Hello there Glam Pack! So, this is a particularly exciting post, this is the highly anticipated interview with the beautiful Jessica Louise Gladstone-otherwise known as Miss Vienna Green.
I feel really rather pleased that I managed to get a few questions with this lovely lady. She is so, totally, unbelievably glamorous, and whats more, knows a ridiculous amount about classic style and beauty. Her look is flawless. Curly, auburn locks, a figure to die for, a wardrobe to lose your mind over, and a delightful array of hats, there is no mistake that Miss Vienna is easily the most glam woman on the London burlesque scene right now. In this interview we talk the best eras of fashion, who influences her in her burlesque routines, and the importance of Cabaret Clubs keeping good old fashioned entertainment alive.
1.Who from previous eras inspires you fashion wise?
I really am inspired by a whole miriad of wonderful women, characters and styles. I'm a bit of a style chameleon jumping from one idea to the next, I guess its why my acts seem to be a running timeline through history!
Working our way through the eras though, starting of course at the decadent 1920s i would have to highlight Lillian Gish, Louise Brooks, Theda Bara and Clara Bow so encapturing the look of the young 1920s ingenue. I love the outwardly innocent look of the flapper, yet symbolizing a rebellion against victorian traditions, the older generation and societies ideals. One of my favorite fashions of the twenties, directly brought about by the excavation of Tutankhamun's tomb, was the egyptian revival that can be seen in head dresses of the time, the popularity of Lapas Lazuli and the craze of women painting egyptian symbols on their skin in the sun and tanning around them to create skin ornamentation.
The 1930s is probably my favorite era fashion wise, my idols include the strong looks of the wonderful Marline Dietrich, is there a film she doesn't look out of this worldly fabulous in? Greta Garbo (Of Course) especially in Mata Hari, Oh! the head dresses! A showgirls DREAM! Carole Lombard was both stunning beautiful and classically stylish and who could overlook the devilish Barbara Stanwyck.
The 1940s, the Hollywood we all know and love. Vivian Leigh has such a striking look about her that i find greatly appealing. Then theres Veronica Lake and that mane of hair. I DO like a forties girl with long hair, having such long tresses myself. Very inspiring stuff. Oh there are so many in this great cinematic decade, Lana Turner, Rita Hayworth, Hedy Lamarr, I'm inspired by ALL of them as they all encompass my desire for glamour, the femme fatale, the strong woman. I barely go anywhere without a hat on and my hair done, Im a theatrical character influenced by imagery and I like to feel inspired, my world is my theatre.
I shall come to an end at the 1950s, not because women from later decades don't inspire me fashion wise, there are contemporary designers that I'm just as drawn to, and who couldn't be influenced by Bardot and Gainsbourg, Shrimpton and Bailey! However we are talking vintage glamour here and that all comes to a head at the end of the sixties when people stop wearing hats (no pun intended). I do adore a hat. So to Elizabeth Taylor, with her cutting wit and dazzling array of diamonds, she is inspirational not just for her style (diamonds in the pool for a start, my kind of woman) but for her tenacity and Monroe (of course) for her unarguable style, canny use of her sexuality and great talent for performance.
2.Who from previous eras inspires you in your burlesque routines?
This is directly linked to who inspires me fashion wise, I have a 1920s routine that is very etherial, and influenced by silent films such as Diary of a Lost Girl and Pandoras Box. Secondly I have a classic striptease that is very forties hollywood in styling and execution. Its a lot more upbeat while still remaining quite classic. I also have a fire performance that is based on Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra. The costume, as it was SUCH a challenge to do that film justice, has taken me an age to get together and I'm still working on a couple of pieces but I'm hoping its going to be a very striking act once debuted!
3.How did you get into burlesque and vintage fashion?
I have been into vintage fashion for a fair few years now for a variety of reasons. Firstly the quality of the fabric and the cut of vintage items is of such better quality than anything you can possibly get on the high street nowadays. Im a very tactile person and i really cant stand cheap nylon and polyester and an unassuming 1930s dress when put on always seems to be surprisingly flattering. I'm a history fanatic and, as i may have mentioned, like to live in my own theatrical world, so the nostalgic aspect of vintage pieces also appeal to me. Its a bit of an obsession, its a challenge to find an old thirties piece for a good price and the high when i get myself a bargain or find that perfect piece to add to my collection is quite addictive!
As for burlesque, I fell into it actually, I unwittingly got offered a job as a waitress in a cabaret club, being desperate for a job at the time i accepted without quite knowing what i had signed myself up for! Fate seemed to have put me there for a reason though as here I am, eventually, having found something that I seem perfectly suited for.
4.What advice do you have for anybody who wants to get into burlesque?
I would suggest firstly, go to as many burlesque shows as possible or if you can, get a job in a cabaret club. There are so many styles of burlesque you should find out what appeals to you first. There are so many great performers each with there own forte. You can learn something that appeals to you from every performance you see that inspires you. There is no better starting point than experience of the cabaret scene.
5.What have been your career highlights from the past six months?
Every show is different and there have been many highlights for me over the past six months, from just having a great performance to meeting some really rather lovely people. Career wise though, the shoot for Jimmy Choo and Mr Porter was a great opportunity, performing for Grand Marnier and generally slowly getting my name out there on the cabaret scene. I think i have a long way to go yet but i really am enjoying myself immensely so its all about the journey right now.
6.Dita Von Teese is arguably the biggest star in the burlesque world right now. How do you feel about her "making burlesque cool again"?
I think Dita has done a lot to commercialize the burlesque scene which can only be a good thing. I have experienced a lot of peoples first cabaret experience and they are usually surprised with how much they enjoyed it either not knowing what to expect or having a predisposed idea of what cabaret might be. Burlesque and cabaret was so popular before the invention of television and now that our screens are so full of inane reality shows I think its important to get people experiencing engaging old fashioned entertainment. A cabaret show has burlesque performers but also variety artists, comedians and musicians. Its social and engaging and inspiring, and i think that now, more than ever, should be encouraged.
7.Who are your favourite burlesque artists on the scene right now?
Not to be missed in my opinion are Vicky Butterfly for her costumes and performance art inspired style, Missy Fatale for both her classic and dark character based acts, Sophia St Villier for her slow seductive classic striptease, Agent Lynch for her sixties comedy numbers and Miss Betsy Rose, a professionally trained dancer, her acts are perfectly choreographed and full of personality.
8.Where are your favourite places to buy vintage?
The vintage emporium and Annies are right little GEMS. You better have deep pockets though as they aren't cheap! For more of a budget i would suggest Spitalfields Antiques Market on a Thursday or Alfies Antiques Market. (All based in London).
9.What can we expect from Miss Vienna Green in the coming months?
Well my Elizabeth Taylor/Cleopatra inspired fire-eating act of course! I have a few top secret things up my sleeve, you'll have to stay posted at www.facebook.com/missviennagreen and find out!
Stay updated with Miss Vienna HERE!
