Garment fetishism

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Garment fetishes are fetishes that revolve around, or fixate on, a particular type of garment.

Sexual variations, or fetishes, are also referred to more neutrally as "paraphilias". They can be defined as conditions in which a person's sexual gratification is dependent on an unusual sexual experience or object.^[1] Fetishes, specifically, involve recurrent sexual urges or behaviours concerning the use of inanimate objects such as garments.^[2]

Contents 1 Relative prevalence of garment fetishism 2 Types of garment 2.1 Jeans 2.2 Jacket 2.3 Gloves 2.4 Footwear 2.5 Sock 2.6 Uniforms 2.6.1 Schoolgirl uniform fetish 2.7 Female underwear 2.8 Suit and tie 2.9 Other objects 2.9.1 Glasses 2.9.2 Diapers 3 Types of fabric 3.1 Leather 3.2 Latex/PVC 3.3 Spandex 4 References 5 Sources

[edit] Relative prevalence of garment fetishism

In order to determine the relative prevalences of different fetishes, scientists obtained a sample of at least 5000 individuals worldwide from 381 Internet discussion groups. The relative prevalences were estimated based on (a) the number of groups devoted to a particular fetish, (b) the number of individuals participating in the groups and (c) the number of messages exchanged. Within the sample population, for example, 12 percent were turned on by underwear. The top garment fetish was footwear related (high heels).^[3][4]

[edit] Types of garment

Common fetishes in clothing relate to footwear, female underwear and uniforms. However in principle any garment can be fetishized, that is, a focus of arousal for some people, and so a wide range of other garments have been the subject of less common fetishes.

Separate from fetishes as a paraphilia, are garments worn to enhance appearance (tight jeans, other eyecatching clothing); in this case the differentiator is whether for the person concerned, the clothing is the focus of a sexual fetish, or is merely appreciated and found pleasing and ennhancing.

[edit] Jeans

Jeans fetishism is a sexual fetish relating to jeans or denim. It can also involve printed or electronic material with jeans being worn. Jeans have been associated with sex since their widespread use in teen culture in the fifties.^{[citation needed]}

The style and cut of jeans can also enhance their sexual appeal. Jeans with no pockets on the back are thought to better show off one's buttocks and be more flattering. Stretch jeans are often viewed as attractive because they have the appearance of being skin tight, while not binding like regular denim jeans would. The extreme example of style equals sex when it comes to jeans, would be the Zip Around style. Zip Around Jeans are called that because they have a zipper that unzips starting in the front, and going all the way to the back, making them "easy access" jeans. These style jeans were first made in the late 1970s and early 1980s by brands such as Rag City Blues, Fredericks of Hollywood, and Chemin De Fer. More recently, modern low rise cuts of this style of jean have been made by Frankie B, BEBE, and Lip Service.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Jacket

Jacket fetishism is most usually associated with the fixation or attraction to padded nylon jackets though it is also associated with leather jackets, particularly in association with Bondage (BDSM).^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Gloves

Glove fetishism is a sexual fetish where an individual is obsessed and fixated by another or oneself wearing gloves on their hands.^{[citation needed]} In some cases, the fetish is enhanced by the material of the glove, (i.e. leather, cotton, latex, satin, nylon, or fur).^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Footwear

Main article: Shoe fetishism

Shoe fetishism, also known as retifism (after Nicolas-Edme Rétif), involves being fixated on shoes or other footwear to the extent it may interfere with sexual expression. Although shoes carry sexual connotations in mainstream culture (for example, women's shoes are commonly sold as being "sexy") this is not generally considered to be shoe fetishism, although it may qualify as a form of partialism.^{[citation needed]}

Boot fetishism, is very closely related to shoe fetishism. Many of the same sexual appeals regarded high-heeled shoes apply to boots. In most cases the fetish of the boot is accompanied by a fetish for the material which it is made from. Examples could be leather or latex. High-heeled boots help to elongate the calf, creating a longer-legged appearance which is generally considered to be more sexually attractive. In general, boots can be divided into three primary structural categories and sub-divided from there. There are ankle-length, knee-high, and thigh-high boots.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Sock

Sock fetishism is a sexual fetish relating to socks. Sock fetishists are sexually attracted by wearing socks, partners wearing socks, pictures concerning it, or the object itself (well worn or brand new).^{[citation needed]}

Like feet and shoes, sock fetishists often require some specific attraction in the object which may include special colours, shape or smell. People with sock fixation may have no special attraction to feet or shoes.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Uniforms

