Path: bloom-beacon.mit.edu!spool.mu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!sunic!trane.uninett.no!nac.no!eunet.no!nuug!dkuug!usenet From: FAQ Maintainer Newsgroups: alt.sex.fetish.fashion Subject: alt.sex.fetish.fashion FAQ (3/9): Vocabulary Followup-To: alt.sex.fetish.fashion Date: Mon, 21 Nov 1994 01:00:00 GMT Organization: DKnet Lines: 672 Expires: Tue, 6 Dec 1994 01:00:00 GMT Message-ID: <3ar8s0$pgh@news.dknet.dk> Reply-To: pg@login.dknet.dk (The FAQ Maintainer) NNTP-Posting-Host: login.dknet.dk Summary: This FAQ serve both as a general introduction to the world of fetish fashion, an information package to make life with it much easier and trouble-free, and last (but not least) a guide to products, magazines and shops all over the world. Keywords: fetish, fashion, latex, rubber, PVC, leather, high heels... Archive-name: alt-sex/fetish-fashion/part3 Alt-sex-fetish-fashion-archive-name: FAQ-Part3 Version: 2.2 Last-modified: 21-Nov-94 Lines-excluding-headers: 663 F R E Q U E N T L Y A S K E D Q U E S T I O N S (and other information) for ((( alt.sex.fetish.fashion ))) Posted bi-weekly (on the 8th and 22nd) in alt.sex.fetish.fashion, alt.answers and news.answers - or when significant updates require it. Created and maintained by: Per Goetterup Your input is *very* welcome! Send suggestions, additions, updates and corrections to me and it'll be included in this document. The contents of this document is a compilation and paraphrasing by me of the information supplied by the readers of this newsgroup. ==================== The latest version of this FAQ is (along with countless others) available by anonymous ftp from rtfm.mit.edu [18.181.0.24] in the directory /pub/usenet/news.answers/alt-sex/fetish-fashion - where the parts will simply be titled part1, part2, part3 and so on - or in the directory /pub/usenet/alt.sex.fetish.fashion, where the parts will be titled: FAQ-Part1, FAQ-Part2, ... FAQ-Part9. You can obtain it by E-mail as well if you have no ftp access, by sending an E-mail message to: mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu containing the single word 'help' (without quotes) in the message body to receive instructions. Alternatively you can request it by E-mail from me by sending me (pg@login.dknet.dk) an E-mail message with a subject containing the words 'faq-request' (the message body will be ignored). An automatic reply demon will then send you the complete FAQ in return to the sender address. Use a 'Reply-To' header if you want the FAQ sent to another address than the one the request was sent from, as this takes precedence over the 'From' header (RFC-822). Please do not include messages to me in the message body of your request as I'll never see the contents of messages processed by the reply demon. You can also view it (and *many* other FAQs) via WWW using the URL: http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/hypertext/faq/usenet/FAQ-List.html and proceed through "Alt Sex" and then on to "Fetish Fashion". ==================== Dedicated to the late Thorkild Borup of Avantgarde (She-An-Me), Copenhagen, who made me aware of the fetish fashion world. R.I.P. ==================== EDITORIAL. This document was originally written by Per Goetterup, but has been expanded again and again with the interesting stuff surfacing in the newsgroup - and stuff mailed to me directly - all edited and still maintained by Per Goetterup. I will add all material posted in alt.sex.fetish.fashion or related newsgroups that I feel has a general relevance for new users or which is simply interesting, and I'll naturally add a note as to who wrote it. If you do *not* want your name in the FAQ (for whatever reason) when posting to the newsgroup then you must add a note to this effect to every article you post, or contact me directly by E-mail. I will also add stuff mailed to me directly, and as I'm often unable to verify the correctness of the supplied information, I'll add it and rely on *you* for verification. If you mail me stuff, I'll not always write a 'thank you' note in return as I'm often busy doing other things than just maintaining this document. This doesn't mean that I'm not grateful! - I am! - Very! - I'm just very busy and don't have the time to write these notes. You are always welcome to ask me to remove your name from the FAQ, or to use a pseudonym or an anonymous id instead. I respect and comply to such wishes, but I will not consent to remove the information itself unless it is invalid, incorrect, outdated or similar. COPYRIGHT! This FAQ is Copyright (C) 1993, 1994 by Per Goetterup and the members of the UseNet fetish fashion community for their individual contributions. All rights reserved. Permission to use, copy and distribute this FAQ, or parts thereof, by any means and for any purpose EXCEPT PROFIT PURPOSES is hereby gran- ted, PROVIDED that *both* the above Copyright notice and this permission notice appear in all copies of the FAQ itself, that the parts used are totally unaltered contents-wise and that information as to how to obtain the newest and most current release of this document is included, in particular when dealing with a published media inheritly outdated at time of release, like a printed publication or