Mask & Corset by Lory Sun
Gloves by Dita Von Teese Gloves

PhotoBook remastered this incredible shoot in honor of Dita Von Teese's dazzling Vegas show: Dita Von Teese in DITA LAS VEGAS: A Jubilant Revue at the Jubilee Theater, Horseshoe, Las Vegas. Dita Von Teese is debuting her first Las Vegas residency at Horseshoe Las Vegas in a 75-minute show of music, dance and incredible costumes by legendary designers, Bob Mackie and Pete Menefee. Dita Von Teese will have performances on select Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings through April 27, 2024.

Born Heather Sweet in West Branch, Michigan, Dita Von Teese is credited internationally with reviving burlesque and setting a new benchmark for this great American art form. She adds a sense of elegance, style, and sophistication.

Taking audiences on a journey into fantasy and spectacle, Dita is renowned for her ornate sets and dazzling haute-couture performance costumes lavishly adorned with Swarovski crystal. She’s collaborated with designers such as Elie Saab, Christian Dior, Jenny Packham, Christian Louboutin, Catherine D’Lish, and Mister Pearl. This “Burlesque Superheroine” (Vanity Fair) has been the burlesque performer of choice at high-profile events for Louis Vuitton, Chopard, Cartier, and at The Cannes Film Festival. Dita was the first guest star in history at The Crazy Horse Paris, reviving the iconic cabaret with several sold-out runs, including “Dita’s Crazy Show” to celebrate their 65th Anniversary. In 2019, she was the first guest star of Jean Paul Gaultier’s Fashion Freak Show at The Folies Bergère in Paris and walked the runway for his final Haute Couture show in 2020.

Dita brought burlesque to prime-time television in the United States as a guest star on CSI, performing her trademark Martini Glass show in one of its highest rated episodes of all time. She is also set to appear in the highly anticipated film “Don’t Worry Darling,” with Olivia Wilde, Harry Styles, and Florence Pugh. In addition to her burlesque shows, Dita is a self-styled fashion icon, topping best-dressed lists all over the world, appearing on Vanity Fair’s International Best Dressed List twice. Expanding into her own distinctive brans, her namesake lingerie collection debuted at Bloomingdales and she has since launched ditavonteeselingerie.com.

Dress by On Aura Tout Vu
Gloves by Dita Von Teese Gloves
Earrings by HOUSE OF EMMANUELE
Corset + Headpiece by Lory Sun

Her New York Times Bestselling book, "Your Beauty Mark: The Ulti-mate Guide to Eccentric Glamour” (Harper Collins), is printed in several languages, and is requisite reading for pin-up, burlesque, and fashion fans across the world. She is currently writing her third book, “Fashioning the Femme Totale,” a guide to her distinctively modern take on vintage style.

Dita served as the global ambassador for Cointreau from 2007-2013 and in 2010-2011. She was also the face of Perrier for an exclusive set of limited-edition bottles. In 2022, she launched Sweet Gwendoline French Gin, based on the art of John Willie, one of her longtime inspirations.

An advocate in the fight against AIDS, Dita was MAC Viva Glam Spokesperson from 2006-2008. She has also performed and appeared at many events for amfAR and was honored with its Award of Courage in 2008. Her status as a burlesque star and modern-day feminist garnered her the coveted invitation to address the Oxford Student Union in February 2006.

Dita has collaborated on several music projects, including songs with Monarchy and Die Antwoord, plus a full album composed by French artist Sebastien Tellier.

Dita’s four full-length revues, “Strip, Strip, Hooray!,” “The Art of the Teese,” “Dita Von Teese and the Copper Coupe,” and “Glamonatrix” are the biggest touring burlesque shows in history, highlighting a diverse case of the crème de la crème of neo-burlesque performers of all genders, hailing from all over the world. In 2018, Dita and her cast performed in historic theatres across Europe, with five sold-out nights at the London Palladium. They made burlesque history bringing burlesque to The Opera Garnier in Monte Carlo, performing with Prince Albert II in attendance.

Visit dita.net/shows for tour dates.
Socials: facebook.com/ditavonteese 2.4 Million instagram.com/ditavonteese 2.7 Million twitter.com/ditavonteese 1.7 MillionManagement and bookings: requests@dita.net

What about burlesque dancing did you fall in love with and why did you choose burlesque out of all the other dances?
Well, I grew up with ballet, but always struggled, and then in the early 90s, I was totally immersed in the swing dance scene. I actually started performing burlesque because when I was first starting my pinup career, I noticed the real pinups posing for men’s magazine of the 1940s were often burlesque dancers, so it made sense to me to try to connect the two.

There wasn’t much of a burlesque scene yet, so it also felt fairly unexplored. My first shows were done in the fetish scene, at Torture Garden in London, and I remember the message boards back then had complaints about feather fan dancing not belonging at a fetish event, but I was the most known fetish and bondage model of the 90s, and now it’s become quintessential to have burlesque at fetish parties.

During your childhood what made the Golden Age of Cinema stand out to you, was it the aesthetics, personality, etc.?
To me, technicolor was like cartoons, I was crazy for it! My mother watched a lot of classic films, so I was exposed to it early on, and it made quite an imprint on me. When I got older, I was still very shy, so I used the drama of vintage fashion and beauty to counteract that and give me confidence.

