Dita Von Teese, Marilyn Manson divorce official

Marilyn Manson will start the new year as a single man.

The goth rocker's marriage to model and burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese officially ended Thursday, and the two were "restored to the status of single persons," according to a judgment filed in Superior Court.

Von Teese, whose real name is Heather Sweet, and Manson, whose real name is Brian Warner, have entered a marital settlement, but terms of the agreement were not disclosed for privacy reasons, court papers said.

Her attorney declined to comment. An after-hours call Friday to Manson's attorney was not immediately returned.

Von Teese filed divorce papers nearly a year ago, citing irreconcilable differences for the split. The pair married in November 2005.

Manson later told Spin magazine he was devastated over the breakup.

"She said she had tolerated the lifestyle because she hoped I would change and threatened to leave if I didn't," he said.

Manson, 38, is now dating actress Evan Rachel Wood, the 20-year-old star of "Thirteen" and "Across the Universe."

1950’s pinup Jeanne Carmen dead at 77

1950’s pinup and actress, Jeanne Carmen, died at 77 of lymphoma Thursday.

When she was 13, “little country girl” ran away from home in Paragould Arkansas where she picked cotton with her family. Once she reached New York she immediately got a job as a dancer in “Burlesque,” a Broadway show with Burt Lahr.

She then went on to modeling, slowly gaining her reputation with shots such as her cheesecake series. She also toured with Jack Redmond where she did tricks like hitting a ball out of a man’s mouth. She claims that she hustled golfers with the Las Vegas mobster Johnny Roselli.

Moving into Orange County in 1978 and still in her 20’s, Carmen began doing work in films, “Guns Don’t Argue” and “The Monster of Piedras Blancas.”

It has been said that Carmen had intimate connections with celebrities such as Frank Sinatra.

Curve Appeal: Get that Burlesque Look

A recent U.S. study has confirmed what men have instinctively known for centuries - that an hourglass figure complete with a tiny waist and curvaceous hips is seriously sexy.

According to the University of Texas, the formula for a perfect figure - and one guaranteed to turn the heads of the opposite sex - involves dividing your waist by your hip measurement (this needs to include your bottom).

Anything below 0.8 is considered a healthy result, but the smaller your waist to hip ratio WHR), the more sexually alluring your figure.

For example, the classic pin-up dimensions of 36- 24-36 gives a WHR of 0.66.

So, science may have come up with a solution for sure-fire sex appeal, but why is a small WHR so alluring to men?

"It’s all down to the male’s unconscious assessment of a female’s sexual and reproductive capabilities - it’s a primeval response," says study author, Professor Devendra Singh.

"The classic hourglass figure tells a man three important things at a glance: first, the woman is not already pregnant; second, a narrow waist shows that she is of reproductive age; and third, she is healthy and free from disease."

Hardly the most romantic of reasons, but a tiny waist, it seems, is every woman’s secret weapon in the seduction stakes and one that fashion has helped us maximize for several centuries.

The corset dates back 3,000 years and has been worn to devastating effect by femme fatales ranging from showgirls to superstars.

Today, minuscule midriffs are championed by Dita Von Teese (hers measures just 161⁄2 in in a corset) and the Pussycat Dolls, and make a regular appearance on the red carpet and the catwalk.

Just look at Alexander McQueen’s Spring/Summer show, all pony skin corsets and waist-nipping jackets, and the body-bandaging Herve Leger number actress Emily Blunt wore to the Golden Globes.

In a world of emaciated models and celebrities, this look champions femininity and sex appeal and is a million miles away from La La Land’s size zeros.

Posh may have a 23in waist, but she’s no poster girl for this trend, proving skeletal can never be mistaken for sexy.

As the adage goes, men do like a little something to grab hold of, and thanks to Lifestyle’s six-step plan, you can create killer curves in all the right places.

The Exercise
Celebrity trainer David Kirsch recommends seated twists combined with a medicine ball for extra waist-slimming resistance.

Sit down with your legs bent, feet flat on the floor in front of you.

Holding the medicine ball in both hands, rock backwards slightly to engage your stomach muscles as you lift your feet off the floor.

Holding the ball out in front of you, elbows slightly bent, rotate your shoulders round and twist from the waist from left to right, feeling your abdominal muscles working at the front and sides of your stomach.

Swivel left and right 15 times, rest and repeat twice more. Perform this exercise on alternate days for a slimmer, trimmer midriff.

The Treatment
Arasys stimulates circulation by using pulsating waves to contract and tone muscles, and claims it can help to reduce that unsightly overhang by up to 9in after a single session.

From £25, each 17-minute treatment is the equivalent of performing 300 sit-ups and can help boost your natural metabolic rate to burn off stored fat.

A two-week course of treatments will soon help sculpt a curvier silhouette.

The Pose
Desk-bound jobs, weak muscles and ageing all contribute to poor posture that can leave your figure looking squat and dumpy, especially around your middle.

