YA 1920's Gala Pt. 4

Young Associates 1920's Black and White Gala (Pt. 4)

My second act was based off of a skit of a field maiden playing 'he loves me, he loves me not'. The woven basket, filled with blooms, was a fun prop to dance around with. Even more fun was taking off my coat to reveal the flowers tucked into various spaces on my lingerie. I tossed them into the audience and even tip toed to the very edge of the stage to hand one to an elderly gentleman before I blew him a kiss.
The fur coat I borrowed from my Mom. I'd like to make a point that I'm okay with recycled fur but you should never buy fur new. (Opinions! Gasp!) The coat is vintage but heavy and oh-so-warm! Combined with the bright stage lights I was only too happy to take it off. I also wore it while weaving through the crowd before and after the show. It prompted a great many compliments but also a lot of 'Aren't you warm?' inquiries. That was an easy set up - I'm always hot, darlings. ;-)


It Must Be Love

Saucily yours,
Miss Scarlet

YA 1920's Gala Pt. 3

Young Associates 1920's Black and White Gala (Pt. 3)

Lizzie Lala has generously given me permission to share some of her stunning photos!
In her first act she broke out a pair of beautiful Chinese fans with long silk fabric attached to the ends. She was a vision in green, swirling patterns into the air. It was so elegant.

Whispering Grass

In her second dance Lizzie brought out a pair of larger white fans. They were like pristine swan tail feathers. She perfectly ended our show with ...

I Had To Leave You

I definitely hope to be doing another show with this bombshell soon!

Saucy Miss Scarlet

YA 1920's Gala Pt. 2

Young Associates 1920's Black and White Gala (Pt. 2)

The Young Associates Black and White Gala is a fundraiser for the Asper School of Business. We performed in the VIP room in the Paddlewheel (at The Bay) which was a very cozy atmosphere. The stage was small, the lights were bright and the audience was a sea of flapper dresses and sharp suits. The crowd was warmed up by a jazz ensemble from the U of M, setting the mood.

The afternoon before the show we did a brief walk through and a sound check and playlist order. The songs were already set up but they needed to be paused in between so we could clear off and introduce the next act. Unfortunately when showtime arrived the sound tech was someone different. While he tried to figure out the iPod there was feedback and skipping songs. Thankfully Amanda, the wonderful event organizer, rushed over and put things to right! We were a little late in starting but once we got going the going got good!

My first act:

Ain't Misbehavin'!

Okay ... maybe I was misbehaving a little bit. ;-) Pictures, of course, taken by the fabulous John Ohm.

Saucily yours,
Miss Scarlet

YA 1920's Gala Pt. 1

Young Associates 1920's Black and White Gala (Pt. 1)

The first pictures of the show are ready to be revealed! You can check out the pictures of authentic 20's lingerie that I posted previously and see how our costumes measure up. These, and more pictures to come, are courtesy of the oh so talented John Ohm.  They were taken backstage at the Paddlewheel. The VIP room, where we performed, led out into a wasteland of unused and forgotten things. There were beautiful vintage chairs, tables piled on top of each other, a corner of disassembled mannequins and even a giant white stag. The gorgeous Lizzie Lala, John and I used the break between shows to have an impromptu photoshoot.

Stay tuned for more incredible photos and a full account of the show!

Saucily yours,
Miss Scarlet

The Day I Forgot To Put On My Face

Or alternatively titled: Why my eyebrows will conquer the world.

Recently I posted about how I had visited the Foxy Shoppe and had an impromptu photoshoot. That visit totally turned my day around and I had such a good time playing dress up. However a friend of a friend made sure to tell me a few days later: "Make sure you do your makeup before your next photoshoot. Because you're a cute girl."

Hmm. Because I'm a cute girl ... when I wear makeup? Honestly I was offended and more than a little incensed. I went home and wrote a very angry blog post but then decided to give myself some cooling off time before posting anything. Which was a really good call :P  However this event still bothers me and I'd like to tell you why.

I spent my 'turbulent teen' years waffling between two distinct styles: the uber goth - pasty white foundation, red lipstick and black eyeliner and the hippie - tie dye, unshaven legs and completely makeup free. Thankfully I've grown out of the awful foundation and tie dye but I still love a good cat's eye with bright red lips. But just as much I love being naturally me. It doesn't mean I'm sloppy. It means I like my face.

Hippie/Goth fusion? Awkward.

