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A Short History of Burlesque Tassels & Pasties

Writer's picture: Chrissy KissChrissy Kiss

Updated: Jan 31

In burlesque, we remove our clothes but never go fully nude—our chests remain covered by something known as “pasties” or “tassels.”

Why is that?

Where did these little covers come from, and why do we still wear them?




What is a pastie?


In simplest terms, pasties are the small covers that shield a performer’s nipples—often decorative or sparkly—while tassels are nipple cover that have a the playful dangling embellishments (tassel) attached to the center. Pasties come in all kinds of shapes in sizes, circular cones being the most classical style.



What are burlesque pasties and tassel? A brief history of nipple cover in the Art of Tease



Why do we wear these?


Burlesque performers started using pasties in the early 20th century, partly as a workaround for strict “lewdness” laws also known as "blue law" in the USA that defined how much skin could be shown on stage. This loopholed — covering the nipples with pasties — allowed dancers to keep the sensual drama of derobing without risking trouble with the authorities.


Some say that this is also why the tassel was added to the pastie - in case law enforcement would arrive, they could see from the back of the room that the nipples were indeed covered.


Ignoring these laws wasn’t taken lightly. In some places, simply exposing too much skin could lead to hefty fines or even arrests. But for many dancers, that risk came with a reward: a reputation for daring shows that attracted curious crowds. Some venues thrived on this balance between pushing boundaries and respecting local ordinances.


Candy Barr burlesque dancer in pasties promotional card for Colony Club in Dallas
1950s promotional card for burlesque dancer Candy Barr and the Colony Club in Dallas

Who Was the First?


We do not have solid evidence of who was the very first one to wear pasties to stage. Some historians credit Carrie Finnell in the early 1900s with being one of the first to add tassels to her pasties — and even creating tricks to make them spin. Finnell developed specialized muscle-based techniques to make her nipple tassels twirl at varying speeds and even in opposite directions, which earned her the title of "Educated Breasts". Her obituary said that "the accent was on comedy, not on smut".[1]

Tassel twirling became a teen on burlesque stages and remains still as a very popular culmination for acts.


Carrie Finnell — the Mother or Tassel Twirling
Carrie Finnell — the Mother or Tassel Twirling


Doreen the Tassel Queen burlesque dance legend


The Rise of Skills & Tricks


As tassels grew more popular, performers started inventing new skills, from double spins to outrageous illusions. There have been many legendary tassel twirers in burlesque history like Doreen “The Tassel Queen” and of course, Jennie Lee, “The Bazoom Girl”. One notable example is Satan’s Ange “Mother of Fire Tassels”, who famously lit her tassels on fire. Stunts like these took the classic tease-and-reveal format to jaw-dropping new heights.


Though most of us associate tassels with the chest, performers have worn them on other body parts too—like the buttocks (also known as assels) or even the belly—to play with movement in unexpected ways (Manning, 2013). This extra surprise element keeps audiences guessing where the next twirl will happen.



Jennie Lee tassel twirling gif
Jenny /Jennie Lee - The Bazoom Girl, 1953



Why Tassels Still Matter


Burlesque as an art for has very few rules, but wearing pasties is one. We wear the pasties not so much to "Save the Tease" but to pay an homage to the legends before and to represent a playful rebellion against rigid norms, add an extra fun glaouous moment to shows and spark conversations about the art’s rich heritage.



Not Just for Burlesque


While tassels and pasties have become an iconic part of burlesque, their appeal extends beyond the stage. People wear them at festivals, themed parties, or perhaps your next corporate party to add a touch of mischievous fun. The spirit of tease, after all, can be enjoyed anywhere you want a bit of sparkle and bold self-expression.



Looking for Your Own Pair?


If you’re feeling inspired by the backstory and allure of tassels and pasties, exploring a carefully curated collection can be the perfect way to step into the spotlight—literally. Bowse our selection here.



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References

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