January 8, 2011
In celebration of her 100th birthday the
New York Public Library hosted a book launch — with strippers — for
American Rose, a new biography about Gypsy Rose Lee and the burlesque that was her life. It was a spectacle, but senior subscribers and artsy folk in the audience took it in stride.
Author Karen Abbott, who said she’d do anything to sell a book, wore a low-cut cocktail dress that looked good on her and not out of place, which is odd for a library. Until we learned that what Gypsy Rose Lee really wanted was to be taken seriously as a writer, and a
slide projection of her backstage in costume with a typewriter on her lap was convincing. Did you know that she wrote a mystery,
The G-String Murders, which was made into a movie with Barbara Stanwyck, or that she belonged to a writer’s group with W.H. Auden and Carson McCullers? We’re all familiar with the songs from
Gypsy, the Broadway musical and film of her life story, but Abbott unearthed new material from Lee’s letters in the library’s archives. Gypsy’s life in burlesque drew her into a swirl with the Minskys, Lucky Luciano, FDR and others, and Abbott shared some colorful stories from the city’s past that will be new to most readers. The Live from the NYPL series aspires to transform authors’ words into striking events that will challenge any preconceptions about libraries. Even the emcee, a librarian in a pink jumpsuit who acted as a kind of Joel Grey, said he moonlights as a stripper.
Shopping
This got me thinking about burlesque-inspired fashion, which I see everyday on way to the gym in the shops on 8th Street.
Versailles is the most striking, on the corner of MacDougal (212-253-0555). A Village landmark for 15 years, music stars Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Keyshia Cole, Lil Kim and Foxy Brown have their costumes made to order here. The shop’s windows feature showgirl costumes, but inside you’ll find wearable clothing, from formal dresses for the prom or birthday parties to dressy denim trimmed with fur, patches, rivets and rhinestones. Most clothing is custom-made, but I found decorated blue jeans for $50 that can be styled to any taste (alterations are reasonably priced). Note: In March 2011, Versailles moved to Brooklyn, 194 Flatbush Avenue and Dean,
http://www.facebook.com/versaillesbklyn
La Petite Coquette
For special (private) occasions, I would look for exotic lingerie with taste at
La Petite Coquette, 51 University Place (between 9th/10th Streets, 212-473-2478). They have a wide selection of gloves for your own Gypsy tease, buttless lace panties with pearls or rhinestones (the stripper at the library wore a pair), pasties, as well as elegant nightgowns and robes from La Petite Coquette’s private label collection. Whether you need an outfit to spice up your evening or want to impress sorority sisters at a reunion sleepover, you’ll find something here. I like the denim blue
silk charmeuse slip for $245.) The owner is the author of a very good book,
The Lingerie Handbook. http://www.thelittleflirt.com/
Guess in Soho
One stripper at the library wore a walnut-size gem over an opera glove. If chunky fashion jewelry is more your style try
Guess in Soho. I bought two chunky rings: the leopard dome ring (sold out at
http://shop.guess.com/ but available from online resalers) and the
silver and blue square stone ring. Before I decided on these rings, I shopped fine jewelry gemstones from Zales to Tiffany, but those rings are better suited for high school sweethearts and girlfriends of the overpaid. Guess jewelry has a playful, sporty look that goes well with jeans and it’s affordable. All their
jewelry — and
watches — are flashy and fun. You can call the store to see if they have any leopard rings left (salespeople are helpful). If you make the trip, you may find something you weren't looking for. Not everything the store carries is online. 537 Broadway, 212-226-9545.
Post: Jan. 9, 2011
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