Burlesque and the New Bump-N-Grind

After being pushed aside by modern stripping in the 1950s, burlesque is now enjoying a renaissance among bachelorettes, Hollywood actresses and other women seeking a glamorous and sexy form of entertainment. Baldwin became enthralled with""the statuesque, curvy ladies in their feather- and rhinestone-laden costumes"" after she graduated from college. Here she charts the rise, fall and revival of the show. Her sassy and enlightening history takes readers through the art form's""golden age""--the 1920s and '30s--when burlesque was synonymous with""striptease."" Baldwin charts burlesque's reemergence in the 1990s, noting that although it was renamed""vintage,"" its performers were nonetheless emulating the genre's style, which is""larger than life, filled with innuendo, and coated with glitter."" A chapter on burlesque costumes discuss functionality, form and fashion designers, while a later section on the various styles of burlesque discusses how performers have tweaked the tradition over the years. With fabulous photographs and casual prose, Baldwin's guide is equal parts how-to and sociological study. 160 color and b&w photos.