We, as human beings, are beautiful as we are. Don't get me wrong, I love playing with makeup. I have eyeshadows and lipstick in all colours of the rainbow! But it's just that - playing. There is a very serious trend going on where women are beginning to feel like they NEED to wear makeup. This NEED does two things: 1) gives men and women (and super importantly - children!) unrealistic expectations of beauty and 2) makes them feel bad about their bodies and faces as they naturally are. The beauty industry makes billions of dollars each year on everything from makeup (to hide those blemishes) to plastic surgery (fix what's wrong with your body!). This mentality has an underlying message: we are all ugly and without all of these products we will remain ugly. That is just not true. I don't want to live in a plasticized kind of world. Makeup, fancy hair and dress and all those extra grooming procedures can be fun but shouldn't be mandatory. We, as human beings, are beautiful as we are.

Taken from the Lingerie Addict. 

She has a wonderful article on Body Snark that I think everyone should read.

This is why I'm a big fan of the No Makeup Mondays movement. The concept is simple: on one day of each week women should go to work or school or out with friends sans makeup. Just to prove that not wearing makeup doesn't automatically revert someone to grungy sweatpants and crocs. You can have nice clothes, nice hair and a beautiful face without all the extra paint and powders.

Another thing this acquaintance told me? "Also, we're going to wax your eyebrows." Leave my eyebrows out of it. I've had people ask me if I pluck/wax/pencil or generally torture my eyebrows in any other way. The answer is no. Some people love their shape. Apparently others don't. I think they're great. They're hairy, sit on my brow, there's distinctly two of them ... they serve their function admirably. I'm not touching them. I love them as they are. I love me as I am. I can always strive to better myself - but not by being derogatory to who and what I am. Loving yourself is the most important thing you can do. So love yourself, as you are, unashamedly and you will hold a power that most people will envy.

Above - Anne Hathaway

As you can see, eyebrows serve a very important purpose.

Below - Daniel Radcliffe

Remember boys and girls: use makeup responsibly.

Saucily yours,
Miss Scarlet

Exposure - D&P

Look Ma! I must be famous!

http://drawnandplastered.com/?p=1316

Drawn and Plastered was kind enough to take my Talent Show Review and post it on their website. My  picture is up beside it and my pretty face is even on their main page! Thanks D&P for the exposure!

Stayin' Saucy,

Miss Scarlet

RAMMSTEIN

WOW this post is so late! Rammstein played at the MTS Centre Thursday May 10th. I forgot I had archived this to finish later. To summarize this post: Rammstein was AMAZING.

One of the things I love most about metal concerts (besides the fantastic music) is that everyone wears whatever they want without having to feel self conscious about it. I was head to toe in black lace with the exception of my leather knee high boots. I definitely couldn't get away with wearing that to work.

Another thing I love about concerts is learning new things. For example, I'm more of a devil horns waving in the air sort of person. The Boyfriend prefers to head bang his way through the tracks. Now I'm not saying that one is better than the other but I do know that I didn't have to take muscle relaxants for my neck after the concert. :-P That's not all I learned though. Rammstein are amazing showmen and here's why:

1. Fire. Seriously. Pyrotechnics makes everything better.

2. Chucking things at the audience. Audience interaction keeps people involved and ups their enjoyment of the show. Even though I wasn't in the pit I got a huge kick out of one of the members being passed around on an inflatable boat while he pretended to paddle. And everyone wants to be the lucky one to grab a drumstick.

3. Lights, video and costumes are all well and good (in R's case, phenomenal) but the way they got into character made it a show. They walked across a burning bridge in solemn procession to begin the concert. They went back across the bridge, four of them on their hands and knees in bondage gear and one behind them cracking a whip. And of course they had the most amazing props.

You could also tell they were dedicated because they did THREE encores! Apparently they were surprised by how much love Winnipeg had for them. <3

As we left steak lightning lit up the sky, in one of those in-drawn breath sort of moments before the rain begins to pour. The heavens were getting in on the pyrotechnics too. I couldn't have asked for a better night.

Stay Saucy,
Miss Scarlet

1920's Costume Couture

A short time ago I was asked to perform a burlesque show for The Young Associates Black and White Gala fundraiser for the Asper School of Business. I said yes (of course!) but have been all aflutter trying to create and perfect multiple new routines. There's a finite limit to my creativity so I asked around for another burly girl to join me. Two is always better than one! Originally Queena Hearts was set to join me on stage but due to personal reasons she had to step down. (You should check her out on Facebook and send her some love <3) Thankfully the lovely Lizzie Lala stepped in to save the day! The two of us are putting our bosoms to the grindstone to make the best show we can for this coming Saturday.

