Gwendoline Lamour with feather fans

Of the many shoots I’ve done this has to be one of my favourite images, captured at the Rivoli Ballroom by Burlesque photographer extraordinaire Neil Kendall.

Mr Kendall had been working for some years on his forthcoming book of Burlesque photography. Tirelessly photographing performers all over the world, with his customary enthusiasm and espiègle, Neil has recently been out to LA to photograph the fabulousDita von Teese.

We await the product of his toils with bated breath!

Photo: Neil Kendall
Hair & Make-up: Klare Wilkinson

I have a vast array of costumes for the many different shows I perform. The costumes themselves are made bespoke for me by very talented costumiers and designers, but the beading and fancy work I do myself. Here are a couple of my favourite pieces with a little information on their construction.

The Courtesan

Courtesan

This is a £3,500 gold silk wedding coat given to me by designer Sharon Bowen.  I have embellished it with hand made ribbon roses and thousands on hand sewn Swarovski crystal beads. The corset, knickers, gloves and panniers are similarly covered in Swarovski crystal and tiny roses. The outfit is used for my Swing Show which was inspired by Fragonard’s 1767 painting The Swing.

Heavily beaded wine silk costume

Hand Beaded Corset

This outfit took over 130 hours to hand bead! Again using Swarovski crystal offset with a ‘wine mix’ of sequins (five different colours in three different sizes.) The dropper beads are all constructed by hand, threading different colours together  to vary the pattern and colour. The outfit comprises corset, gloves, sleeves, bra, knickers and a huge netted skirt. This outfit is used mostly for the Powder Puff show.

Here is a small selection of Gwendoline’s performance credits include:

Selected Private Events

• Royal Event (Dubai)
• Matthew Williamson
• Selfridges & Hello Magazine Undress to Impress Launch (London)
• Berkley Square Ball (London)
• Fly 16 x 9 (New York)
• Elton John 9th White Tie and Tiara Ball (Windsor)
• The Sunflower Jam (London)
• Theo Fennel (London)
• Phil Collins Little Dreams Foundation (Lausanne)
• Jasper Conran
• Louis Mariette (Sandown Races)
• Diesel (Runway Show) Berlin
• Charles Worthington
• MTV Madrid
• Cirque du Soliel for Naomi Campbell’s birthday (Cannes)
• Marquis of Bath, Private Party at Longleat House
• Johnnie Walker Gold Promotion
• Danny Goffey (Supergrass)
• Agent Provocateur Album Launch
• Mazda Car Commercial (for US)
• Eddie Izzard Sexie World Tour Party
• Birthday Celebrations for Spud Murphy, Catalina Ballroom (US)

Selected Clubs & Public Events

• A Night of Lamour (London)
• Vintage at Goodwood
• Club Gaia (Bucharest)
• Harley Davidson Hog Rally Spain)
• The Spy Bar (Stockholm)
• Dirty Pretty Things (Carl Barat) at Koko
• Lost Vagueness, Glastonbury Festival
• Rock ‘n’ Roll Circus (Zurich)
• The Whoopee! Club
• Medium Rare
• Modern Times
• Skin Two Rubber Ball
• Torture Garden
• Erotica
• Maxwell’s at the Argyle (Los Angeles)
• Club XIV (Moscow)

Publications
Gwendoline has appeared in a host of international magazines including:

• The Stage
• Time Out
• Harper’s and Queen
• Elle
• Esquire
• Forum
• Skin Two
• The Erotic Review
• Custom Car
• Leg Show

TV and Radio

• This Morning – ITV
• Pout – E4
• LKToday – ITV
• The Culture Show – BBC 2
• Woman’s Hour – BBC Radio 4
• Courtesans – Discovery Channel
• Fashion TV