**Left:**
Corset & Skirt by Venus Prototype
Choker by Lory Sun
Gloves by Dita Von Teese Gloves
Bracelet & Ring by HOUSE OF EMMANUELE
**Right:**
Dress by On Aura Tout Vu
Gloves by Dita Von Teese Gloves
Earrings by HOUSE OF EMMANUELE
Corset + Headpiece by Lory Sun

What are some of your biggest inspirations, be it films, figures, music, art?
The 1940s era musicals are the number one inspiration for me. I based all of my burlesque acts on things I saw in those films, thinking, imagine this as a striptease. And then I’ve always been influenced by vintage fetish art and photography, especially the art of John Willie. I even have a new gin based on the beloved Sweet Gwendoline character. I always liked fashioning myself more like the Mysterious Countess, but the art of John Willie has been my major fashion inspiration since the 90s.

Describe how you felt when you were informed that your CSI episode was one of their highest rated episodes of all time.
Ah, I just remember Justin Bieber was filming the week before me, and he caused all kinds of trouble on the lot. The episode was called “A Kiss Before Frying,” and one of my best friends, Eric Szmanda, was one of the stars of the show. I thought maybe I would just play a dead body in an episode, but then they wrote an entire episode for me where I played several characters. It was exciting to do my signature martini glass act for prime-time television, and the episode still plays all over the world.

How do you feel about your ‘nickname’ the ‘Burlesque Superheroine’? Would you agree with it?
That was Vanity Fair that said that, and well, I just always think I had better keep trying to live up to those kinds of words!

What made you branch out into the luxury accessories industry, with your lingerie and jewelry collections? Was there a specific instance that made you want to explore this route?
I was approached to do a lingerie line about 13 years ago, and my finest question was about inclusive sizing. We did a big launch for Target in Australia, putting all types of models on the runway, and it got a lot of attention. Today, my brand is sold worldwide, from the best retailers in America, to France, Dubai and beyond, and we’ve recently launched https://ditavonteeselingerie.com.

I also recently started making costume jewelry. I was thinking a lot about how to make products in the USA rather than overseas, and I’ve been managing to make some nice things at affordable prices, utilizing Swarovski crystal in the designs. (Luxfaire.com)

**Left:**
Dress by Michael Costello
BodySuit by On Aura Tout Vu
Earrings by HOUSE OF EMMANUELE
Bracelet by Bjorn Van Den Berg
Shoes by Christian Louboutin

I see that you’re in the process of writing your third book, ‘Fashioning the Femme Totale’. Please give us a spoiler or a quick overview?
It’s a follow-up to my book Your Beauty Mark: The Ultimate Guide to Eccentric Glamour. It’s a bit like that book, in the sense that it explores the eccentric way of life. I talk about what style means to me, how it can give confidence, how to shop and care for vintage clothes. So many of the beauty and style guides are about low-key glam, so I wanted to write books about the alternative.

Considering all the accomplishments you’ve achieved so far, is there one that is your all-time favorite?
Hard to say, I mean, I just always think about how crazy it is that my pinup and burlesque hobby led to this, and how massive and acceptable burlesque has become. Last week I was sitting with the Prince and Princess of Monaco at dinner, and they’ve also come to my shows at Opera de Monte Carlo, and that’s pretty amazing; never could I have dreamed it would be like this. Leslie Caron was at the show in London, and Jean Paul Gaultier never misses my shows. It’s unbelievable to me, like lightning struck. I didn’t really have anyone to look to as a model for success as a striptease star, aside from Gypsy Rose Lee or Sally Rand. To me, it had been 75 years since a burlesque queen became noticed in mainstream entertainment, so I think it’s amazing. I always had a hard time explaining to my family what I was trying to do, so maybe moving forward, it’s easier for burlesque dancers, so that means a lot.

During your burlesque shows are there moments of danger? Have you ever accidentally hurt yourself during a show or practice?
For sure, lots of cuts, many bruises, stumbles, which are actually just funny. For sure there’s danger, like riding a giant lipstick is actually quite dangerous, as it’s a genuine mechanical bull. The first time I ever did that act, they put a stage over the pool at the Delano Hotel in Miami, and the CEO of Estée Lauder immediately called in more insurance for me. I love pushing the limits of what can be done in burlesque, I love extravagance. Putting together that act was high stress because the machine is really insane, so to put a lipstick on it was a gamble. It had a lot of challenges. But at the same time, no one has managed to copy that act!

Throughout your years of world touring, is there a specific city or country that you remember more vividly or hold dearer to your heart?
I just came off 41 shows in the UK and Europe, and there were so many moments there, because there’s the things like performing at these incredible theatres which have never had a burlesque show before, like Vienna’s State Theatre, Opera Garnier Monte Carlo, but then there’s the insane energy that comes from certain audiences. The London Palladium, I did five sold out nights there, 2,800 seats per night, and the energy in the room was electric, especially after the anticipation, after the uncertainties of the pandemic. I have to say, the UK, Ireland, and Scotland are always highlights.

Is there a specific dream job/role/collaboration that you would like to participate in the future?
I don’t know, I honestly just try to live in the now. I don’t really make goals, I just think about things I’d like to aim toward, but I don’t ever want to lose gratitude for what’s in progress at the moment. I would love to put the touring show in Vegas for a spell, just to be able to elaborate even further on what I’ve built. And then I also have a few concepts in the TV space. People trying to do things in the burlesque space are really missing the magic of it, and the reasons it’s more relevant than ever in this day and age.

CREW CREDITS:
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director + Photographer + Producer: Mike Ruiz + @mikeruiz.one
Photographer Assistant: Ozzie Gutierrez
Talent: Dita Von Teese
Fashion Stylist: Melvin Sanders
Styling Assistant: Cynthia Asmar
Hair: Tony Medina
Makeup: Gregory Arlt
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview by Flora Medina, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
Location: FD Studio Los Angeles