"Essentially, if you stoop and haven’t got the muscle tone to hold your posture properly, your ribcage drops down towards your pelvis, meaning your waist disappears," says body-conditioning expert Marja Putkisto.

To help realign and lengthen your trunk, Marja recommends the Bow Stretch.

Start by standing side on to a wall, your feet together. Lift the arm nearest the wall, bend your elbow and lean your arm against the wall, your fingers pointing down to the floor.

Create a bow shape by tilting your rib cage to the right, increasing the space between your lowest left rib and your hipbone.

Hold the position and breathe in deeply allowing your diaphragm to rise inside your ribcage, while pulling your abdominals back towards your spine.

Pause, and at the end of the exhalation, pull your navel in more and squeeze your buttocks to pull up your pelvic floor muscles.

Repeat three times before switching to the other side.

The Product
Tackle unsightly bulges with Bliss Fat Girl Slim, £35, available at www.blisslondon.co.uk.

This rub-in cream, laced with caffeine, comes with a special applicator, helping to break up fat cells under the skin, leaving your stomach and hips smooth and more streamlined.

The makers claims that in three weeks, you’ll have a firmer, leanerlooking waist.

The diet tip
Increase the amount of fresh food, fruit and vegetables you eat to boost your fibre intake.

Fibre helps keep your digestive system working efficiently, cleaning the digestive wall to ensure food is quickly and effectively digested.

Food that stays undigested in your system longer than 24 hours will release gases that leave you looking permanently bloated.

Be sure to incorporate plenty of the following into your diet:

■ Apples to increase your fibre content.
■ Non-fat, plain yoghurt to increase your friendly bacteria.
■ Grapefruit, because it’s high in B vitamins, good for any weightloss programme.
■ Sauerkraut, which keeps your bowels moving.
■ Brocoli, which provides many nutrients for your hormones to produce enzymes.


Finally, take time to chew your food. It’s not just about what you eat, but also how you eat it, and smaller fragments of food are easier for your system to break down.

The Fashion fix
Good underpinnings can make all the difference to your torso.

It’s a touch Bridget Jones and definitely better concealed under clothes than displayed au naturel, but the Spanx Hide & Sleek Hi-Rise Body Smoother, £45, starts just below your bra line and extends down to mid-thigh, flattening out the bulging bits in between and creating a cinched waist.

If this sounds a bit extreme and seriously unsexy, try Agent Provocateur’s Waspie, £98. Front fastening and made from duchess satin, the luxurious outer shell conceals steel spiral boning for ultimate control.

Alternatively, die-hard fashionistas should opt for the 3.1 Philip Lim belt, £120. This elasticated waist-clincher has two leather panels at the front joined by a linking brass buckle, ensuring you achieve the hourglass shape of the season.

Dita Von Teese designs greeting card for Blackberry

Stars including Dita Von Teese, piano prodigy Jamie Cullum and British rockers Bloc Party have put their name to a collection of self-illustrated Christmas cards.

The celebrities have teamed up with the makers of mobile communication device Blackberry to design Christmas cards, re-christened B-cards, allowing users to send the greetings to friends and family in the run up to the festive season.

Cullum's card features flying pianos on music manuscript paper; Bloc Party are recreated as cartoons; and Von Teeses' festive treat sees her restyled in animation in an oversized martini glass. The cards can be sent from a Blackberry via www.the-b-card.com.

Burlesque Hair style Basics

Burlesque hair

Are you prepared to give yourself the ultimate hair-mare?
You will need:

• Hair pins

• Hairspray

• Patience (and lots of it)

I've separated the hair part to it's own post because it is the most complicated, fiddly task of all (blame those old-movie stars and their hairdressers). See, burlesque performers and old-movie stars used rollers to create curls and pile their hair up into elaborate styles that literally took hours to achieve. Women in the 20's and 30's wore very tight waves made using rollers and the World War II pin-ups wore ringlets at the front of their heads or created one big roll with all their hair.

If your hair is long like mine, you had better make sure you're alone before attempting to style your hair because this will have you swearing like nothing else will!

I'm going to go through one method of styling hair that is easy for everyone. Well, easy-ish!

First

Brush your hair so that it is tangle-free, then make a ponytail with the front part of your hair. (If you have curly hair, straighten this part before you secure it). Back comb it slightly so it stands up like a quiff and secure it with LOTS of pins and hairspray.

Burlesque haircare tip: if you have shoulder-length hair, you could pin the ponytail into one curl just above your forehead and spray it into place.

Then

You can use rollers to put the rest of your hair into ringlets, or make a sleek bun at the back of your head. Secure it well so it doesn't fall out in the middle of the street!

And

If you want to, you can add false (or real) flowers, gemstones, any accessory you want really to make it stand out. British burlesque performer Immodesty Blaize pins jeweled birds and butterflies into hers!

Good luck with the hair styling!

