor was opulent, original and playful, with amber coloured lighting, rich mahogany furniture and luxurious fabric in lush reds and gold with a stunning set design by Tom Abel and Willow Hilson. The stage set combined with the fabulous soundtrack and the scene was set for guests to experience the sensual playful world of Enamore, where models danced, strutted and flirted their way down the winding stairs and across the centre catwalk.

The entire show has been captured on camera and a film will be released in the coming weeks.

Show makeup by Laura Tucker & Gosia with hair styled by Amanda Bowler, Emma Rees & Riccardo Mazzocco. Photos thanks to Nick Grant. More info on Enamore.co.uk!

The result of that decision is the quirky, fantastical, Wundaland collection inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. Here are some images from the collection’s photoshoot – it looks like so much fun!

Congratulations to Johnson on her first lingerie collection – we certainly hope to see much more! Shop online and view larger product shots at Sugarlesque.com.

The online corsetry company and online burlesque boutique are getting into the summer swing of things by showcasing their collection of rosy pink waist reducing overbust and underbust corsets.

Professional corsetieres, Playgirl London team their corsetry skills with burlesque artists and alternative artists to make garments that are truly unique in design and fit. The latest collection has been designed to reflect the changing role of the corset from a functional garment to the ultimate in luxury.

Here are some of the pink designs for the summer…

Playgirl London make real corsets at a reasonable price, made with generous amounts of steel and cloth that is generously reinforced, this helps achieve the sexy and seductive hourglass figure and can help achieve a waist reduction of up to 4 inches, on their specialist made to measure corsets this can be increased to six inches!

To see more of the collection in range of different colours visit playgirllondon.co.uk.

One the left are super high girdle knickers known as the Uma. They have silk and stretch netting and a single Y-suspender on each leg for 89.50 UK. This is shown with the Celia pasties in simple black for 22.00 UK. On the right, the Lilly Waspie Corset. It is a silk satin piece with crinkled chiffon covering four layers and boning. This is for corset trained waists and is 279.00 UK. It is shown with the halter-top, triangle-cup Isabella bra in pink for 49.50 UK and the Joanna string with crinkled silk for 35.50 UK.

On the left, the Rapunzel play (79.50 UK) suit with two silk bows on the front and a third silk bow in the middle of the back. The latter can be used to gently tie the hands behind the back. This is paired with the Mary string made from a fine lace front panel, small pearl accent, and not much else for 32.50 UK. On the right, a different look at the Emma bra and the Theresa knickers with the bows attached, see below.

On the left, Bunny knickers are gathered silk with a French opening and bow in back for 59.50 UK. Paired with the Mindy bandeau in black silk for 32.50 UK. On the right, the Josephine under bust corset 382.50 UK, with the open cup Emma bra shown with detachable bows for 69.50 UK, shown with the Theresa knickers without the detachable bows for 59.50 UK, and the Anna knee socks with bow accent under the knee for 25.00 UK.

Photos courtesy of Mint Siren. Shop at Mint Siren.

La Magia sent us:

“Anyone who buys something from our Kiss Me Deadly collection has the opportunity to win, but because we want these tickets to go to someone who really really wants them we need you to enter the code ‘PICKME’ in the promo code box on the first page of our checkout. Once your order has been received we will enter you into the prize draw and at 5pm on 1 December 2008 we will select a winner at random.”

Get to shopping at LaMagia.co.uk, and good luck!

“I am very proud of the lingerie that I’ve created for Wonderbra, because it has all the beautiful detail of sexy, sensual and glamorous lingerie, but the fit is perfect to wear under your everyday clothes. I love it when you can go about your daily business with the knowledge that you have a little secret of your own on underneath.“

Inspired by 1940s and 1950s Hollywood glamour, the collection includes a bra with a top-wire design that was popular in the fifties. The drop-dead sexy styles also anticipate how your man will react when he sees you in them – some of the panties and bras have quick-release magnetic clasps so you can get them off as quickly and easily as possible (Wonderbra promises that this detail will make “daring stripteases a cinch”)! But Dita is quick to say that men’s reactions aren’t the most important thing about her collection:

“Lingerie shouldn’t be something you just put on for your lover; you should do it for you…It’s not about seducing men, it’s about embracing womanhood.”

I think both women and men will be able to appreciate styles like this:

The collection will be launched in Europe on September 23, and our readers in the United States will be able to purchase the collection from ASOS.com.

On the left, a deep frilled satin knickers with cute bows on the side in S through XL for £30. Find it here. On the right, a bustle that isn’t part of your average boudoir wardrobe. This satin bustle can be worn with your favorite corset and frilly knickers for a stunning burlesque look. Pick it up in S-M, M-L, and XL for £99 with lace trim. Find it here.

