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Some years ago cultural academic, Anne McClintock, wrote a book entitled Imperial Leather. Amongst other subjects, it discussed fetishes during the Victorian Era.

Leather is often associated with eroticism or kinkier forms of human sexuality. Leather clothing, especially jackets, often have enormous cache. And indeed, a guy in a well-cut hip length leather jacket can look *very* sexy IMO.

So I ask, any thoughts as to why the custom of draping ourselves in animal skin and fur has so many erotic, or kinky, associations?


er, and it goes without say, I don't want this thread to be closed, so please be subtle and tasteful when replying

I would like to preface this thread by blatantly pointing out I am the owner of a red, leather jacket I very much like.

Carry on

I, too, have a pretty nice leather jacket. Naturally brown, not red. Just a heads up to all you fine ladies out there.

Maybe it is something subliminal. Like wearing a trophee. But that probably can't be proved (yet). Maybe it's because it is looking so natural.

In the case of leather:
Cotton and wool can't really accentuate the body, because they tend to kind of slop and wrinkle.

Also, Leather is skin, so maybe that kind of turns one on. (again subliminally, I guess)

Ow and from a dream explaining dictionary (just remembered that from reading about it once)

Leather
To see leather in your dream, signifies success in romance and business. It also suggests faithfulness in love. To dream that you are dressed in leather means you will have good luck with money.

And another one gets even better:

Dream Dictionary

Definition: Seeing or wearing leather in your dream, represents toughness and ruggedness. It also refers to your instinctual and animalistic nature.

Toughness and ruggedness (like as in hard-to-get) is very stimulating, as is the animalistic nature of mankind.

So leather just sends a whole package of sibliminal (erotic) messages straight to your brain: Wealth, Romance and Toughness. What more can one want?

well I don't have a leather jacket, but i look very sexy without one

Personally I don't think there is anything sexy about leather, I prefer male human skin

I am not sure if it is known how leather fetishism first appeared, but my guess is that it has do to with the connection to animals, sex as an "animal lust", etc. Most common fetishes originate from sexual taboos in society.

And I have a cool pair of leather gloves

(well, arno_v says they're not, so I'm either fooling myself, or he's jealous)

[QUOTE=C Elegans]Personally I don't think there is anything sexy about leather, I prefer male human skin [/QUOTE]
Running around naked gets me arrested and I generally feel cold during the winter


(okay, no more spam - I promise. I should start working soon.)

[QUOTE=C Elegans]Personally I don't think there is anything sexy about leather, I prefer male human skin
[/QUOTE]

krhm, *cough*silenceofthelambs*cough*

would you like to try mine?

Okay, and I have a brown leather jacket which I really enjoy wearing, especially with low-waisted Levis

@CE, I tend to agree regarding the assocations.
I think, also, that leather evokes our "primitive state," when we wore hide and fur for survival and protection. And while not that much is known from a social perspective about the paleolithic period, since these things are not generally preserved by the fossil record , it is often associated with a less inhibited set of social mores.

Speaking for myself, I don't think it's so much the material itself that is attractive as it is the attitude of the person wearing it. Some people just look completly natural and at ease wearing leather. For the most part, I think it's a combination of confidence, maybe a tinge of danger. Could be just the associations I have from where I live or how the styles were when I grew up. For the most part, the people who tended to wear it were seen as the more unpredictable, spontaneous type. Not just a dangerous image , more like an air of self assurance.

I know people who wear leather and just project a confidence or certain quality I can't really put my finger on. It just seems to fit the person. Other people wear it, and look a fish out of water. They just don't seem comfortable in it.

To me, it's all about the individual. Some people wear it extremly well, others just don't really pull it off. It just doesn't look natural. I much prefer someone wearing beat up, old looking leather than anything that looks shiny and unworn. It just seems to be more a part of the whole person if they don't look like they only wear it 2 or 3 times a year to certain places where it's "in"

Not sure if that was clear or not. I just think that leather, cowboy hats, boots, whatever style it may be, if it looks like the person is just being themself and are completely comfortable and confident with themselves whatever they are wearing, it makes them infinatly more attractive.

Then again, I've always been a leather freak, so I may be extremly biased

Leather is leather, it is no different than any other clothing. But the image what is important. Leather isn't that important any more as the image of a metrosexual guy in some designer clothes. Atleast that is the image in Europe from what i see. Metro-sexual is the new leather

[QUOTE=Bloodstalker]Speaking for myself, I don't think it's so much the material itself that is attractive as it is the attitude of the person wearing it. Some people just look completly natural and at ease wearing leather. For the most part, I think it's a combination of confidence, maybe a tinge of danger.[/QUOTE]

I agree. I've been around a girl dressed in skin-tight leather pants with a tight t-shirt and a girl in sweatpants and a hooded sweatshirt and based on attitude, personality and such found myself far more attracted to the girl in sweatpants. Generally certain types of clothing are worn by those with a certain type of personality. For myself, I wear whats comfortable, cheap and in black as I like black clothing. Leather is expensive, so unless someone feels like dropping a few hundred dollars on and outfit, I won't be wearing one. One can be sexy and appealing in anything they wear if done right. IMO a women who can pull of an attractive, sexy image in something inexpensive and simple is far more appealing than someone who spends the amount of money I'd spend to survive in a month on an outfit. It takes an internal...SOMETHING to be attractive in ordinary day-to-day activities and clothing than someone who spends enormous amounts of money showing off their body.'

