Vintage Vault: 1940's Dominatrix

The 1940's Dominatrix: 'Miss Ratherly Stern'
Before Bettie Page and those of her ilk were unleashed on the world (or 'leashed' depending on what the photoshoot dictated...) there seems to have been only contender for the Dominatrix Diadem...Miss Ratherly Stern. 

How I love this woman - she is my idol! She is suitably named, despite the fact there appears to be no tongue-in-cheek nonsense associated with her videos. I think her name actually is Mary Ratherly-Stern but there's not much info about her on the web. I do know she is basically Trinny AND Susannah rolled into a little pellet with a bit of Fanny Craddock sprinkled on top! She's so strict when it comes to what she defines as 'glamour' and it's actually a breath of fresh air. Nowadays girls are leaving the house in such abominations as ugg boots (even in sunny weather) worn with bright pink towelling tracksuit bottoms. It's okay for them to be riding half-way down their asses with a neon thong of some kind on show, cutting into chubby muffin-top so hard it looks like a shoulder of pork that's been very tightly tied with string so all the stuffing doesn't fall out in the oven... Top all this off with a diamante t-shirt that says Cum-dumpster or some such nonsense (or my own personal favourite which was 'Psycho' spelled like this: 'Physco') and there you have an acceptable look for the modern day...
But not back then - she wouldn't let you leave the house if your blouse ruffles were just a bit too big or your head a funny shape.... You must watch these:

She's just brilliant! I'll leave you with these for now but we'll certainly be returning to Miss Stern in future.... However I'm off to work on a new burlesque act in which I ambush unsuspecting women of the audience with heated rollers and contour powder - there's definitely a market for it,
See you soon xox