Interview with Run-Around Sue

Before we opened Bra & Girl, we knew that we wanted it to be something much more than just a bra & lingerie shop.  We wanted to, actually needed to, create something that we would enjoy, and that hopefully other people would, too.  One of the most enjoyable and formative aspects of the shops has been our Salon Prive series.

Our Salon Prives are free to the public, and give people a chance to experience our store, art, music and fashion in a sophisticated yet fun environment.  A key component of our Salon Prive series has been the Sugar Shack Burlesque.  Run-Around Sue and her crew of world-renowned burlesque performers have been the live models for all of our Salons, and our stores wouldn’t be the same without them.

Here’s a 3-question interview with Run-Around Sue:

Bra & Girl:  How did you get involved with Bra & Girl and the Salon Prive series?

Run-Around Sue: Sugar Shack Burlesque first appeared in the Berkshires with a regularly occurring series at the old Club Helsinki.  I remember one night there was some buzz because the owners of the soon to be opened lingerie shop were in the house and were interested in possibly collaborating.  The idea of an old school salon with fine lingerie, good music and a well-put together crowd was really exciting to me.  Once I met Dan and April I knew the night would not only be a great success full of beauty, but also full of a lot of heart. And heart is what is most important in everything we do in the Sugar Shack.

Bra & Girl:  How does a Salon Prive show differ from your other performances?

Run-Around Sue: With the Salon the focus is on the garments and the joyful playfulness the garments inspire in us.  We walk through the crowd wearing a variety of pieces which allows viewers to see the pieces in action  – how they move, how comfortable they are to get around in.  They can ask us directly, “How do you feel in that?”  There is no fourth wall like at a classical show and instead of performing burlesque routines; we use our burlesque personas to invigorate the night with a sense of adventure, cheekiness and beauty.  It really becomes quite a warm space where those in attendance feel comfortable in their own skin and charmed by the fabrics, the music, and again – the heartfelt sincerity that Dan and April put into their shop.

Bra & Girl:  What is your favorite Salon Prive moment?

Run-Around Sue: I love the moments in the window.  In a variety of outfits we stand in the beautiful window displays and act as living mannequins.  It’s always a blast to see the reactions of those walking down the street.  And since it’s all done in good taste, it creates quite a bit of curiosity and eventually people who weren’t aware of the salon happily wander in.  I also love the live music.  The Live element in general at the Salon is very electrifying.  In a culture that has become so distant from its own tactile experiences through emersion in the internet and other fragmented elements of our modern society, it is a very warm experience to have all these live bodies laughing, sharing and opening up to real life – real women with a great amount of variety in their body types.  The Salon Prive is the perfect balance of class and accessibility wrapped up in a decadent night of music and fashion.

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Run-Around Sue and the ladies of Sugar Shack Burlesque will be modeling spring fashions at our next Salon Prive at Pittsfield Bra & Girl on Saturday, April 9, 2010, from 6-8 p.m., with live music by the Bra*Stars featuring Rob Sanzone.  After the Salon Prive, Sugar Shack Burlesque will perform their full stage show next door at Baba Louie’s starting at 9 p.m.