Leather tends to, denote a more primal, aggressive manner in people. Some people find that attractive and others don't. I know I prefer females who are aggressive for the simple fact they have more of a tendency to be bluntly honest than those who are shy and submissive. I generally don't base my decisions on clothing about a person though, too many put too much effort and money into their appearance to hide who they are to make it worthwhile to pay attention to such things.

[QUOTE=Bloodstalker]Speaking for myself, I don't think it's so much the material itself that is attractive as it is the attitude of the person wearing it. Some people just look completly natural and at ease wearing leather. For the most part, I think it's a combination of confidence, maybe a tinge of danger. Could be just the associations I have from where I live or how the styles were when I grew up. For the most part, the people who tended to wear it were seen as the more unpredictable, spontaneous type. Not just a dangerous image , more like an air of self assurance.

I know people who wear leather and just project a confidence or certain quality I can't really put my finger on. It just seems to fit the person. Other people wear it, and look a fish out of water. They just don't seem comfortable in it.

To me, it's all about the individual. Some people wear it extremly well, others just don't really pull it off. It just doesn't look natural. I much prefer someone wearing beat up, old looking leather than anything that looks shiny and unworn. It just seems to be more a part of the whole person if they don't look like they only wear it 2 or 3 times a year to certain places where it's "in"

Not sure if that was clear or not. I just think that leather, cowboy hats, boots, whatever style it may be, if it looks like the person is just being themself and are completely comfortable and confident with themselves whatever they are wearing, it makes them infinatly more attractive.

Then again, I've always been a leather freak, so I may be extremly biased [/QUOTE]

BS, this is the most sense I've ever seen you make

I don't usually like replying just to say 'I agree with the person above', but you just said everything I was thinking of in a very coherent manner. So: I concur. To put it bluntly, leather looks good on people it looks good on. It enhances the air of confidence around a person, should the person posses such an aura. If not, it just looks awkward. What creates this 'aura' is a whole new discussion

No one has mentioned sound. Has anyone ever snapped, smacked, or unzipped leather.

[QUOTE=Shai Hulud]No one has mentioned sound. Has anyone ever snapped, smacked, or unzipped leather. [/QUOTE]

*grins* Now this is the kind of thing I am talking about. Leather has an aesthetic and sensual quality that cannot be easily replicated. Nothing sounds or feels like leather.

I do agree, though, that it also relates to how comfortable somebody is wearing leather. For some individuals it simply does not work. This reminds me a little of wearing the colour red. When I was extremely shy and reserved I would wear neither red nor leather because they can attract attention. However, once I aquired far more self-confidence I began to wear both quite happily. Though, interestingly, I think it must have been a subconscious thing, because at the time I never really viewed it in that way. I just avoided both leather and red without thinking about it.

[QUOTE=Shai Hulud]No one has mentioned sound. Has anyone ever snapped, smacked, or unzipped leather. [/QUOTE]
It relates to all senses really. It has a unique smell, a unique feel, a unique sound and a unique look. Leather is just... different

[QUOTE=Shai Hulud]No one has mentioned sound. Has anyone ever snapped, smacked, or unzipped leather. [/QUOTE]

Well now, there's quite a difference between wearing leather and using leather. I'm all for leather in the latter. My little pets have gotten me quite attached to that.

I like the thick but flexible feel of leather, the way it holds the light, its smoothness, and its musky smell. (I can actually smell leather: pretty good, considering how poor my sense of smell is.) They also keep in warmth very well, which was why they were so popular as everyday clothing for many years, in many countries. Though leatherworking tended to be at the edge of the community, given the substances used to cure leather at the time. Got myself my first leather coat a couple of years ago. Quite happy with it, and got another floorlength one for spiffy events that I call my Pimp Coat. I've been known to show up at concerts in the dead of winter in it. Though without a white cadillac and two women hanging on my arms.

[QUOTE=fable] Got myself my first leather coat a couple of years ago. Quite happy with it, and got another floorlength one for spiffy events that I call my Pimp Coat. I've been known to show up at concerts in the dead of winter in it. Though without a white cadillac and two women hanging on my arms.[/QUOTE]


I'm really not sure that is an image any of us needed, though at least you don't have a trenchcoat!