On the left, similar to the satin knicker above, but is made of lace with a fifties influence. It is available in S, M, L for £14. Find it here. On the right, a great corset shown in lace. It would look great with a deep, dark red kit including knickers and stockings. It is available in 18″ to 40″ for £245. Find it here.

This underbust corset is available in dark midnight blue/black brocade with black satin panels or white chinese brocade with white satin panels. It is made to order and is listed at £155. Find it here.

Q: You have some high profile clients (Immodesty Blaize, others). How do they factor into your business? Do you only focus on the high profile client or do you have a broader customer base?
A: Of course Miss Blaize is one of my best clients. It’s a pleasure to make such intricate and sumptuous show pieces and see them worn to their best effect! She is obviously at the top of the scale but I do everything from an undergarment for a wedding dress to the occasional corset for a man.

Q: How did you step into this line of exquisite costumery 10 years ago?
A: If always loved historical clothing so I scooted of to London College of Fashion to study theatrical clothing and then found a job at Skin 2 and then House of Harlot making rubber clothing. As I started making fabric corsets for myself, others expressed interests in buying them…an age old business start-up.

Q: Do you think there is a lingerie renaissance? Why or why not?
A: I certainly think that all types of underwear have got more exciting and colourful over the last 10 years. Mainly I think to do with the cheap and disposable age that we live in. People can afford to buy a crazy coloured bra for £3 and wear it twice a year. A few years ago, it was a different story where you would buy just the sensible option. Things tend to go in cycles and I’m sure we will see that again.

Q: Certainly there seems to be resurgence in burlesque. Why do you think that is?
A: A small section of this society will always be looking for new music, entertainment and of course style. Again I come back to the cycle issue. The 70′s were influenced by the 30′s, the 80′s by the 50′s and now burlesque is back. We a very lucky to live in a time and place to enjoy it.

Q: How large (geographically) is your market?
A: My customers are mainly from Britain but I do have a reasonable amount from Germany, Finland and the Americas, etc.. They will often tie in a trip to London with coming to see me for measurements and fittings. I do have an American customer that flies over specially and has had film shoots in the U.S.

Q: Can you describe the process from sketch to sale?
A: Quite simply I will talk to the customer and agree with a sketch and details, take a full set of measurements and then make a tuille. With one fitting I then make the corset.

Q: How different is the pricing for the off-the-peg pieces (Toulouse Corset at £300.00) and your bespoke pieces?
A: My custom corsets are really a tailoring service. They are made for the individual, unlike my off the peg range which I sell wholesale to shops. Both sides of my business are equally important and gives a nice variety in my work life. Obviously a made to measure is going to be more expensive due to the fittings, samples and construction time. I seem to have more and more bespoke work to do every year.

Q: Can a large lingerie company move into the custom corsetry space?
A: I think people like to have a specially made piece which can sort out personal tastes and issues. I do it with shoes, I will have a beautiful pair hand made by Natacha Marro but then kick around in boots for work. Its nice to have a cherished piece in your wardrobe. If Marks and Spencer start doing made to measure corsets I’ll eat my socks!

Q: Do corsets have a season? I’m in love with the Burgundy and Cream waistcoat. Can I buy this any time or will you retire this design?
A: Hmmm…Don’t worry, at this point I have no plans to throw out that pattern! The main problem is finding a reliable source of fabric which doesn’t get discontinued, this would be the main reason that a style would be dropped. Of course I may get run over by a bus tomorrow, at which point my death might seriously jeopardize a style…..or two.

Q: In your gallery pages, I see some pieces are shown with Buttress and Snatch bras. You’ve told me that Atsuko is a friend. Are you friends with many designers? Do you consider any business partnerships with them?
A: I’ve been hanging around clubs in London for an awful long time now. Along the way friends have started businesses and I’ve met established designers. I also worked at the Dior studios on behalf of House of Harlot, you just have to make the most of opportunities when they arise. At the end of the day we all just trying to earn a crust doing something we enjoy. Its good to see small businesses surviving, its not easy.

Q: Have you thought about a diffusion line?
A: I’ve toyed with the idea of sourcing production from the Far East, but I’m still struggling with my conscience with that. I would like my corsets to remain as a special purchase that will be treasured instead of ending up in the pile on the floor.

Q: Do you think that Miss Katie is as successful as brands like Lascivious or Playful Promises?
A: How do you measure success? I hardly advertise as I’m terrible at promotion so all the work I have finds me. I’ve got as much on as I can manage and the next step is to expand.

Q: What has been your greatest success so far? How about your greatest hurdle?
A: Still doing what I do. Its very difficult for small businesses to start up with very little help. Hopefully in a couple of years Miss Katie will be a few more leaps on.

Q: Where do you find inspiration?
A: Well, I hardly look at magazines, fashion or the internet so I’m not sure really. Maybe I have a monkey on my shoulder whispering ideas to my subconscious….

Find out more about Miss Katie on her website