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on Feb 13th, 2016 and filed under Photos: Burlesque star Dita Von Teese shares intimate beauty secrets in new glamour guide – OCRegister
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Beauty and fashion icon Dita Von Teese, who grew up in Irvine, will sign copies of her new book, “Beauty Mark: The Ultimate Guide to Eccentric Glamour,” at Barnes & Noble in Huntington Beach on Tuesday. ALBERT SANCHEZ AND PEDRO ZALBA
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Dita Von Teese was born Heather Renée Sweet in Michigan. her family moved to Irvine where she attended University High School. KAYLIN IDORA
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Dita Von Teese poses during a signing for her book new book, “Your Beauty Mark: The Ultimate Guide to Eccentric Glamour” at Barnes & Noble at the Grove in Los Angeles in December. The book is a hefty guide to all things beauty in Von Teese’s world from how to get her signature red lips and flawless skin to tips on how to properly indulge in and enjoy a luxurious bubble bath at home. RICHARD SHOTWELL, ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Dita Von Teese released her first book, “Burlesque and the Art of The Teese/Fetish and the Art of the Teese,” in 2005 in which she explained that in her line of work she sold “magic.” “Burlesque is a world of illusion and dreams and of course, the striptease,” she wrote. “Whether I am bathing in my martini glass, riding my sparkling carousel horse, or emerging from a giant gold powder compact, I live out my most glamorous fantasies by bringing nostalgic imagery to life.” DANIELLE BEDICS, WHITE RABBIT STUDIO
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Though she’s known for the barely there outfits she dons during some of her iconic sets in burlesque performances, Dita Von Teese enjoys being all kinds of glamor including high-end fashion. Here she arrives at the annual Museum of Contemporary Art Gala in Los Angeles in 2015. DAN STEINBERG, ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Burlesque performer and model Dita Von Teese participated in AOL’s BUILD Speaker Series to discuss her new book, “Your Beauty Mark: The Ultimate Guide to Eccentric Glamour,” at AOL studios the day it launched on Dec. 1. EVAN AGOSTINI, ASSOCIATED PRESS
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One of the most popular segments of Dita Von Teese’s burlesque shows is when the star strips down and suds up in an oversized and glittery clawfoot bathtub. REMY DE LA MAUVINIERE, ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Horror icon Elvira, left, and burlesque performer and model Dita Von Teese visit Knott’s Scary Farm in Buena Park last October. Even while visiting local theme parks, Von Teese still makes sure to keep her signature look. RICH FURY, ASSOCIATED PRESS
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The cover of Dita Von Teese’s first book, “Burlesque and the Art of the Teese/Fetish and the Art of the Teese,” a coffeetable book that explains how she went from being the blond and bubbly Heather Renée Sweet who grew up in Irvine to a world famous burlesque performer and model.
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Dita Von Teese preps to do another one of most famous acts during her burlesque show, the sultry dip into a martini glass. Von Teese strips down to nothing but some strategically placed rhinestones and slowly slinks into an oversized martini glass, where she swirls around and uses a giant squishy olive as a sponge. KAYLIN IDORA
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In 2011, Dita Von Teese began developing and selling her very own fragrances. Her Eau de Parfum simply called Dita Von Teese, and as she described the scent via Twitter, “No fruit, no vanilla, no candy!! Velvet sensuality with a dash of vulgarity!” STEWART VOLLAND
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Dita Von Teese doesn’t skimp on any of the details in her new book, “Your Beauty Mark: The ULtimate Guide to Eccentric Glamour.” She offers step-by-step instructions on how to steal her signature look and also how-to guide on creating looks of your own. ALI MAHDAVI
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Dita Von Teese married shock rocker Marilyn Manson in 2005. The pair hit numerous red carpet events together including this Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in 2006. However, later that year, Von Teese filed for divorce from Manson. STUART RAMSON, ASSOCIATED PRESS
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In her book, Dita Von Teese talks about her admiration of vintage beauties and the classic looks made famous by women such as Mae West, Marilyn Monroe, Jean Harlow and Jayne Mansfield. ALI MAHDAVI
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Dita Von Teese is also an actress and frequent guest star and judge on numerous TV shows including “America’s Next Top Model,” “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” “Project Runway” and she even had a cameo on an episode of “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” in 2011. STEWART VOLLAND
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In 2008 Dita Von Teese partnered with Cointreau, a type of orange-flavored triple sec produced in Saint-Barthélemy-d’Anjou, France. She became the face and global ambassador for the brand and even released a limited edition “My Private Cointreau Coffret” in 2010. CHRIS JACKSON, GETTY IMAGES
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Dita Von Teese unveils her limited edition “My Private Cointreau Coffret,” an essential cocktail and beauty kit for Cointreau. CHRIS JACKSON, GETTY IMAGES
