Frankie Tease Blog

Choosing the right shoes  for your burlesque routine is like shopping for specialty fudge, you kind of have to know what you're doing. This 'how to' is about choosing the right shoes for what you're going to do on stage. Burlesque routines can vary in choreography as much as a good day of weather in Portland. What you're doing in your routine is going to determine the type of shoes you will want to wear. If you are planning to sashe across the floor gracefully, you probably won't want something too tall with a rubber sole.  Ballroom Dance Shoes  - Ballroom dance shoes are made for action. The average shoe has a suede based sole for moving on dance floors, and will run from $30 to $200 depending upon the quality of the manufacturer. A couple sources I recommend are  http://www.danceshoesonline.com  and in Portland:  The Glass Slipper  3106 NE Broadway, as well as  the Letoard  2432 NE Martin Luther Kind Blvd. 503 284-9244. Ballroom dance shoes can be fo

This issue is dedicated to applying pasties to your bosom for performance and modeling. Don't laugh, it's not as simple as it sounds. Basically the type of adhesive you use depends upon your type of skin sensitivity, what you plan to do on stage, and what you have on hand. Read below for all the choices in adhesives before you.Spirit Gum - One thing I've noticed is that at everyone swears by the adhesive they use, I swear by spirit gum. During my performance I do fleshy acrobatics and have had to find something very solid to depend upon. Spirit Gum is made of SD Alcohol 35-A and resin, which is the 'gum' [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit_gum ]. This type of adhesive comes in small or large viles and looks just like a 'cement glue' container, with a brush attached to the cap. The level of quality will vary greatly. In Portland you can find this at Hollywood Costumes 635 SE Hawthorne. They also have an ample selection of mustaches which can also be ap

In our travels and costuming, we try to make everything last as long as possible. This includes the longevity of stockings. How do you get the most out of your silk thigh highs, or nylon hose? I mean it's your favorite pair and you just got a run. How will you avoid this? It's all about the temperature. When I had a waitress job way back when, one of the requirements was to wear nylon hose every day. That meant going through a lot of hose. The company recommended we put the freshly bought pair of nylons into the freezer, as a way to preserve them. I didn't understand, but obeyed. Apparently, the freezing temperature of the freezer of your handy household refridgerator is a climate that will moleculary change the stockings, stronger once they are thawed. Leave in package in freezer overnight. Take them out and let them sit at room temperature. Take them out after a couple hours and let them air dry. You wil find a tougher hose than you ever imagined, saving you a ton

How to shape and beautify your eyebrows. Eyebrows are an important stage element. They set the mood, frame your eyes, which are the window to the soul, and they are not only subject to eyebrow pencil. Check out this trick for shaping, and painting your eyebrows before taking to the stage. Keeping a shape that is easy to work with usually means a thick base toward the center of your forhead, and a tapered edge toward the ear end of the eyebrow. Plucking is the most traditional form of shaping, but you can also use wax strips or gel to remove hair and shape the brow. Once you do this a talc or tonic may be applied to ease any red skin. Easier than that, most salons that do hair or nails can accomodate you eyebrow shaping needs. Never do the shaping the day of your performance, as it may take a day or two for the skin to calm down and regularize from being agitated by wax or tweezers. Once you have shaped the eyebrow, it's time to paint it. Most people will reach for the 'e

How to Clean Patent Leather Accessories You know those scuffs or spills on your patent leather accessories? They're not going to cost you a trip to the cobbler anymore, because your own household item will take them off! I found out from a friend way back when, that nail polish remover will get rid of any scuffs or stains on patent leather, without any damage. It might even make them shine a bit brighter. Start with a soft cloth or cotton pad. Dowse the cloth with a bit of nail polish remover. Wipe. Let it evaporate, then use a dry cloth to buff. You may end up cleaning your accessories in their entirety when you see how sparkly they get with the application of nail polish remover. Now go enjoy your politically correct patent leather products knowing how quick and easy you can clean them. Find out more about the columnist of 'How to Burlesque'  at   www.MissFrankieTease.com Love shoes? Who doesn't!  I personally have had a great time at  Imelda's Des