Let’s face it: showponies and burlesque dancers are glamorous, sparkly, and impossible to shop for! Sure, we have lots of needs (like: rhinestones, corsets, shoes to match every costume, trips to Paris). It’s just that we’re… selective.

And traveling showgirls certainly have special expenses, but it’s difficult to buy luggage for a traveler who needs one perfect bag for European tour, or a gross of the perfect rhinestone in the exactly the right size to match the costume she’s creating.

With that in mind, I’ve compiled a list of fun, unusual gifts that will benefit traveling showgirls. This list ranges from super practical to luxe, so there’s something for everyone here.

I should note that two things: 1) this list leans femme, because I am recommending products I know and like. In the future I’d like to guest some people in to talk about the best gifts for traveling butches, showbois & non-binary babes!, and 2) this post contains some affiliate links, which means that I may receive compensation (at no additional cost to you) if you purchase anything recommended. I’m not being paid to recommend anything  or suggesting anything I wouldn’t buy. <3

Ready for the best showgirl gifts of 2019? Here we go!

Stocking Stuffers & Small Gifts: ($5-$25):

• Satin Pillowcase ($15). Showgirls are hard on our hair, and satin pillowcases can prevent hair breakage and facial breakouts during away-from-home stays.
• GlamJam Glitter Stick ($20) is a biodegradable, all-natural glitter lotion stick that make showgirl’s hearts (and skin!) sing. It’s easier to travel with than loose glitter, which often spills during long days of travel, and it’s perfect for onstage shimmer and offstage moisturization.
• A Luggage Weight (That Actually Works). ($22) You know that moment when you hold your breath at the airport, praying that you won’t be donning extra sweaters for your flight to avoid baggage overage fees? Don’t let your beloved burlesque babe experience this stress! The luggage weight linked (TravelSmart’s Digital Luggage Scale) is the one I’ve used for years, and I find it accurate and easy to read.
• The Perfect Bobby Pin Holder ($8-$18) If you’re close to a showgirl, you know about the mystery of the disappearing bobby pins (where do they GO?!). I use a small magnetic tray to corral my bobbies, and I buy a lot less of them than I once did (and never spill them all over the floor!) I throw it in my travel case, and take it around the world with me. If your showbabe would prefer something with a lid, this case will hold all the pins she’ll need for her tour. and probably make her smile every time she sees it.
• An Eyelash-Safe Sleep Mask ($15). Sometimes online showgirling requires a full day in stage makeup… maybe it’s a morning shoot followed by an afternoon teaching gig, and then there’s tech, and two shows to finish the evening off. This shaped eyemask allows me to rest my eyes and meditate or listen to my music between events without destroying my eye makeup or messing up my false lashes.
• FIERCE: A History of Leopard Print. ($12) There’s no better travel reading on the planet, and it may just start airport conversations!
• A Wax Pencil For Rhinestone Application ($5 w/sharpener) A performer’s precious costumes get jostled around during travel, and sometimes we lose a few rhinestones! A wax pencil is the easiest tool for re-applying them on the go, and it’s also useful for affixing rhinestones to your face!
• A Decorative Display for All Their Enamel Pins ($6-$12) I have a huge collection of enamel pins featuring my showgirl friends, but it’s not my style to wear pins in my clothing. I love displaying them on my wall, and this flag comes with fringe on the bottom so the showgirls fit right in. (If you too are a pin collector and want to buy my enamel showgirl pin, you can do here!)
• Bandalettes: The Magical (and Surprisingly Sexy) Solution To Chub Rub ($19) Traveling sometimes involves lots of walking. For those of us who wear a lot  of dresses, the juicy thighs we love to show off onstage can become a source of agony when we find ourselves on an unexpected walking tour of London. Enter Bandalettes: these lacy thigh covers prevent the thighs from rubbing, and look great while doing it. They come in sizes 2-24 but pack up tiny, and I love them. I do want to say that you should make sure the showgirl you’re shopping for is looking for a chub rub solution before you spring for these… some people do have shame or complicated feelings about chub rub, so just make sure this gift will be enthusiastically received!
• “There’s No Wrong Way To Have A Body” Pins and Hand Mirrors ($14) Showponies can take an awesome, affirmative message of body liberation on the road with these small stylish pins. Hand mirrors and tote bags are also available for those who want to say it a little louder.

Stupendous Gifts Befitting A Showpony ($25-$100):

