Well, at BurlyCon 2026, you can certainly give it a try.
Our BurlyCon 2026 theme, Neon Dreams & Future Fantasies, invites you to imagine what the future looks like, then decide whether you want to put it on.
For four days and three nights, we’ll imagine what burlesque can become! As we dream forward, we’ll carry the legacy, lessons, and brilliance of burlesque history with us, letting the past help guide the future we want to create.
So, What Does the Future Look Like to You?
Every year, BurlyCon gives us an excuse to play with our wardrobes. This year, Neon Dreams & Future Fantasies gives us a particularly fun place to start.
Maybe your version of the future involves chrome and metallics. Perhaps you picture neon colors, giant sunglasses, or a little retro sci-fi glamour. You might even imagine something completely different.
Why not choose it all!
Start With Something You Already Own
You don’t need to build an entirely new wardrobe for the convention. Instead, look through your closet and find something that already feels a little unusual.
A bright jacket can become a futuristic layer. Metallic shoes can change the feel of an outfit. Meanwhile, a pair of rhinestone earrings might provide all the theme you need.
Even better, try combining something familiar with one unexpected piece.
Add a Little Neon
Neon offers an easy way to play with the theme without committing to a head-to-toe look. Try a bright corset, fluorescent makeup, or a neon accessory. You could also experiment with a small pop of color against an otherwise neutral outfit.
And if you already own something wonderfully loud? This might finally be its moment.
Take a Trip to the Future
The BurlyCon 2026 theme makes room for futuristic fashion.
Think about the way movies, television, and magazines once imagined the future. Some predictions now look hilariously outdated. Others still feel surprisingly wearable.
You could borrow from those ideas with metallic fabrics, geometric shapes, reflective details, or space-age accessories. Or go in the opposite direction. Imagine what your future looks like instead.
Maybe it’s sleek and minimal. Maybe it’s gloriously silly and ridiculous!
Don’t Forget the Fantasy
Of course, burlesque gives us permission to take things a little further.
Bring the headpiece you’ve been waiting to wear. Pull out the pasties. Try a costume piece that doesn’t quite have an occasion yet.
You could even create a character for one of the evening events. Perhaps they’re from another planet. Maybe they’re a time traveler. Or maybe they’re simply you, but with considerably more glitter.
There’s no need to explain the concept, just enjoy it!
Let Your Classes Inspire You, Too
The theme doesn’t have to stop with what you wear.
If you’re taking a costuming class, bring a project you’ve been meaning to experiment with. For a makeup class, try a color or technique you wouldn’t normally choose.
Likewise, if you’re working on an act, consider whether the future gives you a new direction. A familiar idea can feel completely different when you change the setting, character, music, or movement.
You don’t have to reinvent everything. Sometimes, one small change opens up a whole new idea.
Pack the Practical Stuff
While you’re planning the fun outfits, remember the things you’ll actually need for four days of classes.
Pack comfortable clothes and shoes for moving around. Bring layers for Seattle weather, along with whatever supplies your classes require. Be sure to leave room for things that simply make you happy!
There Isn’t One Way to Dress for the Future
That’s probably the best part of Neon Dreams & Future Fantasies.
You don’t need to match anyone else. You don’t need to build the most elaborate outfit. You don’t even need to dress up at all. Instead, ask yourself a simple question:
What does my version of the future look like?
Then see where the answer takes you!
