Dolly The Dancer

This is one of the sweetest lots of burlesque costumes I’ve ever purchased.

Check out the details on these two 1950’s headdresses on our beautiful model Honey Cocoa. Both front and back of these headdresses are impeccable. This is important for an artist because the back view matters as much as the front.

Here is a little peek of the interview I had with the seller years back.

“This is a real working showgirls costume.

It is very old and would be more for show than use as an actual costume.

Ruffles cover whole underside of skirt and spankies/bloomers.

Once again this is an old costume that has been stored away for numerous years and is dinghy and musty smelling. Could use a cleaning, but haven't for fear of damaging it.”

The costumes were in Ill repair so I sent them all off to Jans Dry Cleaners in Michigan. That’s my go to vintage dry cleaners since that’s their specialty. They cleaned and repaired the costumes beautifully. This entailed deconstructing many pieces to separate out the fabrics as much of the fabric is acetate. Acetate fabric is very difficult to clean as it bleeds when water touches it. Not the best fabric for a dancer but it was gorgeous on the rack... the clothing rack😂

The seller continued to write...

“Several years ago I went to an estate sale, I seen this hanging on a rack in the basement and almost fell over. I grab it up and went looking for someone that knew about it, that is how I met Dolly's husband.

We spent hours together, looking through scrapbooks and photo albums (1920's picture in a long beaded art deco gown,hair cropped short to her in late 20's with long blonde curls laying over a fainting couch in only a full length black fishnet body suit) He told me stories and let me read some of her love letters (very racy in a sly seductive way). He told me of her wanting to be a star, but never actually making it,her love of her dogs. I read a work contract,for a strip club she worked when she was 55, worked 2 ,4 hour shifts a day 6 days a week, paid 35$ for the week.Can you imagine the endless bump & grind to make enough money to live. I don't know how many times she married, he hinted at a few, he was much younger, and they spent the last 30 years of her life to together, I know he loved her dearly. when I said I was kind of sad for her struggles, He laughed and said "She loved every minute of her life." 

Sadly I never did get to speak to Dolly’s husband but I’m thankful for vintage dealers who keep these important historical notes on items. Dolly never made it big but she will always be remembered by these personality packed garments that tell us so much about her.

Thank you to our beautiful model Honey Cocoa. These headdresses look stunning on you.

Also the lovely stripping history models Tessa Mendoza and Ravje. Thank you Madison Hurley for this gorgeous set of photos of Honey Cocoa in these headdresses.

More to come on this set.