Leather & Fetish Wear

Leather and fetish wear is clothing worn for the look and the feel of the material: harnesses, corsets, catsuits, gloves, hoods, collars and trousers, in leather, faux leather, latex, PVC and wet look fabric. It is worn to a club, to a party, or at home for someone who will appreciate it. This guide explains the materials, since they behave very differently, how to fit a harness, and the care that keeps each material looking as it should.

Materials

Leather is the original: heavy, warm, it smells of itself, softens with wear and lasts decades if it is fed. Faux leather looks the same at a distance, weighs less, costs less and needs no feeding, but cracks after some years. Latex is the thin, stretchy, shiny rubber that fits like paint; it needs talc or dressing aid to get into, polish to shine, and care to keep it from perishing. PVC and wet look are shiny plastics and stretch fabrics that give the look with none of the fuss.

Harnesses

A chest harness is the piece most people buy first: straps across the chest and shoulders, in leather or faux leather with metal rings, adjustable by buckles. It goes over bare skin or a shirt and says everything without covering anything. Measure the chest and check the adjustment range; a harness should be snug enough to sit still and loose enough to breathe in. Bulldog harnesses have a central ring, Y harnesses a single strap up the front.

Fit

Fetish wear is cut close, so measurements matter more than usual: chest, waist, hips and, for latex, the ranges on the size chart taken tight. Corsets are sized by waist minus a few centimetres. If a piece cannot be returned once worn, and most cannot, measure twice.

Care

Leather: wipe, dry, condition with a leather balm every few months, and store hanging. Faux leather: wipe with a damp cloth, no oil. Latex: wash in warm water with a little mild soap, dry away from heat, dust with talc, store in the dark away from metal and other rubber, and never with oil or oil based lubricant, which dissolves it. PVC and wet look: damp cloth, hang to dry.

Frequently asked questions