Got Pollys?
The longer I've performed, the more serious I've gotten about dedicating a pair of shoes to a costume and not wearing them with anything else, no matter how strong the temptation. Once you cannibalize a costume for another costume, you begin the descent into costume hell--"Is the whole costume in the bag?" is not a question you want to be asking in a dressing room right before a show, or even on the subway on the way to the venue. I dedicated a pair of very special shoes to my Sherry Britton tribute, even though they wrong for the era--I knew Sherry would approve.
![Costume Fitting](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tUHIeVqKwG5x528jRF1rXGEl2sDMYwVzGIIxUE1lCb8Ca9NF0VXfglc1GhZuJrziV47ZuuCjveuRfcioVz4xNfV97jfbDJgtQCpv4Lg_DA0KqLZcM1vSpGxx7ITeo-hlM=s0-d)
Above: A costume fitting at Garo's.
When I very first started dancing in strip joints (1981? it's all so fuzzy) I saw some of the dancers wearing amazing wood and metal heeled mules. I loved them but the heels weren't high enough for me. I was, in my late teens, excruciatingly self-conscious about being only five feet tall; plus, I drank a lot, which meant I could wear excruciatingly high heels without feeling the excruciation.
I now could care less about my height, and I don't drink, so my feet hurt pretty much all the time. I am so willing to rock those shoes now, and thank goodness, they are still available. These are Pollys, and they have a history.
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vB9EPS0jm4kC4RDC0XMzTFNED93ovWLRTBd9onDMEZ2Mxr-sqD-WApn0tJwbEy4XIqP5eL3tfn-JQpFdEoPTs0u3BHVKkvgKCTFtN_WI7W8EGZ2HpEbK3AOlrTf0ACtCDRcfBax9OxCX8ukD8LrHkLr9bXNljW8ipZndw4eDGITVOKeG2tKVYR=s0-d)
"These mules, with their laminated plywood platform and high heels were first advertised in Frederick's of Hollywood catalogs in the Spring of 1961, selling for $15.99."
From Polly of California Glamour Mules.
The inspiration for my newest incarnation of my Pollys fixation is Bambi the Mermaid, who wears Pollys almost constantly.
![Bunny and Bambi](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vkzbtb6DSlgP8C48HwHDRRlKk5hQEvQdpGk5m7w6mWUXUY1t8Y0Eb0cXf9e2ve5rTfjOWGPUzKrdzdSmtYRS4fog6FxDHxP4ssfJde2vfBW9wohGx8DWDi2fcejzA=s0-d)
Above: Bunny and Bambi on the cruise at the 2006 New York Burlesque Festival.
![september2008 241](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tFhc6RiNsjrKgVMJx5RiZJq9cy_6VIim3t1hE2AMitKUV0fchTaPoL0o8LRWVCUeMwBL0bD6P9jqQ1MMimYhslK8QnN6eZ3tRQeQmCEJs6Sb8GdQjKqxEx6C55rtMETQ4=s0-d)
Above: Bambi and Bunny at Coney Island, 2008.
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vE0mq_4UQkgp1Mp4RI8S6RktFbSqNreK1JqvT01U_PIBNa3HqM9uekcKO-CyK0n20iGmiXDbLbyzVrJZse09MJAU9vkUmPS6b9EwYowHTOQ5QbQyjlFLTzUh6LRInr=s0-d)
Above: Bambi performing at Exotic World in the lobster costume I made for her. Photo by Minitor.
![Bambi Descending](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uUvQfWcH8WrPqyB3NwuUFsuGRfkTlscLOvLjD28y0Vz_GBBWlAaCgHALH2XYGLaN_xW-bR3ihU77XBVKldiTMp-iA_i1CrlbJRYJF1q0plR-kB0UesIMOc5ryK8A=s0-d)
Above: Bambi at a Coney Island Benefit. Photo by me.
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_s-7XoNBWR98A8LL4pcvqt69-zWC5UYcbIRtmWURlS68tQsm8F2LunDnSSgxUywlUevBQriA70z6p7TKC1-njCo2r1KwW0MAZXuzIgmVyNEfbAKj0S8tbA8E9JimjQScqI=s0-d)
Bambi at Exotic World, 2008, making the wind her bitch. Photo by Pepper.
These are my most recent Pollys:
Above: A costume fitting at Garo's.
When I very first started dancing in strip joints (1981? it's all so fuzzy) I saw some of the dancers wearing amazing wood and metal heeled mules. I loved them but the heels weren't high enough for me. I was, in my late teens, excruciatingly self-conscious about being only five feet tall; plus, I drank a lot, which meant I could wear excruciatingly high heels without feeling the excruciation.
I now could care less about my height, and I don't drink, so my feet hurt pretty much all the time. I am so willing to rock those shoes now, and thank goodness, they are still available. These are Pollys, and they have a history.
"These mules, with their laminated plywood platform and high heels were first advertised in Frederick's of Hollywood catalogs in the Spring of 1961, selling for $15.99."
From Polly of California Glamour Mules.
The inspiration for my newest incarnation of my Pollys fixation is Bambi the Mermaid, who wears Pollys almost constantly.
Above: Bunny and Bambi on the cruise at the 2006 New York Burlesque Festival.
Above: Bambi and Bunny at Coney Island, 2008.
Above: Bambi performing at Exotic World in the lobster costume I made for her. Photo by Minitor.
Above: Bambi at a Coney Island Benefit. Photo by me.
Bambi at Exotic World, 2008, making the wind her bitch. Photo by Pepper.
These are my most recent Pollys:
Updated in 2020:
This Etsy shop, Welcome to Pollywood, sells nothing but Pollys:
Buy Pollys at Patricia Field
If you've got Pollys, post a picture in the comments here!
Posted by Jo Weldon, Headmistress of The New York School of Burlesque, for burlesquedaily.blogspot.com.
If you've got Pollys, post a picture in the comments here!
Posted by Jo Weldon, Headmistress of The New York School of Burlesque, for burlesquedaily.blogspot.com.
Comments
I need the pink glitter ones!
XO
Tanya Cheex
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3045/2988711362_d29ff9bafc.jpg