A final word to all burlesque girls:

Be unique. If you like blue, go for a blue theme. If you have a thing for stripes, find a stripy outfit (or make one if you're that way inclined). There are plenty of accessories around with strawberry or cherry designs- you could plan an outfit around that, or around your favourite piece of jewelery.

Adapt the look to your own style and you can't go that far wrong!

If you want to learn more about the world of Burlesque, Dita von Teese's book "Burlesque and the Art of The Teese" is great, with some truly gorgeous pictures and inspiration.

You can get Dita's book, Burlesque and the Art of the Teese here.

Good luck ladies!

Marc Jaobs, Dita Von Teese naked Charity t-shirts

I came across these t-shirts while browsing the internet for Dita Von Teese related news.
They appear to have been a limited release as mentioned below taken from the website:

The Marc Jacobs t-shirts featuring nude photos of various models and celebrities have been re-issued. I know many people missed out the first time and have been searching for a Dita Von Teese one. So, if you can’t get to a store, (or they’re sold out when you get there) keep checking eBay. They’re bound to appear. That’s where I bought mine when they were initially released.

Collectors item indeed. I was lucky enough to pick up one for around US$40 before word circulated. Months after, I saw a few more sell on ebay for well over US$200.

The Marc Jacob website homepage currently displays a memorial to Clare Lee who died early this year after she lost her battle with skin cancer, which she developed after a number of tanning salon sessions. So, enjoy the lovely Dita Von Teese naked on the shirt but try to take notice of the image as well - protect the skin you're in!

A look at Dita Von Teese And The Spirit of Burlesque

Raised in a small town in Michigan until the age of 12, Dita Von Teese grew up watching old movies, in a house filled with antiques. After moving to Orange County, the teenager got her first job, working in a lingerie store. Combining that love, with her fascination for all things from the 1930's and 40's, the seed was planted for her to become the most famous international burlesque and pin-up star in the world today.

Originating in the 1840s, early in the Victorian era, burlesque evolved out of music hall entertainments and vaudeville, and became a blend of satire, performance art and adult entertainment that featured striptease and broad comedy acts. By the 1930's, the striptease became the dominant ingredient of burlesque shows, and performers such as Sally Rand, Gypsy Rose Lee and Lily St. Cyr continue to inspire new generations, looking to keep burlesque alive.

“I can’t say that I’m re-creating classic burlesque because burlesque will never be what it was in its heyday,” Von Teese tells MediaBlvd Magazine. “That was a time when people were more interested in seeing live shows and live entertainment, and burlesque was a spin-off of vaudeville that was not always acceptable entertainment in the mainstream. Burlesque was mostly the show for the regular working class male, who wanted to hear dirty jokes and see risque strippers dance. It was a real theatrical show, and there were a lot of major stars that came out of burlesque, who were famous for performing. My shows evoke that period and the spirit of burlesque, even though I don’t really create replicas of shows that were done in the past.”

“Also, I knew there was a real connection between pin-up modeling and burlesque. In the 1930's, the girls that were in the men’s magazines, posing for the pin-up pictures, were mostly burlesque dancers that were promoting themselves as stars that people would want to go see. They also weren’t shy about showing their bodies. The pin-up modeling came first for me, but when I saw that a lot of pin-up models from that era were also burlesque stars, I wanted to make that connection too.”

Those who may not be familiar with burlesque might be quick to describe such performances as strip shows. But, being called a stripper is not something that bothers Von Teese. “I don’t mind being called a stripper because I know the history of burlesque and I know that they were called strippers back then. A lot of burlesque dancers, or even people that come see my show, say ‘You’re not a stripper, you’re a burlesque artist, and what you do is art.’ And, I say, ‘When it comes down to it, we’re all related.’ What the girls are doing in the lap-dancing and pole-dancing clubs now is just what burlesque has evolved into. It might be different and a little less risque then modern stripping is, but not necessarily. Back in the day, burlesque even had full nudity in some of the shows, and women flashed. They weren’t all great artists, like Gypsy Rose Lee and Sally Rand. It wasn’t all feathers and rhinestones. People were going to see girls nearly nude because they wanted to see girls nearly nude. When it came down to it, that’s really what it was all about. There are always going to be people that will take it to a different level and give it a little bit of credibility, and it’s great when there’s something for everyone, but I don’t expect everyone to want to see a show like mine.”

Born Heather Sweet, Von Teese says that the name change occurred when she decided to work in a strip club. “I wanted to have an excuse to wear my corsets and stockings outside the bedroom. I was just up for an adventure. I was 18 years old, having fun with my fashion and style, and dressing in vintage and being different. I visited a strip club and saw all these blondes in bikinis, and I thought, ‘I’m so different than everyone here,’ so I thought it would be a fun experiment to work there. The name change came about because that’s part of working in a strip club. That’s the first thing you do. One of the reasons people do it is to have an alternate identity. It’s like acting, playing dress up, and all those things little girls like to do.”

