Burlesque

 

Burlesque

what is Burlesque?

Burlesque Is a show which is usually a theatrical piece of art incorporated with an element of comedy , exaggeration and striptease, it originated in the 1940s but was still popular throughout the decades with many iconic Burlesque dancers such as from Sally Rand to Dita Von Teese.
 
Anonymous. (unknown). What s Burlesque. Available: http://www.foxyburlesque.co.uk/what_is_burlesque.php. Last accessed 19/04/15.

For my second part of the gothic horror topic, I have to create two characters for a chosen TV series, I have chosen to recreate Quentin an imaginary boyfriend to Claudia and Mrs Laderman a neighbour to Claudia . I have chosen The American horror story season four the freak show to recreate two characters for. After my presentation to my class and lecturer, I was given the advice to research in to Burlesque in order to help me with my final idea for Mrs Laderman. Her look is going to include an element of the 1950s makeup which was when the season was set and Femme Fetale.

Burlesque 2010

in order to  get a greater understanding on the costume design hair and makeup for Burlesque, I decided to watch 2010 musical burlesque starring Christina Aguilera and Cher. In terms of the hairstyling the Burlesque characters hair is mainly styled into curls and the eye makeup is quite bold supported with a eyeliner flick over the arch of the eye and  a shade of red lipstick. In terms of the costumes the Burlesque dancers are mainly seen wearing heels with tight skimpy clothing usually covered in glitter or sequins.

Anonymous. (unknown). Burlesque 2010 trailer. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jwSAuerU8s. Last accessed 19/04/15.

Another film that explores the use of burlesque is the Moulin rouge 2001starring Nicole Kidman, the romantic musical explores the use of long curls , corsets and suspenders. The makeup is styled as a pale complexion, with piercing red lips and an eyeliner flick, after analysing the film I feel I mainly focuses on the costume design rather than the makeup and hair.

Anonymous. (unknown). Moulin rouge. Available: https://www.pinterest.com/andreaa2016/moulin-rouge/. Last accessed 19/04/15.

 Burlesque makeup

Analysing the image of the Burlesque dancer, the makeup is very sharp and bold, the eyebrows are strong and sculpted , the lip colour application is a strong shade of red and the eye makeup is very bold, the yellow colour applied to the eye lid contrasts well with the black eye shadow applied to the eye sockets. The eye makeup is completed with a eyeliner flic and minimal amount of mascara. The complexion is also pale supporting the 190s style of makeup.

Overall I really like the application of makeup, however the yellow eye shadow wouldn't have been my choice of colour incorporated into this look.
Anonymous. (unknown). burlesque makeup ideas. Available: https://www.pinterest.com/marshapromakeup/burlesque-makeup-ideas/. Last accessed 19/04/15.

Anonymous. (unknown). makeup. Available: https://www.pinterest.com/chantal101/make-up/. Last accessed 19/04/15.
Here is an example of gothic inspired Burlesque makeup. I really like the choice of colour scheme used for this makeup.  I like the strong purple and black eye application blended with a white eye shadow to highlight the brows, however im not too keen on the style of flicks underneath the eyes . I like how the cheekbones are highlighted with a strong pink and the piercing red lipstick which completes the look. The pale complexion also used in this makeup supports the 1950s style of makeup.

Anonymous. (19/03/12). channel you inner burlesque . Available: http://www.structurehair.co.uk/2012/03/19/channel-your-inner-burlesque/. Last accessed 19/04/15

Famous Burlesque dancer, Dita Von Teese conveys the style of burlesque makeup, which I feel relates to the 1950s .
Her complexion is pale , her eyebrows are strong here eye shadow application is pale completed with an eye liner flick, lining the arch of the eye , and a  soft pink applied to the cheeks. The style of makeup is completed with a red lipstick.
I really like the style of makeup its quite simple but relates to the 1950s and I feel would also work well with horror TV series the American Horror series.
After researching into burlesque inspired makeup, I feel the Dita von Teese style makeup would work well with my character and chosen Horror series, I am going to consider using elements from the makeup design for my Mrs Laderman character.

Burlesque hair

The Dita Von Teese image which can be seen above, shows a prominent burlesque hairstyle, the hair is sleek, with a strong side parting. The hair is quite straight and rolled under at the ends, the hair falls just below the jawline and reminds me of the 1950s Page boy brush boy hair cut after  carrying out some thorough research on 1950s hairstyles.

Anonymous. (unknown). sally rand pictures. Available: http://fanpix.famousfix.com/gallery/sally-rand-pictures.htm. Last accessed 19/04/15.

Another famous burlesque dancer , sally rand started her carer in the late1920s has her hair styled into a sleek side parting and curled into tight curls. Her hair also seems as though she has though she is wearing hair pieces to make her hair appear longer and more fuller.

