Fetish: Fashion, Sex & Power

Valerie Steele examines the relationship between fashion and fetishism, exploring how elements of fetish style have influenced mainstream clothing and culture. Her analysis spans historical and contemporary perspectives, from Victorian corsets to modern leather and latex garments. The book investigates the psychology behind fetish fashion and its connection to sexuality, power dynamics, and gender roles. Steele draws from interviews with designers, retailers, and fetish practitioners while incorporating research from fashion history, psychoanalysis, and cultural studies. Through detailed analysis of specific garments and materials - including high heels, corsets, and leather - the text traces their evolution from subcultural elements to mainstream fashion statements. The work includes photographs and illustrations that document the aesthetic and social aspects of fetish wear. The text raises questions about the nature of sexuality, power, and identity in fashion, challenging traditional boundaries between deviance and normalcy. This examination of fetish culture illuminates broader cultural shifts in attitudes toward sexuality and self-expression through clothing.

Readers appreciate the academic rigor and research depth in examining fashion's psychological and social aspects. Many note the thorough exploration of how clothing fetishes develop and manifest in mainstream fashion. Positive reviews highlight the book's analysis of corsets, high heels, and leather in fashion history. Multiple readers mention the strong bibliography and extensive source citations. Main criticisms focus on the academic writing style being too dense for casual readers. Some reviewers wanted more visual examples and found the black and white photos insufficient. A few readers note that certain sections feel repetitive. Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (156 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (12 reviews) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (8 ratings) Sample reader comment from Amazon: "Comprehensive academic treatment of fashion fetishism, but could be more accessible to general audiences." Google Books reviews mention it serves well as a reference text for fashion studies but may overwhelm readers seeking a lighter introduction to the topic.

The Fashion System by Roland Barthes This semiotic analysis deconstructs fashion's cultural meanings and power structures through examination of written clothing descriptions.

Fashion and Its Social Agendas by Diana Crane The book traces how clothing choices reflect social class, gender identity, and power relations from the 19th century to present day.

The Corset: A Cultural History by Valerie Steele This historical study examines the corset as a symbol of beauty, eroticism, and social control across four centuries.

Sex and Suits by Anne Hollander The text explores how men's tailoring evolved to express masculine power and erotic appeal through Western history.

Fashion and Psychoanalysis by Alison Bancroft This work analyzes fashion through psychoanalytic theory, examining clothing's role in desire, identity, and sexuality.

🔍 Author Valerie Steele is often called "fashion's brainiest woman" and serves as director and chief curator of The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City. 👗 The book explores how traditional fetish elements like corsets, high heels, and leather have become mainstream fashion items, crossing over from underground subcultures to high-end designer collections. ⚡ Published in 1996, this was one of the first academic works to seriously examine the relationship between fetishism and fashion, helping establish fashion theory as a legitimate field of study. 🖤 Steele conducted extensive research in sex shops, fetish clubs, and fashion archives across Europe and America to document the historical evolution of fetish wear. 💫 The book challenges the feminist assumption that fetish fashion automatically objectifies women, arguing instead that it can be a form of empowerment and sexual self-expression.