Von Teese says that, even though her family didn’t always understand her chosen career path, they did support her desire to be self-sufficient and follow her dreams. “When I started this, I was also holding down a serious job, working and taking care of myself, and going to school. I was very together. I wasn’t just a party girl. I didn’t tell everyone I wanted to be a big burlesque star and pin-up model. I was doing it because it was fun, but I was working at the same time, and I was very level-headed about everything that I was doing. My father didn’t really understand what I was doing, but I was always very up front about it. I’d show my mother the pictures I was taking, and she could see that I wasn’t an ordinary stripper, just by looking at me. I think she thought it was a phase I was going through, but I don’t remember her ever being upset by it. And, frankly, I was 18 years old. I was putting myself through school, paying for my own car payments and paying my own credit cards, and I never asked for a dime from my parents, so what could they say to me? When I was on the cover of Playboy, that was probably when my father finally accepted it. I can’t really blame him for not understanding what I was doing. It’s difficult to try to explain to your parents that you like to take pictures wearing lingerie, all tied up. But, being on the cover of Playboy validated me, in my father’s eyes. And then, when he saw me perform, it was all okay with him.”

Von Teese first developed the desire to wear a corset after watching wild west films from the 40's, that were set in the turn of the century, and she saved enough money to finally buy her first corset for her 18^th birthday. Now, she wears beautiful and elaborate ones in the shows that she has developed, and which she performs, all over the world. “The hardest part is making shows that I think people will understand. I could make some really interesting, artsy shows, based on things that I know about the era, but other people wouldn’t get them because they probably haven’t read the books that I’ve read, and seen the movies that I’ve seen. I don’t really want one out of 5,000 people to understand what the show is. I want it to be universal. I want them to just think it’s pretty and enjoy it, rather than try to figure out what my message is.”

“I’ve got a lot of new shows in the works, but it’s a complicated process to make a show and to make the new costumes. It can be expensive too. I’m just a girl with my own checkbook. There are no other shows, even in Las Vegas, that have the quantity of Swarovski crystals and feathers on the costumes, as I do. You’re not going to see any one person who’s got the kind of stuff I do, except Liberace.”

With an audience that ranges mostly between the ages of 18 and 35, and a website that pulls in 70% of its membership from women, Von Teese, who performs for audiences of all sizes, all over the world, admits that she rarely gets nervous before a performance. “I get nervous at the times when people wouldn’t think I would get nervous. The times when there’s thousands and thousands of people, and there’s famous people in the audience, are not when I get nervous. I get more nervous when it’s a smaller audience. I don’t even know what makes me nervous, but being nervous is part of what makes it good. When you get nervous, that’s a good energy to have. When you’re just relaxed and non-chalant about it, that’s when you don’t have as good a show. It’s the people that start believing that they’re so good that they don’t have to work at it that usually screw up and disappoint people. But, I don’t get nervous in a way that I’m scared to go out there. I want to go out there. I get nervous in a sense that I’m ready to go, and I want to do the show.”

Having discovered a love for ballet at the age of 5, Von Teese says that, even though she knew she was not a great ballerina, her training was really helpful, once it came time to teach herself how to do her stage shows. “As much as I tried, I could not find any footage of women, like Sally Rand, feather fan dancing. I had to learn on my own, which I think is good. You should just interpret it in your own way, and then it comes out unique, original and better. I’m not saying I’m better, but I know the girls that have studied Sally Rand’s footage exactly, and they’re trying to copy what she did, and it just doesn’t translate because they aren’t Sally Rand. What I imagined in my head I should do, with the feather fans, is what I actually did. Even with burlesque, in general, I never studied authentic burlesque footage. Once I finally got my hands on some, I had already been performing it. I watched it and thought, ‘Well, I kind of like my way better,’ because it suits my personality, which is key. You shouldn’t copy what somebody else is doing because it should come from a real personal place.”

As burlesque made a more visible resurgence, Von Teese became a sought after model by the world’s top designers, fashion magazines and photographers. “I can’t believe that I’m here and this is happening. I’m enjoying it and appreciating it, but there are times that I think back and remember being 18 years old, working in the strip bar. If somebody would have told me then, I wouldn’t have ever believed them. In 1994, I had this psychic, that I still know, tell me that I was going to be on the cover of Playboy, and I didn’t believe her. I said, ‘There’s no way I’m going to be on the cover of Playboy. I’ve already posed for Playboy and they told me that they don’t want me to be in the magazine. I have six rejection letters. It’s never going to happen for me.’ She still laughs about it. She said, ‘I told you so.’ Even now, I don’t expect things. I love every moment and do every show as though it’s my last chance. I’m going to enjoy this now because who knows what’s coming tomorrow. I could be yesterday’s news.”

Although she’s not setting any specific limits on herself, as far as when she’ll hang up her performance hat, Von Teese says that she does know that she won’t still be dancing completely nude onstage when she’s in her 70's. So, taking that into consideration, the 35-year-old beauty has been looking at the bigger picture and branching out into publishing, with one double-sided book already published.