Anonymous. (unknown). Dixie Evans 1926-2013. Available: http://www.burlesquehall.com/about/dixie-evans-1926-2013/. Last accessed 19/04/15.

another famous burlesque dancer is Marliyn Monroe look alike Dixie Evans (1926-2013)  her hair is situated into a strong centre parting and her hair is styled into tight curls.  This hairstyle I feel would work well with my Mrs Laderman character for the American Horror series. The overall look I wanted to achieve with my Mrs Laderman look in terms of the hair and makeup is an element o femme Fetale and burlesque as well as the 1950s style.

Burlesque fashion

After researching into burlesque fashion, it is noticeable that majority of the costumes tend to be corsets accompanied with suspenders and heels The colours scheme usually tend to be royal colours such as reds and blues  or bright colours such as pinks.. Sequins, lace, silks, glitter and velvets are popular materials which a burlesque costume is made from. The accessories usually accompanied with a burlesque costume I feathers, pearls, jewels or a boa.

Anonymous. (07/02/11). Feminine and very romantic v couture corset. Available: http://www.burlesque-fashion.com/2011/feminine-very-romantic-v-couture-corset/. Last accessed 19/04/15.

here is a  photograph of a women wearing a burlesque costume, the costume over looks like it is made from a lace material. The colour scheme is black and red. The main elements of a costume is a corset accompanied with lace, jewels  a frilled edge. Accompanied with a pair of suspenders. I feel the costume also portrays to the audience an element of gothic. 

I created a mood board in order to convey my understanding of burlesque, I gathered many images in terms of the costume design, and hair and makeup design in order to incorporate the style in to my character idea for Mrs Laderman.

Here is my sketch of burlesque styled hair, although my sketch isn't great what I wanted to convey in my interpretation was, hair which is styled into a side parting and then long loose curls accompanied with an accessory such as flowers or a top hat.

Here is a sketch of my Burlesque styled makeup after some thorough research it is noticeable that the eye makeup application is quite heavy and the makeup is completed with a red shade of lipstick.

In order to create my look I firstly applied a summer tan blusher from my glamour glow pallet to the convex areas of the face then blush mauve which acted as a highlighter, I also applied a pink from my kryolan pallet to act as a blusher to the cheeks. Next I applied a pink and purple to the eyelids and a white underneath the eyebrows, finally to complete to the eye application I applied a black supracolour using a fine liner brush to act as an eyeliner and mascara. Finally to complete my look I applied a bright red from my lip pallet by kryolan to the lips.

I was generally quite happy with outcome of my face chart I felt the colours I had chosen work worked well together and I blended the colours in well. The only thing I feel I could have improved on was the lip application could have been neater.

Here is my second attempt at burlesque style makeup , firstly I applied caraway a colour eyeshadow from my kryolan pallet to the convex areas of the face, then I applied a blush mauve to act as a highlighter, I then applied a light pink from my kryolan eye shadow pallet to act as a blusher to the cheeks. Next I applied a brown gold and black to the eyelids from my neutral Illmasqua pallet. I also applied a white from the same pallet to underneath the eyebrows , I used the brown from the same pallet and my rounded blending brush to create eyebrows, finally to complete the eye application I applied a black supracolour which acted as an eyeliner and mascara to the yes using a fine liner brush Finally to complete the look I applied a red from my lip pallet to the lips

I was generally quite happy with the outcome of my face chart I felt the dark eyes and the red lips worked well together and I also felt I blended the colours well together, the only thing I feel I could have improved on was blending the eye application together a little better.

here is my attempt at a burlesque hairstyle, I was unhappy with the outcome I feel the hairstyle appears quite  messy , the style I was trying to portray after researching into many images was a prominent side parting accompanied with a side fringe and curls. In order to create this look I firstly sectioned the hair into a side parting then curled each section of hair using my curling tongs . Finally to complete the look I slightly backcombed the hair.

Here is my attempt at burlesque styled makeup in order to create this look I firstly applied an olive foundation to my face, then I applied a bronzer from and highlighter to contour my face using my sculpting powder duo pallet by illmasqua. Then I applied to the top of my cheekbones a pink from my blusher powder duo by illmsqua. Taking into consideration burlesque eye makeup is quite heavily applied I then began shading my eyes from dark to light using the black brown gold and then white from my illmasqua pallet, I blending the product into my eyelids using my rounded blending brush. Next I applied mascara and an eyeliner flick by using my black supracolour and fine liner brush. Finally to complete my look I applied a red mac lipstick to my lips.

 

I was generally quite happy with the outcome of my makeup design I felt my choice of colours worked well together and I also blended in the eye makeup In well