By Hindustan Times
Burlesque queen Dita Von Teese, on her maiden trip to India, says she has fallen in love with the saree and is learning to drape the six-yard wonder. "I went purchasing for sarees and i'm very enthusiastic about trying them. I'M learning to drape them and feature been watching the way it is finished. roughly know the way it's done," Von Teese told PTI.
The glamorous beauty, who seems like an incarnation of a Hollywood star of the 1930s and 40s along with her scarlet lips and perfectly coiffed raven hair, hopes to reference Indian fashion in her performances also in future.
"I haven't referenced India in my performances but I NEED to. Nevertheless it is hard when people don't realize it within the right way," she said. Burlesque is an elaborate and glamorous performance involving stripping. Von Teese, a trained costume designer who often designs her photoshoots herself, finds the normal Indian saree sensual as well.
"I feel it is vitally relative (to burlesque) since the way it comes off may be very exciting, very sensual," she said. The glamorous star took out a while from her whirlwind trip to the rustic to go to the Taj Mahal, try the local food and shop.
"I had lot of Indian food. I DO NOT get to eat it often but I LIKE it. I DIDN'T see much because I had only one day outside the hotel but I went to look Taj Mahal and that met my expectations, which have been very high."
The 40-year-old beauty, in India because the global brand ambassador for Cointreau, wore a black Shivan and Narresh lace saree on the 'Be Cointreauversial' party last night here. She regrets not performing in India.
"I was related to the logo for 5 years now. I FEEL they probably got the theory of approaching me because I'M known for bathing in giant cocktail glasses," she said, regarding certainly one of her popular routines.
Von Teese, real name Heather Renee Sweet, spread out more when her favourite subject of burlesque came up. Recalling how the scene has changed since her arrival, Von Teese said, "I BEGAN performing TWENTY YEARS ago. There has been not much of burlesque scene at that time, just few girls doing it in several countries. It's much bigger now."
The popularity has brought commercial aspect to the performances but Von Teese says she tries her best to tell people about its correct history. "There are moments when it is extremely commercialised and those form of capitalise on it. They are attempting to rewrite the history of burlesque. I'M making it my mission to ensure that people know what real burlesque was. I wrote a book that touched the history slightly but there are lots of books on it now. I ATTEMPT TO steer people towards the only which can be right," she said.
Von Teese is confident that she's going to leave behind a rich legacy of burlesque. "I'M HOPING there's a legacy. There's a much bigger scene now. Individuals are talking burlesque at all times. But I FEEL lots of people want to think outside of just what I do. They need to bring something that may be different in preference to replicating."
Talking about her love of retro fashion, Von Teese says was always fascinated about the trend of old Hollywood. "IT'S something that I'VE always loved. I BELIEVE I USED TO BE five-year-old once I started watching old movies and that's the reason where my fascination started."
