Burlesque dancing has been around since the 1500’s and started its life as slap-stick and mockery shows, poking fun at more serious works and themes, similar to the pantomime shows we enjoy at Christmas.
It was popularised in America by the British ladies burlesque group “The British Blondes” in the 1860’s and gradually the genera developed over the years into its more contemporary form as a cabaret type performancence with elements of striptease in the 1930’s.
If you want a snapshot of some mild old skool burlesque, then check out this video of the OG burlesque dancer, Gypsy Rose Lee.
(Don’t worry, very SFW. There is more nudity in an episode of Love Island)
Now, I count amongst my friends a number of ladies who are part of a burlesque show group, and over the past few weeks I’ve had the opportunity to see them practicing for an upcoming show, and it is fascinating!
In addition to the fact that these ladies are incredibly fit to be able to do what they do, they also demonstrate the great craft of being able to engage the audience.
When I watch the group dancing it isn’t necessarily the traditionally pretty women in the group who your eyes wander to, or the ones with the bodies who fit all of today’s beauty standards. Instead it is the ladies who are enjoying themselves that you are looking at. The ones who are engaging the audience with their smiles, their eye contact and their cheeky winks. The ones oozing confidence. These are the things that draw you in. Some of the ladies who are best at playing with the crowd in this way could quite honestly be wearing a bin bag to dance in and you’d still be more drawn to watching them than the lady with the Claudia Schiffer looks who looks uncomfortable and has zero desire to be there.
What has this got to do with watches?
Frequently, I get the impression that people are buying/not buying watches because they think people will perceive or treat them differently.
This external judgement based on appearances is true initially, but only up until someone has the chance to talk or interact with you.
Human beings are hardwired to make snap judgements based on limited and incomplete information. It’s how we survived predators back in the day. But we also survived by being social animals and learning how to judge someone’s character inorder to decide if we would want them as part of our tribe. So yes, an AP on your wrist will cause people to have a different opinion of you than if you wore an Invicta, but that initial impression would quickly be superceded by a more measured and meaningful judgement once someone has heard your voice and opinions, seen how you treat others and how you act when you take your clothes off on stage (should the situation arise).
No amount of money spent on a watch will increase your sex appeal if you’re otherwise a **** (believe me, I’ve tried), and no fashion watch, Ali-Express homage or watch under 36mm can take away your charisma, or the allure of your smile as you peel off your gloves.
Choose the watch that makes you feel happy and confident, it will show, regardless of the name on the dial.
Stay sexy people.
Kaysia.
The Escapement Room 