The theme is 1920's and while the big band and jazzy songs of that era lend themselves perfectly to some sassy and sultry routines I'm having a devil of a time creating period costumes. I want to avoid the Hallowe'en-esque feeling of dressing up in something cheesy and cheap but at the same time cannot afford to splurge on true vintage garb. Not to mention that with a job (or two!) and school I'm definitely feeling the time crunch. I've got most of my costumes assembled but am still looking for some finishing touches. I can't give away too much before the show but I can post some pictures that are inspiring my costume couture.

1920's model showing off french lingerie

Entitled 'Stocking Swing'

Gloria Swanson featured in a series entitled 'Male and Female'

"I have stolen your granny's net curtains, and I won't give them back!" - we understand that is a verbatim quote from this dancer at the Moulin Rouge in Paris in 1926

Photograph: Rahma/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

A modern piece but I'm loving the plethora of pearls.

Vintage girl

Most of these came from The Lingerie Addict on Pinterest. If you don't already follow her blog I highly recommend that you do. She has so many relevant and helpful posts as well as great deals for online boutiques. Plus her pinterest is a treasure trove of amazing photos. Seriously, browsing through her collection is the best kind of research.

I'll keep you posted on the progress of my *first* professional show!

Saucily yours,
Miss Scarlet

Rrrrready to Rumble! (Roller Derby Review)

I love Roller Derby! It's like high contact football except that it's not boring and the focus is on women. The strength, the dexterity and the fun <3 It's unabashed picking up the gloves of rock 'em sock 'em badassery. I want in!

I'm thinking Steeletto will be my Roller Girl name. That or Masterhater (tee hee). Of course, the only thing standing between me and Roller Derby stardom is learning how to skate. I know, I know - in the land of hockey and ice how do I not know how to skate?! It's not that I can't, it's just that I'm very bad at it. Of course if I had known when I was younger that there was a sport that would let me wear fishnets, sparkly short shorts and leopard print knee pads I probably would have practiced more.

The rules are a little tricky to grasp so I'm not going to attempt to explain them but direct you to Winnipeg's Official Derby website.

Currently Winnipeg has three teams: The Corporation, Valkyries' Wrath and Backseat Betties. Saturday night's match had The Corporation face off against V's W. I don't have a favourite team but decided that I would cheer for the Valkyries'. Gotta support that Norse mythology. It was a good choice in the first half as they creamed the corporation. Bodies were flying everywhere and their Jammer was lapping the pack like it was the easiest thing she'd done all day.

The halftime show was a bout featuring the Junior Derby league. Uncoordinated but cute, if these gals keep practicing they are going to be vicious when they graduate to the older league. 

Second half saw The Corporations' blockers form a wall that the V's could not get past, no matter how hard they tried. There was a lot less body checking going on, you could tell the teams were tired. My personal V.I.P. of the game, Pintsized Poison, led the Corporation to catch up and then take the lead. Her number, 4'11" is her height (I'm assuming, she's tiny), but her and Kris Myass were scoring points to match the fervour of the V's in the first half. Pintsize got sent to the penalty box at least a dozen times because she was not afraid to hit - girls twice her size were going flying when she connected with them! It was a high energy excuse to yell. My voice is hoarse today but it was so worth it.

Next up: The Valkyries' Wrath vs The Backseat Betties on June 23rd. Be there or be square.

And for the record, no, I have not seen the movie Whip It.

Stayin' saucy,

Miss Scarlet

Break a Nipple! (Intro to Burlesque Workshop)

My Introduction to Burlesque workshop came and went and I am utterly exhausted.

I have to admit I ran the full gammut of emotions with this one. Exhilaration, amazement, bursting positivity, determination, self doubt, nervousness, downright terror. I've lead workshops before, in school and what not. Speaking in front of people is something I've pushed myself to do all my life so it's not so much an obstacle. It's more like old hat. So why the nerves?

I desperately wanted people to have fun. And while I was confidant that I could teach what I wanted people to learn and convey my information in a clear and coherent manner that doesn't necessarily make a workshop a good time. But! Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I screwed my courage to the sticking point and away we went.

The gorgeous new facilities at Polefit Canada!

Firstly I was surprised at how many people showed up! There were eleven participants plus me, so twelve total. Then there the age range. The ladies who attended were anywhere from 18 to 50 (maybe older? But they sure didn't look it!) I was worried about attendance because for the longest time there were only three participants registered. I ended up roping my Mom into coming to fill out the numbers. I expected that to be a little bit awkward but as there was no nudity (we practiced taking off gloves, scarves and high heels) my Mom was totally relaxed and we both had a good time making eye contact and giggling. At one point she whipped out her ponytail and shook out her hair like being a sex siren was old hat to her. That wasn't a side of my Mom I'd ever seen before and I loved being there to witness her as a woman first, a mother second.