“Burlesque and the Art of the Teese is my career in pictures, over the past decade. From my story, you can learn about the history of burlesque, which is intertwined with my own history. And then, when you flip it over to Fetish and the Art of the Teese, you can read about fetishism, and see that it has a lot of history and that there’s things that you don’t have to be afraid of. It just sheds a new light. Fetishism isn’t just about dominatrixes, boot-licking, and whips and chains. I want people to see that it’s beautiful, elegant things as well, and it’s about exotic clothing, and celebrating beauty and women. It’s just an entertaining, fun read. That’s all I wanted to do with the book, and that’s all I try to do on stage. I just want people to see something they haven’t seen before.”

Looking ahead to the future, Von Teese has ideas for other books that she hopes to have published, and even has her sights set on her own full-length burlesque review. “I’m working on a book that’s going to be a real how-to guide to retro beauty. I want to take it a step further and teach people how I do it. There aren’t really any current books that show girls how to get a retro, nostalgic, classic look. There are reprints of old books, but the technology is better now. There are easier ways to do it than there used to be. And, I want to do a major multi-million dollar review that is not just a copy of a burlesque show from the past. I have an idea for a show that I really want to make happen, so hopefully that will come to fruition, exactly the way I want it to.”

The Pinup Girl: a look back

Not only a female model hides behind the term “pin-up”. Pin-up girls were and remained to be muses in the art and fashion world.

Let us remember pin-up girls with nostalgia and their sense of fashion. Hollywood queen and sex symbol of the past Marilyn Monroe was one of the most famous pin-up girls. But, Betty Grable was the first one to be the American troops` mascot during World War II.

Pin-ups as Playmates and muses

It all began during the World War II misfortune when the American soldiers, who were far away from their homes, needed motivation to great a new day with a smile. The media took care of it, placing pin-up girls in their magazines and on posters, in their full anatomic form and tight clothing. One could say that was the beginning of mass media photo model production. But, soldiers did not stop at one piece of paper.


They painted their favourites with airbrush on their jackets as well as decorated aeroplanes with their motives. Pin-ups were the same thing then as Playmates are today. They inspired many photographers, illustrators and fashion designers during the past 60 years (Dana Gibson, Alberto Vargas, George Petty, Art Frahm).

With curves against flats

Not only were the clothes sexy in the 1950s and 60s, but bodies of models had healthy-look attributes, and the clothes worn then looked amazing on them.

Pin-up return is a media blow to the ideology of a skinny model as the perfect woman. Every body craves more feminine clothes because the dictate of fashion gurus in tight jeans killed dresses and high heels. Although skinny girls are wearing it these days, especially throughout America and Germany, it seems that this trend is experiencing a comeback all over the world. Pin-up clothes are wearable, untrammeled and representative.

Sneak Peek: The Goddess Workout: Cardio Burlesque

Here is a sneak peek at the soon to be released (Jan 2008) burlesque DVD; The Goddess Workout: Cardio Burlesque - Striptease.

Fitness goddess Dolphina teaches you simple cabaret-style moves that will sculpt and define your entire body. This clip is titled "Too Hot".



You can pre-order your copy today, The Goddess Workout: Cardio Burlesque - Striptease

Princes William and Harry enjoy burlesque show

Prince William and Prince Harry enjoyed a trip to see a 'raw' variety extravaganza this week.

The royal siblings and 10 pals were entertained by acts including US exotic dancers the Wau Wau sisters and French performer La Galu at the Medium Rare show in Bush Hall, Shepherds Bush.

The evening of 'short films, cabaret, comedy, readings, opera, magic and live music' at £70 a ticket wowed Wills, 25, and Harry, 23.

'When the Wau Wau girls came out William and Harry looked stunned,' says a source. 'They're very athletic and were dangling right in front of them. The atmosphere was all very steamy, with the lights down low.

'It was hardly tea with the Queen. Both lads looked transfixed by all the sexy acrobats and sat there cheering and laughing.'

Out of respect for the royal brothers, one routine wasn't quite as naughty as usual.

Normally La Galu shows her boobs and most of the rest of herself,' the source tells the Daily Mirror. 'But she was more modest for the princes.'

Later William and Harry went to their regular haunt, Boujis in Kensington where they met up with Kate Middleton and other pals.

The party is reported to have run up a £15,000 bar bill in just two hours - not hard to do if you're drinking Cristal champagne at £500 a pop.

See the Wau Wau Sisters - NYC's bravest and bawdiest burlesque duo - in this amazing video:

Lil Mynx Removable Dance Poles

This post is a review of the Lil' Mynx removable dance pole. So what are some of the features that separate this pole from the others?

