SNAPPED: Pre-Halloween

Here's a peek of my Victorian Dog Fetish/Lives of Monster Dogs act taken by a fan last week at my Thursday night home-away-from-home Nurse Bettie. The leather mask and harness are made by London based leather fashion and bondage label Ilya Fleet. My inspiration board is here on Pinterest in case you are curious how I decided to come up with this act. The song I use is "Tear You Apart" by She Wants Revenge.



I'll be doing this act and my infamous latex nun act this Thursday, 10/31 at Bobo Restaurant's party!

"Calamity Chang": the 19th Shade for RED BURLESQUE LIPSTICK

I am beyond the moon to be chosen to represent the 19th color of Australian brand lipstick RED BURLESQUE!

RED BURLESQUE is a premiere brand of lipstick "inspired by the sexy, teasy, steamy world of burlesque" and it is the largest range of red lipstick in the world. Each color is represented by a burlesque performer in the world, each with a signature color that they chose. I'll be joining the other RED BURLESQUE girls such as Melody Mangler (Seattle), Lou Lou D'vil (Finland), Michelle L'amour (Chicago), Roxi D'Lite (my idol!), Peekaboo Pointe (NYC), two other fellow Texans Coco Lectric and Ruby Joule, and more.

I met RED during the New York Burlesque Festival 2013 when I worked with Don Spiro for our photo shoot at The Slipper Room. Angie Pontani organized for those of us shooting with Don to get a free lipstick of our choice from RED (what a fun little perk!), so when I arrived that day, I walked up to the RED booth and was all (picture ghetto neck sway), "Um Umph. Are you sure you got colors that Asian skin can wear?" LOL - cause Asian ladies, you know what I mean! It is SO hard to find the right shade of retro red for our complexion! And if you are considered "dark" in Asian standards like me, it's REALLY difficult. I have at least 10 varieties of red lipsticks on my vanity ranging from drug store brands to luxury brands. None of them were completely satisfactory. I've found that the drug store ones loose moisture pretty quickly (flaking), and/or the red shade would change over wearing time. The fluorescent lighting in drug stores alter the way colors will really appear in day light. The red is either too bright with too much orange (clown face) or too dark (gimme a bandana and I'll rock that chola-chinita look). And the Chanel lipsticks always bled no matter how I prepped my lips before application.

Imagine my surprise when I tried on "Strawberry Siren" (as seen below) and it was a perfect match with my complexion. It felt smooth and moisturizing (I wore it the rest of the day with no bleeding or flaking!), and it just made me feel happy wearing a brand that believes, supports, and GETS us burlesque girls' insatiable need for glamour!

Wearing "Strawberry Siren". Photo by Don Spiro.

RED invited me to find another color that would be my signature shade and I reached for the mysterious tube at the end of the display. It had a plum-like shade, sultry, and intense. Tried this baby on and she became "Calamity Chang"- the 19th color described as "an incredibly rich and vibrant berry red with a hint of pearlised gold and a creamy high gloss finish. Enriched with Apricot Kernel Oil (Vitamin E) to soothe and protect the lips. 100% allergy tested and fragrance-free."

Wearing "Calamity Chang" by RED BURLESQUE. Photo by Mike Webb Photography.

Wearing "Calamity Chang" by RED BURLESQUE. Photo by Mike Webb Photography.

This is my shade's color palette.

I wear both shades equally. I tend to wear "Strawberry Siren" more during the day time. It's that perfect shade of red for Asian complexion to give you a feel of vintage but still not dowdy or matronly looking.  "Calamity Chang" is very flexible in terms of looks. I wear it when I perform vintage acts inspired by Old Shanghai. It's a gorgeous deep gem tone that goes so well with other jewel tones like emerald and gold. This shade becomes super flirty and fun when paired with light pastels. I think "Calamity Chang" is the perfect representation of my burlesque personas.

I'll be able to offer "Calamity Chang" for purchase soon from my web site (within the US only), or if you are in NYC, you can just drop me an email and I'll have it for you at my next show for pick up!

Lives of Monster Dogs & "Rasputin's Room: Den of Iniquities" (Presented by Lil Steph)

I read Lives of Monster Dogs by Kirsten Bakis years ago, and I've forgotten about it til recently. I was going through my burlesque closet and images from this novel suddenly resurfaced and I was inspired!

That's all I will say about my new fetish-inspired act that I'm debuting this coming Friday, 10/18 at Lil Steph's Rasputin's Room: Den of Iniquity, a new classic burlesque monthly show featured twice recently by The Philadelphia Weekly.

If you are in Philly, come to the show! I heard the Ruba Club is haunted...

Lil' Steph presents RASPUTIN'S ROOM: Den of Iniquity
Ruba Club, 416 Green St (between Spring Garden St and Fairmount Ave)
October 18, 2013
Doors at 9pm, Show at 10pm
$10

RASPUTIN'S ROOM: DEN OF INIQUITY is a soiree to rival the mystic Khlysty rituals of salvation through debauchery. Indulge with those who have a penchant for the occult and a fetish for all things kink. Featuring outstanding drag and burlesque performers from up and down the east coast!

Starring:
Philly's Queen B, THE GODDESS ISIS
The Asian Sexsation, CALAMITY CHANG
Bringing a mystic allure, MINX ARCANA
The Warrior of burlesque, DEANNA DANGER
The Criminally Cute LIL' STEPH
with stage kitten DAHVYAHNNA

Masquerade and fetish wear strongly encouraged. Indulge as the Mad Monk would in one of the many drinks specials!!

Rasputin's Room was featured as one of PW's Top Weekend Picks:
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/arts-and-culture/PWs-Weekend-Picks-June-21-23-212502941.html

Rasputin's Room was also highlighted in the recent Philadelphia Weekly article "one day in Philadelphia: 24 hours of life in the city"
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/news-and-opinion/cover-story/One-day-in-Philadelphia-24-hours-in-the-city-216675451.html

 

SNAPPED! Nurse Bettie - Fan Pics Week in Review

This past week at Nurse Bettie's modest-but-action-packed stage saw a lot of international performers from Europe and national performers from outside NYC! And a private birthday party for a fan of mine who saw me on "Oddities" which apparently is now airing in the UK because I received a few notes on Facebook from people who saw my episode then dropped by to say hello.

Here are some of my favorite highlights from fans who posted on Instagram.

The debut of a sacrificial lamb: TigerBay Lambykins. Hilarious act that I call "crazy cat lady".


Miss Catwings from Hawaii! 


My birthday fan dance for Kathy!




Gogo-ing for bachelorettes - these ladies and a few gents MADE IT RAIN $$$$$ - Thank you!


The amazing and beautiful Xarah from Amsterdam/Berlin


Lastly from my own "Backstage Thursday" - Xarah and Miss Vampfire from Italy

"Drunken Dragon Nights" at Macao Trading Company, Photo by Mark Shelby Perry

Photo by Mark Shelby Perry

Next Monday is the October edition of "Drunken Dragon Nights"! RSVP at info@macaonyc.com. This month we are thrilled to host a party for Santa Teresa Rum (a 4 generation family owned company!) with an open bar from 9-10pm then drink specials there on. I've got Gal Friday and Rosie 151 - two of the hottest redheads in NYC burlesque - and Miss Catwings from Hawaii on the bill! What do you get when two redheads and two Asians walk in a bar? Well, you'll have to RSVP and hope to get on the guest list to find out!