 K and K, two friends of mine, also came and had a blast! I was incredibly grateful to have familiar faces in my first workshop and being able to sneak up and whisper 'how'm I doing?' kept me rolling. I was super impressed with both of them! One K knew how to drop it like it's hawt - her booty pop put everyone else to shame. Other K took the moves I taught and put her own ballet spin on them. I swear the way arched over her chair and gracefully highlighted her form with a falling hand was straight out of the movie Black Swan. That's what I love most about burlesque- dance background, no dance background, it doesn't make a difference. Every woman moves differently and every woman showcases her own personality through her movements. I loved seeing the ladies in my workshop free of constraints.

It was pretty much this but with boas.

Carolyne, owner of PolefitCanada, attended the workshop and gave me some great feedback about formatting the next one (oy vey, were my feet killing me! More sit, less stand next time for sure!) Also having pre-made name tags with Burlesque names on them so ladies don't have to stress about making one up would have been stellar. I totally didn't think of that, but given extra time to prepare I could come up with a whole range of naughty names.

Workshop facilitator. That is so going on my resume. ;-D

Stay Saucy,
Miss Scarlet

May Madness! Upcoming Events

Wow, is May ever a busy month! Not only because it's my Mothers birthday, Mother's Day and anniversary month, but also because of all the events going on! I decided in order to keep track of them all I'd make a list here. This doesn't include all the side projects I want to get done. I figure I'll blog about those as they happen. For now, I present the month of May!

Intro to Burlesque Workshop - Friday May 4th

This happened last night at the gorgeous new studio that PolefitCanada has on Portage. It was two hours straight of giggling sexy time! With all the boas and feathers everywhere the aftermath looked like a giant slumberparty pillow fight had taken place. A blog post on the workshop to come!

Roller Derby League - May 5th

The Boyfriend and I bought season tickets for this summers Roller Derby sessions. These ladies are fierce, fiesty and give no mercy! What's not to love? If you're not doing anything tonight you should come join me at the Fort Garry Curling Club, 696 Archibald Street. Doors open at 7 pm. Slake your blood thirst with these badass skatin' gals: The Corporation vs Valkyries' Wrath!

Premiere of Dark Shadows - May 9th


Tim Burton! Johnny Depp! Bellatrix LeStrange- I mean, Helena Bonham Carter! Vampires, witches and the 70's, oh my! I don't care how cheesyball this movie may look, I was lucky enough to receive a pass to the advance screening of this movie and I am so so so excited! The pass is shaped like a coffin. Hallowe'en doesn't last nearly long enough so any Tim Burton is good Tim Burton, I say. Also, prizes for dressing up like a vampire? Me and the sis are all over that.

My awesome cuz, author of Bohemian House and Home made a window display to honour the momentous occasion. :-D

RAMMSTEIN - May 10th


Omgomgomgomgomgomgomg! Ha ha, ok, breathe. One of my all time favourite bands is at the MTS Centre and I have had tickets for months! The countdown is almost at an end. My fishnets, combat boots and eyeliner are on stand by. My neck is primed for headbanging. I am going to be so deaf on Friday ...

The Crone's Cabaret - May 13th


This year the Manitoba Goddess Festival is celebrating Baba Yaga. Freyja af Giula (on their website) describes her as "... Mistress of the Northern Forest, of the elements, of the circle of night and day." Aptly, their fundraiser this year is The Crone's Cabaret. What's in store the audience? "Spinners, singers, dancers, aerialists, poets and even a marching band." They had me at aerialists.

KeyCon - May 18th to 20th

I am a nerd. I freely admit it. KeyCon is a sci-fi and fantasy convention held this year at The Radisson Hotel, 288 Portage. I've been wanting to go to this for years but never got around to it. This year I am going to make the most of it! I've already decided I'll be dressing up, I just don't know as what ... female burlesque eleventh doctor maybe??

Drawn and Plastered - May 26th


This month's Drawn and Plastered's theme is Ancient Greece! D&P is a gathering for all artistic types to come and get their creative juices on. The models pose and photographers, sketchers, painters etc. can do their thing, using the models and theme as inspiration. This month's location TBA.

What an exciting month May is turning out to be! I hope I'll see some of you at these events!

Keep it Saucy,
Miss Scarlet