It's not every day that you find yourself sitting across from one of the world's most famous burlesque dancers, but when offered the chance to interview Dita Von Teese on her new lingerie line that recently launched at Bloomingdale's, I hopped to it. Read on to learn more about the collection, Von Teese's tips for shopping for lingerie, and about her transformation from small-town girl (named Heather Sweet of West Branch, Michigan) to who she is today.
Glamour: Tell me a little about the inspiration for your collection.
Dita Von Teese: Well my love of lingerie is what first sparked my entire career as it is. I started working in a lingerie store when I was 15, and then I did that until about 24, and that's the real reason I started re-creating pinup photos. I was already dressing retro style, and of course my love of lingerie carried over to retro lingerie and I started collecting. When I had the opportinuty to make my own collection, it was really like a sort of "wow, full-circle moment." The collection is really inspired by vintage pieces that I've collected in the last 23 years. Also, I collect a lot of vintage pinup art, vintage catalogs, and men's magazines from the '30s and '40s, so I take a lot of inspiration from that. But mainly the collection is based on retro style. Not replicas of vintage lingerie but finding ways of making it more functional and wearable. I'm just trying to show women that you can have little bits of luxury and glamour in everyday life and these are things that actually serve a purpose with your shape and how you feel in clothes.
Glamour: What were some of the first pieces you collected?
DVT: There's actually a bra in the collection that's a reinvented version of a cult favorite I loved from the '80s. A lot of lingerie aficionados love this bra. It's a balconett bra, and you can fold this sheer panel down and make it kind of an extra-sexy demi bra.
Glamour: Last time we spoke you mentioned that you had a love for garter belts. Where did that come from?
DVT: A lot of it comes from the old movies I watched when I was a little girl with mom. All of those dressing-room scenes always intrigued me. I love the way a garter belt and stockings can frame your body and give you coverage. It's sexy and erotic, but also classic and elegant and timeless. Also, it feels better to just pull my stockings and underwear off than wrestle my way out of tights and pantyhose. I like that I feel more free in them.
Glamour: Garters aren't really an everyday piece for a lot of people, so if women are just starting to shop for them, what would you suggest they look for?
DVT: Look for ones that have six straps instead of four from a brand that isn't just throwing them in as an after thought.
Glamour: What are some other tips you have for lingerie shopping?
DVT: I think it's really about shopping at a good retailer that has knowledgeable salespeople, somewhere like Bloomingdale's. And one thing that I sometimes do is that if I don't feel like trying it on in the store, you can try it on at home and not be traumatized, you know? Really, I wish I could get retailers to put beautiful lighting in the dressing room and then things would be so much easier! But also, fit is important. Making sure you wear the right size. It's important to realize that even if we all want to wear the size small, I just can buy the size medium or whatever it may be and cut the tags out and pretend like you never even saw them! You have to stop trying to talk yourself into being the number you want to be and just realize that you can cut the tag out.
Glamour: Love that! What lingerie trends are you into these days?
DVT: You know, I don't really follow the trends, but I love that people are starting to do the full-coverage briefs that go up to the waist again. You know, I don't feel good in teeny, little skimpy underwear, I feel sexier when I have my stomach covered and I love that '50s look. That's of course something that I put in my line and a lot of other designers are starting to do that too.
Glamour: How does this line differ from anything else you've done?
DVT: This shows an evolution. And the thing that I feel like now I'm finding is that when I put something more risqué in the line, women are responding to it. I'm showing women that being glamorous in everyday life is possible and there are all these little things that you can do. You know, I'm really excited about the way women are embracing what I'm showing them and what I really love.
Glamour: Who are you inspirations when it comes to glamour?
DVT: I like painted ladies, you know? That's one of the reasons I like the '30s and '40s. Glamour was not about natural beauty; it was about creating drama. So like Marlene Dietrich, Rita Hayworth, Marilyn Monroe, and Betty Grable. When you look at the before pictures and the after pictures of all of those women that I mentioned, you see that how they became really exciting is with all of these tools of glamour. It didn't happen naturally. I love this whole concept of the old-Hollywood makeover, and I was obsessed with that. I mean, I did it for myself: I'm a natural blond from a farming town in Michigan; I'm not like this at all. I created it, and anyone can do it for themselves.
Finally, one last tip from Dita: She says a gal should have two sets of underwear for every bra set that you buy. It offers versatility, and you wash the bottoms more than the bra, so it makes sense.
Consider yourself a Dita Von Teese fan? Find the queen of boudoir glam at Bloomingdale's in New York City, at Lexington Avenue and 59th Street, on March 20, where you can check out the new line and even get an autographed photo with purchase. If you're not in the city, check out the collection at bloomingdales.com.
