Burlesque Costume Ideas

Burlesque dresses were colorful, lavishly embellished and considered to be risque for the times. It is fun to sew. You can really use your imagination and embellish your costume to feel just like you are in a time warp entertaining an audience the way they did 18th and 19th centuries.

A little History

Burlesque, Cancan, or Saloon Girls, are all a similar form of burlesque style entertainment. Either way, burlesque has a deep history that spans the globe. Its origins may not be what we know or think of burlesque today.

I found some interesting web sites that give insight to this profession.

www.legendsofamerica.com/WE-PaintedLady .

www.musicals101.com/burlesque.
www.musicals101.com/burlesque2.

www.burlesquehistory.com/ .

The Burlesque Costume

The Simplicity pattern I used was easy to read. I would stress looking closely at the photo of whichever style you choose. It helps to understand the instructions when you’re putting it together.

I did omit some steps, for instance the boning I didn't find necessary and I was in a time crunch. Some of the embellishments were also omitted. The pattern calls for you to make your own piping, and sew the piping into the front seams, because I had limited time to make these costumes I used a ribbon instead.

Sewing trims and embellishments are very important to incorporate into this costume. Use the ideas you see in the pattern or look online at the sites above to get ideas for how to embellish your costume. Here are some examples of different costumes. You can use them as inspiration for color and ideas of how your costume should look.

What is great about this costume is you can embellish it the way you like, just use your imagination.

The fabric is green satin for the top and the skirt is black crepe backed satin. You used either the shiny satin side or the matt side. I used the satin shiny side of the fabric.

Typically, the skirt would have a crinoline/petticoat worn under it. The theatre group had their own crinoline skirts however, so I wasn't able to show the costume with them underneath the skirt.

Costume Accessories

A number of headdress styles were worn this pattern does provide instructions for making a headdress. The photo below is just one more style that is available.

For more costume ideas leave Burlesque Costume and go to homemade costumes page..