• Instax Mini Polaroid Camera ($49: ) tThe best thing about giving a showgirl an Instax is that she can make money with it! Many traveling performers sell polaroids to audience members… sometimes we take photos and sign them after shows, and sometimes we sell one-of-a-kind shots from our trips. If you want to go a little more upscale, the Instax Mini LiPlay Hybrid ($129) allows you to shoot digital film and choose which photos to print, instead of printing every shot you take.
• Anything from the Traveling Showgirl store: ($25-30) These cute tees, tanks and sweatshirts let the world know she’s got a sparklier side.
• Blue Lawless Blue Law Lingerie ($40-$75, depending on style.) Performers who tour in the United States are all-too-familiar with “blue laws”: the outdated  laws that place special requirements on a woman’s clothing and behavior during onstage performance. While blue laws vary state to state, the most common ones for showgirls require coverage of the “underboob” (all skin below the areola) and the dreaded “vortex” (all creases and folds on the bottom must be covered, including the underbutt.) Many showgirls just make do by leaving the bras on, or taping fabric in weird places, but Blue Lawless actually creates underwear that keeps performance legal. Gift a touring showgirl a set of blue law basics, and you’ll be helping her look great and stay on the right side of the law with style.
• Skyroam Solis Mobile Wireless Hotspot ($99) Showgirling has lots of glamorous parts, but administration isn’t one of them. We run our own businesses, which means that we’re often negotiating new gigs and promoting events at home while we’re on the road. it’s important that we have access to email and our social channels on the road. The Skyroam Solis is tiny (it weighs 4 oz), doubles as a power bank, and will hook your favorite showgirl up with internet access in over 130 countries so they can keep their bookings and website updated while they jet around the world.
• Foldable Lighted Travel Mirror ($35) A burlesque babe never knows what backstage will look like when she’s on the road, so it’s smart to have a mirror you can always do your makeup in, no matter where you’re getting dressed. This mirror folds flat for easy packing and is lit with adjustable LEDs (which also ensure great lighting for anyone who’s planning to vlog from the road.)
• The Costumes of Burlesque, 1866-2018 ($40) When showgirls tour, we pack a limited number of costumes with us and perform only those three or four acts on the road. It’s not always inspirational, so give your fave showpony this book, which details the history of burlesque costuming, to inspire her with costuming gorgeousness until she can get back to her full costume closet!
• Light Therapy Sunglasses ($149) Jet lag can be a real pain, and these glasses help you re-set your circadian rhythms fast by providing “sunlight” during the right hours. I’ve used them in Iceland on tour during the winter when there are only a few hours of sunlight per day, and these are also really helpful for showponies who experience SAD, or seasonal depression. (Yes, even showgirls get the blues!) They’re similar to a “Happy Lamp”, but the sunglasses are much more portable.
• A Super Sparkly Hair Flower ($30-$85) My fave flowers are from Amber Ray, so they’re linked to the left, but I also just heard great recommendations for Le Petit Couturier, so check them out as well!
• A Heart-Shaped Handbag That Holds SO MUCH STUFF ($40) This vinyl heart bag is adorable, and basically turns your purse into an extra carryon. It’s an ideal travel gift for burlesque dancers, and always looks great whether you dress it up or down.

Hey Big Spender ($100+):

• Lunya Silk Pajamas. We all know showgirls sleep naked, but when we’re touring, we sometimes don’t have that option! Lunya’s Silk PJs are beautiful, lightweight, and easy to care for… perfect for a goddess on the road. Many of their styles go up to a size 20, and I’m hoping they add more sizes soon.
• Arika Nerguiz Professional Dance Shoes ($250-$550) Showgirls are hard on our hooves, and it’s important that we dance in supportive, stable shoes which also look great. Unfortunately, they’re an investment. Treat your showgirl to some “forever” shoes, and she won’t have to keep buying that same $75 pair of ballroom flats twice a year. If Nerguiz isn’t her style, check out LaDuca Shoes.
• A New Set of Ostrich Feather Fans ($500-$1000) Yes, I know it’s possible to buy a pair online for $150. No, I don’t recommend buying them! The feather quality is inconsistent (sometimes you’re lucky but sometimes you’re not), the acrylic staves the fans are mounted to are very heavy, which makes dancing awkward, and sometimes the feathers are glued to the staves (this is bad, bad, bad.)  Instead, get a pair of fans you can actually dance with! I recommend Donna Touch for reasonably priced and high quality fans built on aluminum staves, and Fancy Feather for acrylic-stved fans. If your’e seeking vegan fans. check out these gorgeous organza fans.
• Private Lessons with their Favorite Showgirl (varies, usually $100+). I’m linking to myself here because I’m shameless, but many headliners and well-known showgirls offer Skype lessons and private act consultations. Every showgirl has her favorite teacher or role model, and connecting them is a powerful gift that benefits two artists!
• Tickets to A Showgirl Weekender (plus airfare and lodging, darling! If you’re going to splurge, splurge!) ($225-$500 plus air & hotel) What could be a better travel gift for a burlesque dancer than travel itself? The two biggest events in the US are the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekender, and Burlycon (a burlesque educational convention. Tickets to Burlycon 2020 are already available, and tickets to BHOF Weekend will go on sale in March of 2020.
• A Boudoir or Portrait Shoot (varies, usually $225+) Having great photos of yourself is part of a showgirl’s job, and while a lot of us collaborate with photographers regularl , sometimes it’s worth paying a boudoir pro to get a series of special, curated and perfectly edited shots.I love Bettina May, La Photographie and Madison Hurley, and I know all of them shoot in various locations, so it’s worth seeing if an amazing boudoir photographer is shooting anywhere near where your favorite showgirl is touring this year.

And that’s it. I’m sure I left some items off the list, but it’s a pretty good stat! I’d love to hear your best showgirl gift ideas in the comments!