Breast Pasties
From LoveToKnow Lingerie
The use of breast pasties goes back to the early days of striptease and is still popular for strippers. They’re also used by anyone who wants to go braless and not get arrested. They can be as simple or wild as you choose and you can even design your own.
History of Breast Pasties
From its earliest incarnations, striptease shows operated mostly outside the law. The shows were an easy target for the police, so the theatre owners had to do all they could to stay within the lines of public decency laws. But they also had to attract an audience – men wanted to see women strip down to more than just corsets or bras and knickers. So as a means to titillate but not agitate, breast pasties were used to cover the nipple and thus give the illusion of toplessness.
A Variety of Pasties
The name comes from the action – the item is pasted directly over the nipple. And as anyone who has seen either the show or the musical Gypsy knows, breast pasties can be an intricate part of the costume. Far more than simply keeping a woman legal, the pasties can enhance her overall impact.
Traditionally, tassel pasties are some of the most popular. These are exactly what they sound like – pasties with tassels sewn on. Successful strippers have always had to “have a gimmick” in order to do well and keep the customers interested, so a number of them learned how to twirl their breasts in rhythm, thus twirling the tassels. They wore matching G-strings with tassels and took the act that much further. Burlesque striptease has enjoyed a revival of late and this sort of tassel act is very much back in demand.
Pasties can also come in a variety of shapes – stars, petals, hearts – and any number of fabrics. You can even buy some that light up, or make your own: there are instructions for LED pasties at Instructables. In this instance, you make an LED “nipple” to sit on the pasty. They are more funny than sexy, perhaps, but they make an act that much more memorable.
Making Your Own Pasties
The same site also has general instructions for making your own breast pasties. Strippers who want to stand out have always designed their own costumes – sewing lingerie does not have to be difficult. Pasties are an important part of the costume because they get a lot of attention, so you want to think about them carefully. Many burlesque dancers opt for plain black, but they also consider the persona they are putting across. If they are dancing as a magician, they might have (fake) rabbit feet dangling from the pasties. A dancer dressed as a schoolgirl might opt for plaid or gingham pasties. You are only limited by your own imagination.
Keeping the Pasties in Place
Despite their name, breast pasties do not stay on with paste. The more elaborate the pasty, especially if you do twirling, the stronger a fastener you require. But you must also be careful, because you are applying it to very sensitive skin. Be sure to do an allergy test first!
Spirit gum is a popular adhesive among current burlesque dancers. Others prefer toupee tape or liquid latex. All agree that finding your best adhesive is a matter of trial and error and the fabric, usage and your skin type are all important factors.
Removal can be tricky as well. One of the arguments in favor of liquid latex is that it comes off very easily and most people find it not to be painful. Toupee tape can be removed with a drop of Goo-Gone and spirit gum comes off with massage oil.
Burlesque is a pleasant community and everyone is happy to share their tips and tricks!
Learn More
This page has been accessed 2,514 times. This page was last modified 00:34, 31 January 2009.
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