Firstly, the Lil' Mynx is removable. The pole itself does not bolt to the floor or ceiling. The standard ceiling mount does require 1 bolt into a joist which can be found using a stud finder. In addition to the standard ceiling mount, The Pro Pole comes with a friction ceiling mount although you must still find a joist to straddle. Keep in mind this is held in place by friction and cannot withstand as large a side load as the bolted mount.

Check out their range of customizable removable dance poles.

The removable nature of our product offers the flexibility of only having the Lil' Mynx in place when you want to use it. You regain the space in your room when the pole is not in use. You can simply store the Lil' Mynx under your bed, behind the couch, or in a closet when finished.

Want to learn how to dance like a pro? Lil Mynx also have instructional DVDs!

Second, the majority of Lil' Mynx dance poles are 2 inch in diameter and come standard to adjust in length to be used with an 8-10 foot ceiling. If your ceiling height is less than 8 feet they can make a shorter pole at no additional charge. The main body of the pole is approximately 8 feet on all poles, except custom. This is the usable dance area of the pole. The slider tube (the smaller adjustable tube that couples the ceiling mount) can never be used as a part of the dance area.

The Lil Mynx Petite is a 1 ¾ inch diameter pole. This is a great pole for small hands. The Petite has 12 inches of adjustment and installs the same as a standard Lil' Mynx with the bolt in mount.

Third, the finish on the poles is an important thing to consider. The powder coated finish Red, White, Black or Pink is a durable long lasting paint that is great for climbing and posing as it has the best grip. Stainless poles are great for spins but have much less grip and are harder to climb. Please think about what you will be doing with the pole and choose the best one for your needs.

Fourth, you have the choice between the Original Lil' Mynx or Petite, which are stationary removable dance poles, the Lil' Mynx "Rotator", a combination spinning/stationary removable dance pole or the Lil' Mynx Pro Pole, a 2-piece stationary portable dance pole.

The Original Lil' Mynx dance pole is a simple, easy to install pole that is adjustable from 8-10 feet. It is a stationary pole and is available in red, white, black, pink or stainless steel.

The "Rotator" has a smart designed bearing assembly in the base that allows the pole to rotate freely. It also has a lockout pin that will lock the pole into place and make the pole stationary when desired. It's like 2 poles in 1! Other than the bearing assembly and lockout pin both poles share the same installation and quality features.

The Pro Pole is a 2-piece stationary design with a handy carrying case for use from 8 to 10 foot ceilings. The accessories included are bolted ceiling mount, friction ceiling mount, non-skid floor pad, stud finder and tape measure. This pole is fully portable!

Fifth, while the Lil' Mynx was designed with carpeted floors in mind they offer a small pad for use on non-carpeted floors as well, including hardwood, tile, cement, etc.

The Lil' Mynx is very easy to install. It takes less than 10 minutes for the initial installation and weighs a mere 20 lbs. Our simple design incorporates a unique ceiling mount, disguised as a plant hook for discretion, that requires only a single screw into a main joist in the ceiling. A patent pending threaded compression system holds the Lil' Mynx in place. It can handle a person up to 200 pounds. When the pole is put away all you have left is a functional plant hook in the ceiling. After initial installation it takes only seconds to put up or take down, with no tools needed.

Permanent Poles
The Lil' Mynx permanent pole is great for studios or those that want/need a permanent pole. Unlike all the other permanent poles on the market, our mounting flanges are built to last. They are not flimsy flanges intended for use on bar rails. The base and top mounts are cast iron and powder coated black.

So go have a look for yourself, Lil Mynx removable dance poles.

Agent Provocateur Launches Erotic Massage Oils

The cult fashion label “Agent Provocateur” launched their new erotic massage oils. Even though most labels decide upon perfume, Agent has again legitimised the “provocation” in their name, and turned their beauty product into a “must have”.

Not only do they design godlike intimate clothing – but they now offer spice for the parts of the body that they do not cover. The oils contain scents according to their names: “Rose Passion”, “Sensual Ylang-Ylang” and “Tuberose Intoxication”. Their great advantage is that they do not leave greasy marks, but are dry massage oils, reports Vogue.de.

NYC Subway Burlesque Pole Dancing Video

Have you heard of the group of girls that got together and filmed themselves pole dancing on the New York Subway? It was part of web sites competition to see who could perform a sexy dance routine in a public place, this from their website:

We'd like to see some pole dancing but don't have the time to get to the local strip hut. What's that? Neither do you, ladies? In that case how about giving us a little pole dance show at any place you can find a pole. A stop sign, a tow away zone or even the firehouse will do. Just find the right piece of metal and make a dance partner out of it. The good news is you don't have to even get naked for this one, but like our grandpa once said; "The more skin, the better". Sorry for this one, mom!" (

Apparently the authorities weren't too pleased when they saw the footage:

"Our job is to assure that riders have an unplesant experience at all times, and that the individual cars remain breeding grounds for crime and disease."

It looks like the girls had fun with it, they didn't go too sleazy so congrats to them on the win!

