Fashion Designers Inspired by Burlesque

Since the days of vaudeville and women stripping in burlesque houses, it’s been clear that women and lingerie are attention getters. One of the greatest names in Burlesque, Gypsy Rose Lee, was known as much for her enticing breakaway gowns (which doubled as lingerie as she stripped to music) as for the cleverness of her stage act. Gypsy’s notable beauty, wit and her own fashion sense (she created her own stage outfits) made her a legend in her own time.

In the modern era, one of the most notable uses of lingerie in a fashion context is Madonna’s iconic “cone bra,” designed by Jean Paul Gaultier for her 1990 Blond Ambition concert tour. The lingerie, which was worn under and over a men’s tailored pantsuit, had a vintage style with exaggerated cones that highlighted the Material Girl’s eye-catching physique. Was it a lingerie show? Was it burlesque? Was it a concert, or a combination of all three? No matter—Gautier’s designs had an impact on pop culture that still resonates. Twenty years later, Madonna is still wearing Gautier and still wearing cone bras, and yes, she’s still turning heads.

Today, some of the biggest names in design, like Ralph Lauren, are producing women’s lingerie that’s pretty enough to double as evening wear. And let’s not forget the fashion house that redefined lingerie for the modern era—-Victoria’s Secret. The lingerie from this line is enough to bring out the true allure of any woman with a beating heart. Yes, lingerie and fashion are obviously here to stay.