Factory Girl: Burlesque lusting and Valentine vixens

Valentine's Day is not the day to wear pastel pink. It's not the day to seamlessly doodle delicate roses on tiny notes. It's the day to wear animal print and draw wild flames on ripped receipts.

True love is indeed patient and kind, but it's also PASSIONATE. Love brings out our inner animal, and when we're in love, we find ourselves protective, fiery, instinctual and affectionate, all at once.

Which is why Factory Girl respectfully chose a sequined leopard-print body-con black dress this Feb. 14. Factory Girl always likes to be dressed appropriately for any given occasion — after all, she was raised by a proper English rose.

This particular Valentine's Day, the moon was glowing brighter than a department store cosmetics aisle and Mercury was deep in retrograde. Factory Girl caught wind that the Black Diamond Burlesque Troupe was having an after-performance party in the lounge of the sophisticated, yet sexy Selva.

After arriving at 11 p.m., she ordered her favorite burger in all of Sarasota (exclusive to the establishment's late-night menu), a smooth glass of sauvignon and waited for the vixens to arrive. Whilst nursing a glass of New Zealand's finest wine, she approached a smattering of gorgeous couples and singles alike (we all know Factory Girl is weak for a pretty face) and began to ponder the deeper meaning of Valentine's Day and the definition of sexiness with her new friends.

Ever so suddenly, a well-dressed army of babes, clad in all black, silver studs, leather, fur, winged eyeliner and tattoos galore marched through the doors. The Black Diamond Burlesque Troupe had arrived in a fierce fashion. After a bold sip of wine, she strutted over to the bevy of beauties and demanded conversation. Poor Factory Girl had not been around such provocative creativity in quite some time (life is hard sometimes).

She excitedly engaged in conversation about the art of lipstick and performing with the bondage-chic, beautiful Black Diamond Burlesque Troupe leader, Ms. Petite Coquette, and found herself dazzled and star-struck in the presence of America's leading male-illusionist, Spikey Van Dykey. She dutifully discussed a mutual love for extreme black clothing and black-hearted souls with seriously sexy troupe director and producer, Lady La La.  She was schooled about the underworld of boylesque by the handsome and groundbreaking Johnny Sparks and swooned with the rest of the performers.

Factory Girl came home to her humble abode around 1 a.m., feeling inspired by the all the beautiful Black Diamond Burlesque Vixens and street Valentines she encountered. She's currently in bed sick with Burlesque Fever — check out Black Diamond Burlesque to catch the fantastic fever too.