Amber Ray is one of the world’s top burlesque performers.  She jets from Australia to Vienna’s Life Ball, leaving a trail of glitter in her wake.  Amber’s a chameleon, known for her exquisitely surreal costumes.  She’s been a lotus blossom and a danger-tape wrapped dominatrix, a peacock and the showgirl whose tassel twirling set off a raid of one of New York’s most infamous speakeasies.

For the first time ever, Amber lets fans peak inside her bulging closet. We dish on her art, her costumes, and her Swarovski crystal addiction.

When did you start creating these elaborate costumes?

Amber Ray: I started costuming ten years ago when I began performing professionally, but lately I’ve been upping my game.

Who are some of your inspirations?

Amber Ray: Anything from Klaus Nomi and Leigh Bowery to Marlene Dietrich and Busby Berkeley.  The Ziegfeld Follies are probably my biggest inspiration

What’s your favorite creation?

Amber Ray: My new act.  It’s a giant, rotating lotus, with a costume to match.  The costume is a kimono with lotus bust cups and a lotus g-string.  I’m competing for Miss Exotic World this year, so it had to be fabulous

What goes into creating something like your lotus costume?

Amber Ray: An insane amount of hours!  I’ve been working on it for a month, elaborating it, embellishing it with crystals.  I was just talking to a friend about building my lotus flower, and what an engineering marvel it is.  It’s quite complex to make something that disassembles, then snaps back together looking perfect.

Where do you find all your pieces?

Amber Ray: I find a lot of my pieces in thrift stores, and costume warehouses, and even the trash.  Or people donate: I’ve gotten tons of bags of sequined bikinis from my drag mom Perfidia, who brings them in from Thailand.

How many swarovski crystals do you go through every year?

Amber Ray: I’m sure over  50,000!

Words by Molly Crabapple with photos by Lauren Goldberg