I like rubber (and I like ZoCher in rubber) but leather's more my primary fetish. Having said that, I'm familiar with most of the larger mens' fetish outlets in London - nearly all of which sell via mail order or online.
Regulation is the place in Islington. It's fairly non-intimidating for a fetish shop; tucked up a side-street but relatively large, airy, light. Friendly, helpful staff and a wi-i-ide range of gear, everything from basic latex shorts and singlets to scary-looking rubber straitjackets and bodybags. Averagely-priced and particularly good sales - I bought a rubber t-shirt and *ahem* cod-piece shorts here.
Expectations feels more subterranean, somehow, but similarly approachable staff. Slightly cheaper than Regulation but rubber seems flimsier, and range is limited. Good for oddities, though - like their latex-hooded gasmasks.
The House of Subversive Thought in Vauxhall is a tiny outlet but sells a nice selection of pricey but fabulous pieces you won't find anywhere else. I particularly like their HOSTile range of padded latex bike jackets and suits - but can't quite bring myself to indulge. Yet.
Clone Zone is, to my mind, overpriced for what it is: slightly shoddily-made, standard stuff. At least the shop's easy to find, in the middle of Old Compton Street.
Those are pretty much the only places I can recommend personally. A few others I've heard good things about:
Bob's Rubberwear is mail-order only, and has a waiting list but is apparently extre-e-emely good value.
Skin Two is probably the UK's biggest supplier of male and female fetishgear - you might've seen their magazine (often sold in Forbidden Planet)? Dunno much about it.
The splendidly-monickered House of Harlot is another manufacturer of (what looks like) mainly female, fashion-orientated gear. Basically for display rather than pervery, I think, but very nice.
And then there's good old Camden Market, which seems to boast a variety of fetish outlets.
What to wear on/in the rubber? Well, silicone spray is for the outside: it's there to give a pleasing shine (after you've buffed and polished, naturally). Mr Sheen does the same thing but makes you smell like your mother's living room. Water-based lubricant works well inside, and avoids those annoying white streaks of talc...
Why's rubber such a "current" favourite? I'm not sure that it is, particularly, y'know. It's always had its devotees and I think fetish-themed clothing in general has been creeping out of the closet in the last decade or so - thanks to its use in numerous films, adverts and music videos (David Beckham apparently fell in love with his scrawny wife when he saw her in full latex catsuit in the Spice Girls' 'Say You'll Be There' video, the perv!) Like leather, it'll always have some fetish/SM connotations, but the majority of people wearing both materials probably do so for fashion/sensual reasons.
How to talk to your partner about it? Well, that's the biggie, innit? I don't really know enough about your situation to advise (do you fantasise about you, her or both of you in rubber?) but generally speaking, I'd recommend finding a reasonably 'classy' rubber-orientated fetish magazine - like the aforementioned 'Skin Two' - leave it lying around for her to find, then say (honestly) that you picked it up (in Forbidden Planet or even Borders) out of curiosity because you found some of the images interesting. You'll at least be able to gauge her reaction; if she's also interested, you could say vaguely encouraging stuff about how good she'd look in this or that dress... and how you'd really like to try this, that or the other.
She may well not be into it at all. I'd approach with caution rather than "blundering"... |
