Monday, February 22, 2010

Diva






Her name is Dita Von Teese.

At first glance, one would think she's a Hollywood actress from the '40s. She walks like one, she wears clothes like one, she even thinks and acts like one. Nobody can't deny she's out of this world. I don't know a chick who wears corsets for very long periods, or girdle and fishnet stockings on a daily basis. I don't know anyone who enjoys looking obsolete even at the expense of becoming a novelty. The image above was taken three years ago. I'm not into classic films or pre-war pop culture, but my knowledge of History hints that something is different about this lady.

It would appear strange for someone like me to dabble into lingerie and haircuts and fashion - specially when we're talking about old school. I'm sure Miss Lyka Bergen would say that I'm too primitive to jump into the subject; an art form I have no knowledge about. But for a moment there, my Lady Gaga instincts was stirred while digging some shit on Devotchka. This Burlesque artist used to tour with the Indie rock band and I've learned that she used to be married to Marilyn Manson.

Dita's childhood was as classic as the life she leads today. Born in 1972, she had a machinist for a father and a manicurist for a mother. Her mother was a fan of old, Golden-era Hollywood movies. The ones where Betty Grable, Judy Garland and Jane Greer played the leading roles. My guess is Dita's overexposure to films like Mrs. Miniver and Casablanca sparked her interest in the genre, and eventually the culture and lifestyle of the time.

Von Teese was already a ballet performer by the time she turned 13. At first she wanted to be a ballerina but her repressed desire for laced undergarments as a teenager would open her eyes to costume design in college. Blending these two elements of the arts would become her means of living later in life.

Dita began her career in a strip club when she was 18. Disappointed with the lack of originality in the other strippers' acts, Von Teese created a vintage-inspired outfit, with beehive hairstyle and elbow-length gloves coupled with a basque and seamed stockings, piquing the interest of the clientele. It was during this time that she started doing glamour modeling before becoming a fetish model.

From there, her career took off. She started performing Burlesque in 1993, which resulted in its revival. She is known for her long, elaborate dance shows complete with props and characters. Her shows were often inspired by 1930's and 1940's musicals and films - details which are of no use to us anymore. Aside from driving stylish old cars like Jaguar S-Type and campaigning for animal rights with PETA, my knowledge of her ends there.

What I find impressive about Von Teese is how she was able to transcend her stage character by incorporating it into her everyday living. Her aesthetics stands out among the rest. This must be the reason why she always appears on a number of best-dressed lists, and frequents the front row seats of fashion shows, particularly of Christian Dior and Marc Jacobs'. Her boldness, to walk roads less traveled attracts artists far and wide. Her recognition of their talents - through collaboration - enriches Von Teese 's spirit more than ever.

It's been a month after I stumbled at her profile and pictures in the internet, but every time I have to tell myself how it pays to be unique -

- to rise in a world where difference is often ignored and mainstream is embraced by all humanity, only one name comes to mind.

Hers.




16 comments:

~Carrie~ said...

Goddess. Ang liit ng bewang ha. Leeg ko lang ata yun. LOL

engel said...

she was here last year, right? or was it two years ago. i know she did a one day stint here. my lesbian friend's got a huge crush on her. =)

Mugen said...

Carrie:

Hindi ko napansin ang bewang eh. Sa mukha ako nakatingin. Hehehe

Engel:

I'm not really sure. Lately ko lang siya napansin eh.

Niel said...

She must like those vintage Barbies because she looks like one.

Anonymous said...

she's an icon that's for sure. her skin must be totally flawless in person no?

Yj said...

now that's sexy!

Eternal Wanderer... said...

Engel: yeah, vicky bello brought he in to do a show for her clinic's anivesay last year or the other year.

Mugen said...

Ternie:

Oh my, hindi ko alam yun ah!

YJ:

I've seen sexier chicks. Yoko lang magpost ng entries tungkol sa kanila, baka pagkamalan akong straight. Haha.

Mugen said...

Tian:

Probably, alaga niya sigurado ang katawan niya. Hehehe.

Niel:

Not only vintage barbies, everything that would fit into her character.

iurico said...

yeah, saw that news about her being here in the Philli last year. Grabe ang beywang niya ano?!

Siya na!

Mugen said...

Iurico:

Badtrip naman, hindi ko man lang nalaman sa news. Talagang bewang ang napansin ah, hindi man lang boobs Lolz.

citybuoy said...

i love her so much. if she were a little more biba, she might even be a gay icon. haha

you gotta give it up for marilyn manson. he has good taste in women. rose mcgowan, evan rachel wood and ms. dita von teese. for someone who looks freakish, he sure gets hot tail. :D

Unknown said...

Nakupu. Eh bewang din ang napansin ko eh.

Ang sexy niya. :)

Mugen said...

Citybuoy

For some reasons, Dita Von Teese reminds me of Sophie Ellis Bextor. She's a electro-house vocalist btw. I don't think Dita will ever be a gay icon. Alam mo naman karamihan sa atin, konti lang ang may ecclectic ang taste.

Marilyn Manson's appeal goes beyond physical. I guess its his wealth, mind and charms that snatched those chicks. Hehehe.

Manech:

Bading ka talaga. Cleavage una kong nakita eh. (Hindi ako defensive, pero hindi yun dahil naiinggit ako sa boobs niya. Lolz.)

citybuoy said...

i didn't really see the comparison but come to think of it, sophie looks a lot like dita in that video where she was bringing mannequins to life. nakalimutan ko na yung song. it feels like it was too long ago. haha

as for marilyn manson, siguro naman smart siya no. sagwa naman kung he looks like that and he's not smart pa. siguro we can just surmise na he's very well... err.. blessed. haha

Mugen said...

Nyl:

Whoa! Gulat ako dun ah! Kala ko kung sinong foreigner naligaw sa blog ko. Haha. I guess it was that MTV nga, yung Take Me Home which reminds me of her.

Marilyn Manson is smart. He hates pretentiousness specially of religion. Nung College, while everyone was branding him of anti-christ, I was actually nodding at his humanist philosophy.