Burlesque Beauty for Winter Time

This season, skin looks healthy. Tanning and radiant bronze skin are absolutely out, while matt fairness rules. The entire dryness is completed by emphasized eyes and lips.

Glam diva

Eyes demand drama and are fully prepared for flirting. For the brave ones, designers suggest cat eyes: heavy and emphasized eye liner line and mascara on both top and bottom eye-lashes. Tones vary from sophisticated matt ones reminiscent of the 40`s, up to glam metallic tones that play with bronze shadows. Emphasized drama of the eyes is balanced with transparent lip gloss, giving birth to a frosty wet look.

We also have lip stick which has raised the bar between girls and women. Vamp lips become a mystery that every woman covets – red tones with a touch of brown. The rule which states more on the eyes, less on the lips and vice-versa still applies.

Great names of the fashion scene Valentino, Missoni, Roberto Cavalli and Gucci have embraced the magnificent return of the golden years of the silver screen, with a replica of curls on hair tips.

Therefore, take out your grandma`s curlers and go! Everyone with a slightly more modern family tree can seek comfort in their mother`s round hair brush and their blow-drier. Don`t forget to add the powerful impression of make-up for the diva look: mahagony colored lips and long, long eye-lashes.

Ice Queen look

Givenchy, Viktor & Ralph, Chanel and Burberry suggest mischievous boyish look as a contrast to femininity and glam.

The fairy girl has been revived with smooth long, straight hair, porcelain complexion with discretely emphasized pink cheeks and shadows of turquoise blue and white on eye lids. Cold, pale, like a ghost from the most beautiful night mare.

Agent Provocateur to produce sexy shoes

The kings of intimate underwear, Agent Provocateur, known for their lace and cotton sweets, unforgettable sexy campaigns, erotic massage oils, and soon for shoes.

For this move, they teamed up with the largest manufacturer of luxury shoes, Kurt Geiger (well known for designing shoes for the famous), in order to create shoes that will complete women’s clothing and underwear. The collection is called Pure Sex, and contains eight different variations from sandals to boots over the knees.

Cooperation between Agent Provocateur and Kurt Geiger is assumed. They understand the quality of our label, and our high standards in design and presentation – says the cofounder of Provocateur, Serena Rees, for Vogue.

The result of the cooperation? Shoes so good that every fetishist would want to lick them and the price of these fetish accessories for your feet are around 600 US dollars.

They are so perfectly designed that they fit together with every outfit. Even when you play doctor, reports agentprovocateur.com.

The founders of Agent, Joe Corre (the only child of the fashion goddess of punk Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren from the Sex Pistols) and his wife and partner Serena Rees, are together one of the most provocative London pairs. Through their performances they present their underwear collections, and bluntly address the world politics of America and England, the general globalization of the market, and the general behavior of famous people.

This is how some marketing projects included a parade of the models of Agent Provocateur at the London Fashion Week with the slogans “More S&M, less M&S” (more Sado-Mazo, less Marks & Spencer). There were also video clips where Kylie Minogue rode a mechanical bull with a voice over saying “that is the sexiest underwear in the world”, and a clone of George Bush that is being whipped on the butt by Dita Von Teese, and the place of action is the White House.

The trademark face and money-maker for their commercials was Kate Moss, and currently it is the actress Maggie Gyllenthaal, and the model that they announced for the next campaign is Catharine Bailey.

Dita Von Teese explains fetishes to Tyra Banks

Dita Von Teese explains fetishes and her fetish modeling background to Tyra Banks. Dita also goes into her 'type' and history of boyfriends. This clip also features Eve.

Thanks to Lindsey from RedLasso.com for putting us on to this video.

Dita Von Teese: The Queen of style without stylists

That the woman's superiority knows no bounds is evident in her appearing in films Romancing Sara, Matter of Trust, Pin Ups 2, Decadence, The Death of Salvador Dali, Saint Francis and The Boom Boom Room, which are expected to arrive to theatres later this year. She has appeared in music videos and is the face of advertising campaigns in the fashion industry.

The extent to which the fashion industry was thrilled to see Dita’s elegant retro look is evident in the fact that she is included on the lists of the best dressed women in the world.

Regardless of her being faithful to her style, Dita follows fashion shows with great interest from the front rows and is a regular guest at Moschino and Marc Jacobs’ shows. She is often seen wearing their designs.

She was at the fashion shows of Richie Rich, Giambattista Valli, Moschino, Jean Paul Gaultier, Vivienne Westwood, Louis Vuitton.

Von Teese has never used a stylist: "The one time I hired a stylist, they picked up a pair of my 1940s shoes and said, 'These would look really cute with jeans.' I immediately said, 'You’re out of here.'" She does her own makeup and dyes her natural blonde hair black by herself.

Her beauty is stunning, with a fantastic style of dress to which she herself gives personality, said Stefano Pilati from Yves Saint Laurent, impressed with Dita.

