halloween
Photo Credit: Bal du Moulin Rouge and Burlesque Halloween Costume
As a college student, it is difficult to ignore the throngs of young ladies dressed in revealing outfits to celebrate Halloween. Most of these outfits consist of corsets, puffed-up miniskirts, garters, and thigh-high stockings. Few women sporting this attire care to understand that these scandalous costumes are influenced by the burlesque styles developed in Europe in the 19th century. The sensual designs from the older outfits of places like the Moulin Rouge is utilized today to exude sexuality from young women.
In the times of Jules Cheret, the painter of Bal du Moulin Rouge, burlesque dancers wore costumes that would both accentuate their womanly features and playfully display their flexible bodies. The skirts were full and layered, which contrasted with the tightness of the corsets. This created the visual effect of a woman with a small waist and large hips, which remain desirable traits in modern society. Moreover, the skirts could be fluffed, twisted, and swayed to give the men a glimpse of what lies underneath. In the contemporary world, little has changed in terms of the clothing design being used to emphasize womanly features. The Halloween costume, also shown above, portrays a more modern and risqué take on the burlesque style. Although it is significantly more revealing than the dancer’s costume in Cheret’s painting, the basic form of the attire remains the same. The corset is meant to be tight and bone-constricting, while the skirt is layered and full of volume. Women of both the 19th century and present day use these outfits because the design is notorious for highlighting the most sensual features of the female form. One can only imagine the crowd of college men drooling over these women, whom, with their 19th century-inspired outfits, carry on with the full intention of being desired.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
No Responses Yet to “halloween”