A uniform fetish is a sexual fetish in which someone enjoys dressing in a uniform, or derives sexual pleasure from viewing another person dressed in this manner. It does not require any actual sexual contact per se. Among the commonest uniforms in heterosexual uniform fetish are those of a schoolgirl, nurse, French maid, waitress, cheerleader and Playboy Bunny. Nuns' habits could also be regarded as uniforms. Homosexual men and heterosexual women may fetishise a man dressed as a policeman, soccer player, soldier or firefighter. Military uniforms, particularly those of the World War II era, are fetishised by men in organizations like BLUF. The uniforms may be realistic, or made more intensely sexual by being made of leather or latex. ^[5]

[edit] Schoolgirl uniform fetish

A schoolgirl uniform fetish is a sexual fetish in which someone derives sexual pleasure from viewing others dressed like schoolgirls or someone enjoys dressing in the typical uniform of a schoolgirl. The schoolgirl uniform fetish is common in both Japanese and Western pornography, making it one of the most widespread clothing-oriented fetishes worldwide.

In Western pornography, the typical uniform is a somewhat adjusted version of the classical type. This is sometimes described as a Catholic school uniform, though in the United Kingdom it is also worn in most public and private schools. It usually includes a pleated or kilted skirt in green, blue or red plaid, similar to those which actual schoolgirls wear for school, but one often cut much shorter, or otherwise altered to increase the sexual appeal of the look. Sometimes there is a blazer, and if one is worn it should ideally have a school crest on the breast pocket for authenticity. The blouse is usually white, and when worn without a blazer, the lower section may be knotted up to expose the subject's abdomen. Sometimes, when the blazer is being worn, there is also the inclusion of a school tie.

In the United Kingdom and United States, there is also a corresponding Girl Guide/Girl Scout uniform fetish which is also popular. In North America there is also a corresponding cheerleader uniform fetish.

In Japanese pornography, the female often wears a Japanese school uniform, known in the sex industry as bura-sera (anglicized Japanese slang for "bloomers" and "sailor"). Typically this is based on the summer sailor fuku type (white blouse with blue sailor colour and red tie, as well as a blue pleated skirt), except the skirt is shortened significantly. However, numerous variants exist; these can be based on Catholic schoolgirls or uniforms from anime or hentai, such as the "bustier plus miniskirt" outfit seen in Bible Black. Generally, "authentic" uniform design maximises the display of the body's curves with minimal skin exposure.^[6]

[edit] Female underwear

See also: Panty fetishism

Female underwear in the form of stockings, panties (underwear), suspenders, pantyhose (sheer tights in the UK) and the like, is a common theme in garment fetishism.^{[citation needed]}

Stocking fetishists usually find sexual partners clothed in sheer nylon or silk stockings to be sexually stimulating, or find the act of a person donning or removing a pair of stockings arousing. Some men find it arousing to collect and wear stockings, sometimes hidden under a pair of trousers.^[7]

There is crossover between stocking and pantyhose fetishism, the unique silky sheer aspect, feminine 'association' and allure of both being the link. Many current day males fetishistic preference for pantyhose over stockings may be related to the fact that pantyhose are in almost direct contact with female genitalia or perhaps more importantly are the preferred hosiery for most females when skirts and dresses are worn.^{[citation needed]}

Fetishism concerning female panties can involve printed or electronic material depicting exposure of panties, usually of a softcore nature.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Suit and tie

Suit and tie fetishism or a suit fetish describes a fetishistic attraction towards men and women wearing business and/ or formalwear (or photos or video of men and women in such clothing, or the objects of clothing themselves), and also men who get aroused when they themselves are in such clothing. Generally, the fetish and arousal first appears in adolescence, but many men report having arousal from seeing other males in a suit and necktie (or from wearing one themselves) from pre-school age. Typical people with a suit and tie fetish are fixated on the thought of having sexual encounters that involve at least one of the participants dressed in a suit or tuxedo, and will seek out visual and tactical stimuli to aid their sexual fantasy.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Other objects

[edit] Glasses

Glasses fetishism is the name used to describe a fetishistic attraction to people wearing prescription glasses or sunglasses, or in certain cases, to the act of wearing glasses or the glasses themselves. Although attraction to people wearing glasses is generally not considered to be a form of paraphilia, extreme forms of this attraction appear to be paraphiliac.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Diapers

Main article: Diaper lover

"Diaper lover" (or DL for short) is the popular term for a person who feels a strong desire to wear or use diapers without physiological necessity. This paraphilia is differentiated from infantilism in that those of the latter category are also focused with returning to babyhood in ways other than by wearing diapers. The fetish is often discussed in the context of Paraphilic infantilism.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Types of fabric

Garment fetishes are often specified in terms of the fabric or material involved, rather than garment type. this gives rise to sub-genres based for example upon materials such as leather, rubber, fur, latex and PVC.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Leather

Main article: Leather subculture

Leather fetishism is the name popularly used to describe a fetishistic attraction to people wearing leather, or in certain cases, to the garments themselves. The smell of the leather and the creaking noises it makes is often an erotic stimulus for people who fetishize leather. Leather uniforms are also fetishized. The combination of leather with the uniform's symbolism of authority and power. Leather can also be polished to be shiny and can also be produced in bright colours, adding further visual stimuli to add to the physical sensations produced by the material.