Dita Von Teese: Beauty is relative

Beauty is relative: “What you’re not born with, you can create”

Her porcelain face appeared in many cosmetics companies’ campaigns as well as on the covers of fashion magazines Vanity Fair, Vogue and Elle.

“I'm more attracted to glamour than natural beauty. The young Marilyn Monroe was a pretty girl in a sea of pretty girls. Then she had her hair bleached, fake eyelashes, and that's when she became extraordinary. It's that idea of what you're not born with, you can create,” said the burlesque artist.

Von Teese, who openly admits to having had her breasts enlarged, was happy to build on what nature had given her at an early age, which is style: “I had an Aunt Opal, who was very painted - green eye shadow, drawn-on beauty marks, flaming red hair. She smoked from a cigarette holder and swore like a sailor. Most people thought she was vulgar, but I wanted to be like her when I grew up!"

“Am I going to be frolicking about in my G-string in a champagne glass when I'm 60 years old? No.”

Dita Von Teese: It Is Not About Striptease, It's About Style

A world famous performer, the fashion industry and artists' muse Dita von Teese has reintroduced the classic pin up image.

Heather Sweet, better known as Dita von Teese these days, was born in Michigan on September 28, 1972 and the concept of the retro style which she cherishes with such delicacy was passed on to her from her mother, who was a fan of the Golden Age of Hollywood. She danced ballet as a child, which can still be felt in her acts today.

It’s not about nudity, it’s about style
At the age of 15, she started working at a lingerie boutique, which is where she got her first corset. Dita studied the history of costumes and worked as a stylist in the film industry, so her expertise in fashion is not a matter of debate in any sense.

When she was 19, she was disappointed by the lack of originality in strippers’ acts and started working at the local strip club, creating a vintage look and an imaginative act, which resulted in the clients being both confused and fascinated.

With her creative endeavour, the queen of burlesque has dismissed the boundaries between art, fashion, music, the naked body and stage design itself.

This was also the beginning of her enviable, splendid career as a fetish model, owing to the elegance of her pin up retro look, which has evolved inspired by Bettie Page.

"There isn't a heel high enough for Dita Von Teese. She has the style of a bird of paradise," said shoe designer Christian Louboutin.

Burlesque show making Xmas sexy with Santa's help

Some people like to sing carols, decorate their homes or watch Christmas movies to get into the holiday spirit. For others, watching elves strip and Virgin Marys perform hip-hop does the trick.

People who are tired of the normal holiday routine and need something a little spicier to heat up their Christmas spirits might like Chico Cabaret's second annual Holiday Burlesque Show.

Last year Phil Ruttenburg, director and artistic coordinator at Chico Cabaret, brainstormed the idea of putting on a holiday variety show that would stand out from typical holiday productions.

"If you go anywhere in the community this time of year, somebody is doing a standard Christmas show. It's everywhere," Ruttenburg said.

So the idea for a holiday burlesque show was born, and with last year bringing nothing but sold-out shows, Ruttenburg knew he should bring it back for a second time, he said.

But viewers shouldn't let the word "burlesque" fool them, the Cabaret will not be temporarily transformed into a strip bar.

"It's not meant to be a sex show," he said. "A lot of people, especially young people, think of burlesque as 'Oh, it's a strip show.'"

But burlesque originated in the mid-19th century and incorporates comedy and other varieties of music. Though stripping is involved in some numbers, it is not the main attraction, it's all about the tease.

This year's show will feature a slightly edgier tease, but it's all making fun out of it, and the show is not sleazy or raunchy, Ruttenburg said.

The Holiday Burlesque Show will feature different acts made up of men and women ranging in styles of music and dance, all put together on a garland-trimmed, red and white covered stage.

Though not all acts in the show will be holiday themed, most of them are twists on old holiday favorites.

"Everyone knows 'I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas,' but we are doing 'I'm Dreaming of a White Trash Christmas,'" Ruttenburg said.

Another number, "Mr. Sandman," will feature women singing to a blown-up sex toy rather than to the Sandman himself.

Shannon Gans, Chico Cabaret company member and frequent choreographer, is in charge of putting together most of the dance numbers in the show. Though some will be reprises from acts in last year's show, everything else has been newly choreographed, Gans said.

"Our numbers feature everything from swing, Charleston, hip-hop, tap and hula dancing," she said.

One act Gans is working on is a sexy cops and robbers number. Expect the act, which involves women chases, handcuffs and stripper poles, to stir up laughs and even raise a few eyebrows.

Other numbers include a Christmas rap called "Xmas Hollis" and the Cabaret's own rendition of "Saturday Night Live's" skit Dick in a Box.

Though the show is aimed at mature audiences, Ruttenburg hopes the older audiences will appreciate his new spin on the beloved burlesque, he said.

Audience members can even get hot-buttered rum and peppermint schnapps with hot chocolate, which will be served as refreshments during the show.