Fetish, Fashion, Sex and Power

Valerie Steele talks about the erotic effect of clothing including the allure of the sexily shod foot.

“A fetish is a story masquerading as an object”

Highly stylized erotic clothing appears in high and low culture.

“Fetishism is at the absolute core of fashion,” said Steele. Explaining how fashion designers such as Gianni Versace and Jean-Paul Gaultier have brought fetishism and S&M imagery to haute couture, Steele showed a Versace advertisement from Versace’s 1992 “bondage” collection, with two women outfitted in in S&M style with black leather and boots. This collection was the focus of a New York Times article, “Chic or cruel?” debating whether the style exhibits misogynistic sexual fantasy or liberation.

Other examples in popular culture included Mrs. Peel, of the Avengers, whose leather outfit was made by a company shut down for making fetish wear. …

I’ll never forget Diana Rigg’s jumpsuits.

Fashion Expert Talks On History of Fetish