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Dita Von Teese changes up her look for AMC’s Black & Red Ball to celebrate the final episodes of “Mad Men” in Los Angeles in 2015. TODD WILLIAMSON, ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Dita Von Teese poses as she signs her new book, “Your Beauty Mark: The Ultimate Guide to Eccentric Glamour” at Barnes & Noble at the Grove in Los Angeles in 2015. RICHARD SHOTWELL, ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Dita Von Teese dresses up for another red carpet, posing during a handprint ceremony for friend and fashion designer Jeremy Scott after the premiere of “Jeremy Scott: The People’s Designer” at the TCL Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood last year. JORDAN STRAUSS, ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Dita Von Teese poses at the Crazy Horse Cabaret in Paris before one of her three performances there in 2006. REMY DE LA MAUVINIERE, ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Dita Von Teese poses on the carpet of a benefit in Paris, France in 2015. AmfAR, The foundation for Aids Research is one of the world’s largest non-profit organizations dedicating to the support of AIDS research and HIV prevention. RAFAEL YAGHOBZADEH, ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Dita Von Teese attends the 25th Annual Environmental Media Awards held at Warner Bros. Studios on in Burbank in 2015. JOHN SALANGSANG, ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Dita Von Teese poses on a red carpet in 2011. LARRY BUSACCA, ASSOCIATED PRESS
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In her book, Dita Von Teese talks about her admiration of vintage beauties and the classic looks made famous by women like Mae West, Marilyn Monroe, Jean Harlow and Jayne Mansfield. ALI MAHDAVI
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Dita Von Teese participated in AOL’s BUILD Speaker Series to discuss her new book, “Your Beauty Mark: The Ultimate Guide to Eccentric Glamour,” at AOL Studios on Dec. 1. EVAN AGOSTINI, ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Beauty and fashion icon Dita Von Teese, who grew up in Irvine, will sign copies of her new book, “Beauty Mark: The Ultimate Guide to Eccentric Glamour,” at Barnes & Noble in Huntington Beach on Tuesday. ALBERT SANCHEZ AND PEDRO ZALBA
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
More info: Dita Von Teese will sign her new book “Beauty Mark: The Ultimate Guide to Eccentric Glamour” during a wristband only event. Wristbands will be distributed beginning at 9 a.m. on Tuesday with the purchase of the book or proof of purchase from another Barnes & Noble store or bn.com.
Dita Von Teese knows a thing or two about fashion and beauty. For well over a decade the internationally known burlesque star and model has donned a variety styles that have been photographed and featured in numerous fashion publications and websites.
Whether she’s out and about sporting her signature vintage pin-up girl look, walking the red carpet in one-of-a-kind gowns created specifically for her by some of the world’s top designers or stripping down to a barely there costume during one of her elaborate burlesque shows, Von Teese has dedicated her self-built career to all things extravagant and luxurious.
She’s now sharing all of her secrets via a brand new book, “Your Beauty Mark: The Ultimate Guide to Eccentric Glamour,” which she will be signing at Barnes & Noble in Huntington Beach on Tuesday.
“I wanted to write the book that I wish I had when I was first playing with retro-style glamour,” the now 43-year-old said during a recent phone interview. The extremely detailed and hefty hardcover guide came out in December and she has since been out on a book tour and meeting women and men across the country who share her passion for fashion.
“I love when I see girls that are getting better at being me than me,” she said with a laugh. “They’re really getting the message of every day practice and creating some really great looks.”
The local signing is also a bit of a homecoming for Von Teese, who now lives in L.A., but grew up in Irvine and was then known as Heather Renée Sweet. It was during her time at University High School when she started experimenting with vintage fashion and makeup. She grew frustrated as she skimmed through beauty guides in the ’80s and ’90s that focused on “nice, natural and tasteful makeup.”
“There were just all of these rules like, ‘You can’t do this or that or mix this with that’,” she said. “I wanted to write a book for people that dare to be different and don’t want to follow the rules of beauty, but are instead interested in redefining what beauty really means.”
As she worked as a cashier at Rubino’s Pizza in Irvine and eventually took a job working in the lingerie department at Robinsons-May at Fashion Island in Newport Beach and Main Place Mall in Santa Ana, she admits that she went through a ton of trial and error with a variety of looks. Not having much money, she began purchasing secondhand vintage clothing.
“I used to study old photographs, books and watch old movies and try to put them on pause at the right time to try to figure out on my own how to do my hair like them,” she said. “I just kind of came up with my own methods of doing things because I had no idea how it was done. I did that for years and years, and now I ended up putting the short cuts in this book so hopefully it will help people out.”
The book, which she worked on with fellow Orange County girl Rose Apodaca, is much more than just a detailed guide to looking like Dita Von Teese. It has a lot of personality and several personal stories and interviews with fashion icons as well as fitness and beauty experts.
Von Teese said she thinks that beauty has a lot to do with general health and state of mind, which is why she included her Pilates and stretching workout routine and some of her favorite healthy recipes. However, she doesn’t gloss over the fact that she will treat herself to a good alcoholic beverage and a slice of pizza every once in a while.
“I do try to keep healthy things around the house so I’m not gnawing down junk food,” she said. “I will keep small pieces of dark chocolate around, you know, stuff that isn’t too naughty.”
Throughout the book there are quotes and old photographs from beauty icons such as Elizabeth Taylor, Rita Hayworth, Marilyn Monroe, Mae West and Jayne Mansfield, whom Von Teese and Apodaca refer to as “glamorous eccentrics” that to this day “remain powerful weapons of mass seduction.”
“The main thing is that you can see the way they transformed themselves,” Von Teese said. “Even if you try it and you don’t end up looking like Marilyn Monroe, you can still capture that spirit. It doesn’t matter what size you are, your shape, your ethnicity or your age. Glamour is something you decide for yourself. It’s not about what you’re born with.”
Contact the writer: 714-796-3570 or kfadroski@ocregister.com
