LEANNE DELAP
From Saturday's Globe and Mail Published on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2007 12:00AM EST Last updated on Friday, Mar. 13, 2009 9:06PM EDT
What does a girl say about a whip? Well, Valentine's Day is coming, so we thought we'd be a little naughty. I must say, I've never gone in for role-play, dress-up silliness. Baby, I'd just laugh my boobs off at some masked man breathing heavy at me (although I've probably seen the inside of more fetish clubs than many of you have had hot meals, strictly in the line of work, of course).
They are, in fact, very comfortable places: When everyone's hanging out, so to speak, everyone is equally exposed and thus quite pleasant. Now, I learned many things about myself in those dungeons. First off, no matter how fancy my lace-up boots, I'm not cut out to be a dominatrix. And frankly, I've always found there's plenty to do without props.
But if that's your thing, heck, honey this is your year. Fetish is going mainstream. Once strait-laced Chatelaine magazine just ran confessions of a dominatrix. Sex toys now double as high-design decor items. CSI has explored every nook and cranny of humanity's more twisty fantasies.
And the fashion gods are here to cheer you on. Exhibit A is from Hermès this winter. The venerable French label, now designed by one of the masters of the fashion universe, Jean-Paul Gaultier, featured women wielding beautiful riding crops (from $495 to $1,095, though the sky's the limit, as Hermès will customize anything).
Crops have become fashion accessories in and out of the ring. Greenhawk Harness and Equestrian Supplies (see page L4 for its new B.C. location) sells them from $6.95. Pink and purple are hot sellers, while formal fancy whites and classic blacks reign for dressage; apparently just holding the whip is enough to keep one's mount in line, which is likely true for off-label usage of the gear.
But our dazzling knockoff this week is from the Naughty collection at La Senza, our favourite Canadian mall lingerie place. For $49.95, this whacker can be all yours.
I'm happy to reconsider. A well-placed, well-timed slap (in the spirit of playfulness) can be just fine. Especially if the crop is a pretty one.
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