In winter it was all about gothic glamour: an overload of lace and heavy crushed velvet in dark greens, navy and black, accessorised with pearls, pale skin and red lips. Now that summer is firmly upon us, the heavy fabrics have been banished; leaving a look that has been stripped down and laid bare - quite literally. Cue fetish fashion.
With celebrities including Rihanna (who has been rocking this look since 2009), Katy Perry, and of course, Lady Gaga, donning an increasing amount of leather, latex and spikes, it was only a matter of time before the trend became more mainstream. Looking at some of the top designers’ fall collections from earlier this year, it appears to have done just that.
Fashion houses Lanvin, DSquared2, Giles and Ralph Lauren all made use of tight-fitting high lacquer fabrics such as leather and lycra, and boned, rigidly stitched tops were key in the outfits on the Zac Posen catwalks; not a far cry from what you would expect to see a dominatrix wearing. The Alexander McQueen team took the look one step further with the inclusion of zips, restricting leather straps and provocative crosshatched lacing in their designs, and also used white fabric as well as black, creating an innocent contrast to their darker ensembles.
Mugler went all out crazy, and showcased trousers and ankle-length skirts made from PVC, worn with see-through tops, and dresses that had chest revealing sections and intricate corsetry. Models tottered on 24 inch heels (no, that’s not a typo) and Mugler super fan Lady Gaga even walked the catwalk in the Parisian show.
For those not quite so daring, turn your attention to Mark Jacobs, who took fetish down a more demure route for his own label. His coy twist was also present at Louis Vuitton, where he is the creative director. The emphasis was placed on the structure, shape and detail of the outfits; resulting in nipped in waists, patterned stockings and enticing translucent fabrics.
In the Louis Vuitton show, wide metal belts and collars were worn, producing a more angular silhouette, and lace up PVC boots adorned the models’ feet at Marc Jacobs. The combination of these bondage-esque elements together with fur, floral patterning and tweed provided a ladylike quality, echoing the style of ‘vintage Hollywood’ icons such as Dita Von Teese and Karen Elson.
If you like what you see but don’t quite know how to go about it yourself, a good motto to adopt is ‘less is more’. Leggings with leather or PVC sections are now available in many high street shops, and sheer blouses have been a summer staple, so can continue to be worn into autumn - pair a nude one with a black knee-length high waisted skirt and seamed stockings for an elegant effect. For those who want to amp it up, invest in a dress with risqué chiffon panelling, or even try one made from shiny fabric or leather (I got a gorgeous one from H&M for just £15!).
If the femme fatale is not really your thing, there are still ways to subtly include aspects from the look in your wardrobe. A simple choker necklace or dark patent handbag alludes to the fetish trend, showing your fashion savvy without having to go completely ‘Gaga’.
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