Fetish & Leather Wear

Fetish wear is clothing chosen for what it is made of as much as how it looks: latex, leather, wet look and vinyl, harnesses and hoods, catsuits and corsets. It is worn to be seen, and to be felt on the skin, and each material has its own rules for fit, wearing and care. This guide explains the materials, how they size, and what makes a piece comfortable enough to keep on all evening.

Materials

Latex is the classic: a thin rubber sheet that fits like a second skin, shines when polished and feels cool then warm. It is the most demanding to put on and care for and the most striking to wear. Wet look and vinyl are stretch fabrics with a shiny coating; they give most of the look of latex at a fraction of the price and effort, with less stretch and less feel. Leather is for harnesses, corsets, cuffs and jackets: heavy, warm, and lasts for decades. PVC is stiffer than vinyl and holds a shape. Mesh and fishnet are worn under or with all of the above.

Sizing

Latex must fit exactly: too small and it tears at the seams, too large and it wrinkles and sags. Measure chest, waist and hips and compare with the chart; if between sizes, take the larger for a first piece. Wet look and vinyl have stretch and forgive a size either way. Leather harnesses adjust with buckles; corsets are bought by waist measurement, usually 10 centimetres smaller than the natural waist for a first corset.

Putting it on

Latex goes on with dressing aid, a talc or a silicone based lubricant on the inside, and patience; never pull by the edge, work it up in stages. Wet look goes on like any stretch garment, with the seams checked afterwards. Corsets are laced loosely first, then tightened a little at a time over several wearings; a new corset should not be pulled closed on the first night.

Comfort and wearing time

Latex does not breathe, so it warms quickly and a full catsuit is for a few hours, not a day. Wet look breathes a little better. Harnesses and cuffs can be worn as long as the straps are not tight. A corset worn for an evening is comfortable once it has been seasoned; one laced too tight too soon is not.

Look and shine

Latex is shined with silicone polish or a silicone lubricant on a cloth; wet look and vinyl are wiped with a damp cloth. Black is the safest colour in every material; red and transparent latex show the most and mark the fastest. Metal hardware on harnesses, and zips on catsuits, are the details that make a piece look expensive.

Care

Latex is washed by hand in lukewarm water with a drop of mild soap, dried flat, dusted with talc and stored in the dark; sunlight, oil, metal and copper stain and rot it. Wet look and vinyl are washed by hand in cool water and hung to dry. Leather is wiped and occasionally fed; never washed. Corsets are aired, spot cleaned and never machine washed.

Frequently asked questions