To Brulée or Not to Brulée

I went out for coffee Saturday morning at Aroma Café. In the window was an ad for an event at the Canopy Club called "Voulez-Vous Brulée?"

The photo is of a woman naked slightly covered in feathers (click on the link and you'll see what I'm talking about). But what intrigued me, was the description that was totally meant for people who aren't your normal clubbers: "Voyeurs, exhibitionists, freaks, and wallflowers welcome. Costumes encouraged."


And I thought, Well, hell, I'm all four of those things in a way. Plus, this is a totally appropriate venue for the corset. 


But then I talked to my new friend Cor about it and I wondered if it would be me, at 35, with a bunch of 19-21 year old kids. I didn't want to show up and feel old and ridiculous (or I should say more old and ridiculous than I feel on a daily basis).


This was reinforced today when I was in the "fun" t-shirt section at Target and X-man pointed out that Daddy couldn't have an Operation Game t-shirt because this was the section for "high-schoolers." He then pointed to the poster at a display next to us to an 18-year-old kid. Yeah, okay. Even my 4 year old gets it.


But tonight I went to the Canopy Club web site to look up more info. Turns out Ginger Brulée is getting an MFA in dance from the U of I (no lie). Not only that, but this event is part of her thesis:
By virtue of our collective gaze, we, as a society, bestow upon the beautiful young woman (performer) an intoxicating sexual power— a power that is creative, generative, and, ultimately, addictive. Though she has us in thrall, the nature of her power rests in her own exposure, an exposure that all too often renders her vulnerable to exploitation and violence.

When she matures, she will be expected to relinquish the hold she enjoys over us in exchange for the procreative power of motherhood, the nature of which is still rooted in seclusion. Not unlike the separation of church and state, 21st century American society still maintains that these two powers, that of the creative and the procreative, or, in the words of Simone de Beauvoir, the productive and the reproductive, cannot be held in one female body simultaneously.

Through dance, music, narrative, and comedy, and within the context of third wave feminist discourse, I will ask: Why not?

And that pretty much represents most of the women that I know around town. So maybe I'm not crazy, but I've also never been to the Canopy Club, and it's a school night. 

But I was wondering, if anyone else might be up for going with me? It's on March 17 from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. and the ticket is $5. And I'd probably be able to go from 9-11 p.m. If it completely blew, we could head over to Boltini. They'd never look at us weird. :-)  I'm not a dancer... but it says wallflowers are welcome. And really, I'm just -- curious.

An Unusual Request

Earlier this year I decided I wanted to treat myself to a present for reaching my weight loss goal. When I was in my twenties, I thought that if I ever became healthy, I'd want to get my belly button pierced. Something different. Something that felt a little feminine and a bit risqué. But let's face it, after actually losing 90 lbs, I enjoy how I look dressed, but my skin is pretty loose and it will likely not ever tighten up given the largeness of my loss. So belly button piercing was out and a little overdone these days.

Instead, I decided on something prettier. I decided I wanted a corset after watching a youtube clip of Rachel McAdams at the 2005 MTV Movie Awards. We don't have a custom corset place in Champaign, so it required a trip to Chicago. I solicited some of my friends to see if they'd go with me and make sure I didn't make a complete fool of myself. Quigs and Womanthatrolls, two women who met me at two very different stages in my life, came with me for the excursion. Quigs and I got up there a little early, so we stopped by a Bleeding Hearts Organic Bakery. I tried one of their cake balls and brought one home for MacTroll. 

I had some doubts when I walked into the tiny storefront shop called Skyscraper Heels. I felt way out of my league in the tiny little store with really tall shoes, but Gary, the store's owner, quickly made me feel at home. His assistant Laura was also very friendly. 

I've never had a corset before. So he measured me and then brought out his Vollers book (the type of Corset he carries and orders) to see the styles I was interested in. He had warned me over the phone when I'd made the appointment that not all corsets fit all body types. I needed some lift and push for the girls who have deflated through weight loss. But I also needed it to be long waisted because I'm not a petite girl. The one below I had picked as my favorite going up there, because I loved the pattern, was the most conservative. And although I liked it when we laced me into it in my t-shirt, the sweetheart top wasn't very complimentary. We also learned that I went down a size (to a size 26) when I tried it on in just my cami. (So if you ever go, leave your bra at home and just wear an undershirt to try it on.)

Between the two fittings, Gary explained the best way to hook the front. Always start with the second button, then work your way down before doing the top button. When you undo the corset, do the top button and then work from the bottom up. Always do the second button last. It prevents it from locking if you get it the wrong way. If it locks up -- you're stuck in the corset. Same if the back gets knotted.

I asked for a corset with a lower cup rise for the next one, but I was definitely too tall for it. So although it looked good at the top, there was some gapping at the top of my jeans where some of the dreaded skin would poke through. Since my goal with the corset is to be able to wear it out and about with skirt or a pair of jeans, that wasn't going to work.

My favorite turned out to be this red one with black trim (#1905). Gary went over how to tie it with me three times. By the time we got to this one, I was okay with the front hooks, but the ties are going to take a lot of practice (and some helpers until I get better at it). 

Yeah, this is the one I chose. I think it's pretty kick ass. I think I might wear it to the 30th birthday outing I have on Friday... 

Womanthatrolls and I stopped outside a candy store on the way to lunch. There was some kind of random penguin. 

Afterwards, the girls and I headed for a late lunch at Kitsch'n. I nearly made Quigs throw up with my tofu and broccoli scramble. She nearly made me vomit with her bowl of brownie batter for dessert. Just for the record, my bananas foster Twinkie wasn't great, but my taste of the brownie batter was pretty enjoyable. Womanthatrolls just wanted to vomit at both of our dessert choices. 

A big thank you to Quigs for the photos. I had an awesome time. It was a great adventure.