The beauty and power of a woman cannot be unlinked, especially when it comes to an “untraditional” woman. Courtesan and burlesque dancers were the peak examples of such women in their respective eras - their abilities to perform and entertain allows them to break through the socioeconomic limitations created by the constructs of gender and race. More specifically, they were able to become a strong, independent force in their worlds through education and political involvement, something that the average women of their times were simply unable to do. Women like Madame du Pompadour and Josephine Baker represent the beauty and power of being a “dirty” woman, and thus, were the main inspirations for this collection. Just as they both had an immeasurable impact on societal norms, this collection aims to shift the public’s perspective on the false dichotomy between power and femininity.