Last Friday, I was wandering around my favourite bookstore, and came across a book penned by Dita von Teese, who in case you don't know is Marilyn Manson's wife who is also touted as a pinup star and burlesque performer.

Vaguely aware that I was standing in the sexuality section of the bookshop, gawking at the pages of the book entitled "Burlesque and the Art of Teese", I couldn't put it down. The images were fascinating and made me think that it must have been a much better time then in respect to the flirtation of women in that profession and that the "less is more" philosophy that was reflected then.

Nowadays, there is not much left to the imagination. Women and men wander around in many cases exposing far too much of themselves and it leaves no sense of mystery. Everything is so in your face that one can't help getting sideswiped by a rogue boob or penis.

In all of her burlesque glory, Ms. Von Teese shows just enough to keep one interested. I was a little disturbed by her corsetted 16" waist, (even though it is around 23" unbound) however, the quality of her costuming seemed pretty amazing and it was all so beautiful. One cannot get that quality of clothing by ordering from Victoria's Secret, that's for sure.

Before you think of me as a freak, I look at this from both a photographer's and designer's perspective. We don't get to see enough of this type of "class" nowadays and perhaps it's time we did. Mr. Manson has got himself an interesting woman.

That said, I am sure that this book would never have been published if she had not been married to this man, however, I am glad that we are able to.

I, for one, am feeling even more inspired!