The feel of tight leather garments may also be viewed as a kind of sexual bondage, and much bondage equipment is made out of leather. This led to the term "leather culture" being applied in the 1960s to describe a particular American sadomasochistic subculture. The human pony fetish often involves elaborate leather harnesses.

[edit] Latex/PVC

Latex fetishism is the fetishistic attraction to people wearing latex clothing, or in certain cases, to the garments themselves. Sometimes this is called rubber fetishism also, as latex is closely-related to rubber (the latter usually being thicker and less shiny, more matte). Latex or rubber fetishists sometimes refer to themselves as "Rubberists".

PVC fetishism is closely related to latex fetishism and refers to shiny clothes made of the synthetic plastic polyvinyl chloride (PVC). This is sometimes confused with the similarly-shiny patent leather, which is also a fetish material. Latex fetishism often involves dressing up in the material, or looking at it worn by sexual partners, or fantasies about wearers of skin-tight or other latex garments, such as divers and workers wearing industrial protective clothing. Another common stereotype of is the image of a dominatrix wearing a skin-tight latex or PVC catsuit, usually jet-black.

For hygienic reasons, many sex toys such as dildos and butt plugs are made from rubber or similar materials, and this is also a factor in rubber fetishism. Some rubber fetishists are also medical fetishists or have an interest in klismaphilia - medical gloves and catheters are made from latex, as well as condoms.

[edit] Spandex

Spandex fetishism is a fetishistic attraction to people wearing stretch fabrics or, in certain cases, to the garments themselves. One reason why spandex and other tight fabrics may be fetishised is that the garment forms a "second skin," acting as a fetishistic surrogate for the wearer's own skin. Wearers of skin-tight nylon and cotton spandex garments can appear naked or coated in a shiny or matte substance like paint. The tightness of the garments may also be seen as sexual bondage. Another reason is that nylon-spandex fabric (preferred by many spandex fetishists) is often produced with a very smooth and silk-like finish, which lends a tactile dimension to the fetish - as well as a visual one.

In comic books, superheroes, superheroines, and supervillains are generally depicted as wearing costumes made of spandex or a similar material. The superheroines always wear skintight, very flashy and bright-coloured costumes that usually cover only just enough of the female body to be presentable. Fantasies involving superheroes or the wearing of superhero costumes are commonly associated with spandex fetishism.

Full-body suits called zentai entirely immerse the wearer in skin tight fabric. The suits are essentially catsuits with gloves, feet, and a hood. The wearer gets to experience total enclosure and those who enjoy erotic objectification might make use of the garment's anonymizing aspect. Zentai fetishism appears to be quite popular in Japan and Europe. The world zentai (??) means whole body in Japanese.

[edit] References

1. ^ Masters WH, Johnson VE, Kolodny RC: Human sexuality, 5th ed. New York: Harper Col­lins, 1995.
2. ^ WP de Silva: ABC of Sexual Health: Sexual variations, British Medical Journal.
3. ^ Scorolli C, Ghirlanda S, Enquist M, Zattoni S, Jannini E A (2007). Relative prevalence of different fetishes. International Journal of Impotence Researchadvance online publication 15 February 2007.
4. ^ Dobson, Roger (2007). Heels are the world's No 1 fetish. The Independent Online Edition.
5. ^ The Visual Dictionary of Sex, Dr. Eric J Trimmer (editor), ISBN 0-89479-011-0; A & W Publishers, 1977
6. ^ The Visual Dictionary of Sex, Dr. Eric J Trimmer (editor), ISBN 0-89479-011-0; A & W Publishers, 1977
7. ^ Kunzle, David (2004). Fashion and Fetishism. Sutton. ISBN 0-7509-3808-0

[edit] Sources

• WP de Silva: ABC of Sexual Health: Sexual variations, British Medical Journal.
• Dr. Trimmer, Eric J. The Visual Dictionary of Sex, ISBN 0-89479-011-0; A & W Publishers, 1977
• Kunzle, David (2004). Fashion and Fetishism. Sutton. ISBN 0-7509-3808-0