This room is painted the color of rust and denim. Here, the glamour of the boudoir meets the grit of the picker’s barn. Danielle’s everyday style—what she wears while hunting for rusty relics on American Pickers —is a masterclass in functional vintage. High-waisted Levi’s jeans, cuffed at the ankle. Button-up work shirts in chambray or plaid, often tied at the waist. Brogues or steel-toed boots. Aviator or cat-eye sunglasses. And always, a bandana or a wide-brimmed hat. This is the style of a Rosie the Riveter who has a date at the burlesque hall after her shift. It honors the strong women of the WWII era: capable, strong, and stylish without sacrificing practicality. The centerpiece of this room is a pair of faded, grease-stained overalls worn with a red lipstick that matches her hair—a perfect metaphor for Danielle’s worldview: you can get your hands dirty and still be a work of art.
The first room is dimly lit, velvet-draped, and smells of powder and old roses. Here hangs the foundation of Danielle’s public persona: the golden age of burlesque. Think high-waisted tap pants, satin corsets that cinch the waist into an hourglass, lace-trimmed robes, and feathered mules. Danielle has often cited legends like Bettie Page and Gypsy Rose Lee as inspirations. This is not mere nostalgia; it is a reclamation of feminine power. Her burlesque work as a performer and producer (with the Iowa-based troupe, The Bombshells) informs every silhouette she chooses. Even in jeans and a t-shirt, Danielle’s posture—the arched back, the lifted chin—echoes the stage. Key pieces in this room include a cherry-red satin corset, a black lace négligée, and a beaded flapper-style headpiece, all emphasizing that for Danielle, fashion is performance, and performance is freedom. danielle colby cushman desnuda
Move through a beaded curtain into a brighter, starker space. The walls are covered not with garments, but with close-up photographs of skin. Danielle Colby is arguably as famous for her ink as for her television career. Her body is a living archive of American Traditional tattooing—bold lines, primary colors, iconic imagery: pin-up girls, daggers, roses, swallows, and the word “Mom” in a heart. In this gallery, we see how her fashion frames her tattoos. She rarely wears long sleeves or high necklines. A sleeveless 1940s day dress, a cropped band t-shirt, or a simple black halter top all serve the same purpose: to display the art. Her style insists that tattoos are not rebellious scars but a respected art form on par with any gallery painting. The most striking piece here is a sheer mesh blouse, embroidered with roses—allowing her chest and arm tattoos to remain fully visible, turning her torso into a walking, talking flash sheet. This room is painted the color of rust and denim