Fashion Icon: Dita Von Teese

Performing artist and model Dita Von Teese is perhaps one of the most important fashion icons to have emerged over the last decade. A real raven haired beauty, the former spouse of lanky goth Marilyn Manson has almost singlehandedly rekindled interest in 1940′s glamour.

From corsets to cabaret, Dita has showcased her love for retro all across the world. As comfortable in a revealing lace negligee as she is in an elegant ball gown, Von Teese swiftly became a pinup for both sexes and has appeared on the front cover of everything from Playboy to Elle.

Her unique style and determination to showcase more avant garde garments has found her the focus of dozens of style columns and blogs from around the world. And whilst many of these writers might not have the courage to step out in quite the same get up as Von Teese, there’s an almost unanimous desire to applaud her for the way she dresses.

Now a big enough name to front whole advertising campaigns on her own, the star still finds time to strut her stuff on the world’s catwalks. At just 5 ft 5, she might not seem like your typical runway model but that hasn’t stopped the likes of Jean Paul Gaultier and Vivienne Westwood asking her to participate in their collection launches. And their decision to hire her has always been rewarded with a head turning performance.

As successful and recognisable as she has become, it probably comes as no surprise that Von Teese has been courted for both film and television roles over recent years. To her credit though, she’s been incredibly cautious with what she has taken up – preferring to accept roles which allow her to preserve her own unique 1940s style. It’s not often you have someone shunning the advances of Hollywood in an effort to preserve their own sense of style, and for that Von Teese has to be applauded.