CD-ROMs. Also, in case this FAQ is published in a book, on a CD-ROM or similar, a minimum of one free copy of the final product delivered to the author free of any charge is required for permission to use anything from this document. Reproducing this FAQ or parts thereof by any means, included, but not limited to, printing, copying existing prints, publishing by elec- tronic or other means, implies full agreement and consent to the above non-profit-use clause, unless upon explicit prior written (non-electron- ic) permission of the author. It also implies full consent to the above one-free-copy-clause with no exceptions. DISCLAIMER! This FAQ is provided by the author ``as is'', and any express or implied warranties, including, but not limited to, the implied warran- ties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose are dis- claimed. In absolutely no event shall the author be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, exemplary, or consequential damages (including, but not limited to, procurement of substitute goods or services; loss of use, data, or profits; or business interruption) however caused and on any theory of liability, whether in contract, strict liability, or tort (including negligence or otherwise) arising in any way out of the use of the informations herein contained, even if advised of the possibility of such damage. I'd also like to emphasize that I'm in no way connected to any of the businesses mentioned in this document, and that I'm doing this work purely for the benefit of the numerous people of the fetish fashion community and that I do not receive any kind of payment for any part of the work contained - and I don't want to. Please do *not* offer any kind of bribery or 'special services' in return for favorable mentioning or recommendations. I'll not accept it and I will continue to do my very best to keep this document as objec- tive as possible. I do not mind accepting favours *without* strings attached... ;-) ==================== TABLE OF CONTENTS. Editorial, Copyright and Disclaimer. 1. General. 1.1 FAQ Revision History. 1.2 Legend. 1.3 What is this newsgroup all about? 1.4 Netiquette on alt.sex.fetish.fashion. 1.5 Credits. 1.6 Other related newsgroups. 1.7 About the FAQ maintainer. 2. Frequently Asked Questions and other information 2.1 Questions and answers. 2.2 Corset 101. 2.3 Jessica - Wearing high heels for an extended period of time. 3. Vocabulary. 3.1 UseNet jargon. 3.2 High heels. 3.3 Outfits. 3.4 Bondage fashions. 3.5 The materials. 4. The people behind the fashions. 4.1 The designers. 4.2 The models. 4.3 The photographers. 4.4 Advocacy groups. 4.5 Fetish Ball organizers. 5. Fetish fashion in literature, comics, on movies and TV. 5.1 About fetish fashion. 5.2 Containing or using fetish fashion. 5.3 Fetish videos or films. 6. Guides. 6.1 Product Guide. 6.2 Magazine Guide. 6.3 Shop guide - Reviews 7. The big shop list. 7.1 England 7.2 Europe and the Far East 7.3 North America ==================== 3. VOCABULARY. 3.1 UseNet jargon. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Delurk, v.: The process of becoming an active participant on the newsgroup - to stop lurking. Some people add "(delurk)" to the subject when they post to the newsgroup for the first time. This simply indicates that they're posting on the subject for the first time, and that they've collected enough courage to go 'public'. Lurk, v.: To read the newsgroup without ever showing ones presence. In particular on the alt.sex.* news- groups there are always a lot of lurkers, some simply because they're curious about the sub- ject without having enough interest to partici- pate, others because they're shy or want to be anonymous but doesn't know how. Lurker, n.: One that 'lurk's! ;-) 3.2 High heels ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Baby dolls: Shoes with a type of toe box that is very rounded like a little girl's shoe. From: margo@netcom.com (Ms. Margo) Ballet Shoes/boots: Shoes and boots in various designs with the common specialty that you stand on the tip of your toes instead of on the balls of your feet as with ordinary high heels. These are almost exclusively used in scenes and/or in the bed- room. Ballet heels: They are heels which are so hign that the only part of the toe that touches the ground is the tip, much like a ballet dancer's toe shoes. The heels are usually 7" high, but with a tiny platform under the toe they can be as high as 17" (custom made). You can't really walk in these shoes, they're just for enjoyment. From: margo@netcom.com (Ms. Margo) Bottine: A boot with a moderate height, usually reaching to somewhere between the ankle and the calf. From: 'Pamela' Dianette: A form of sandels, where you have a strap be- tween your big and your second toe. From: 'Pamela' Heel heights: Centimeter <=> Inch conversion: 1" = 2.54 cm. This gives: 2"= 5.08 cm 3"= 7.62 cm 4"= 10.16 cm 5"= 12.70 cm 6"= 15.24 cm 7"= 17.78 cm 8"= 20.32 cm 9"= 22.86 cm 10"= 25.40 cm Heel types: Louis XV: The typical form of a 'high heel': ( \ /\ V \ I \____> Queeny: Like the Louis XV but the tip of the heel is placed more to the toe: ( \ \/\ I \_____> Block: Massive heel (opposite of stilet- to), usually used for platform shoes: ( \ I I\ I I \ I__I \_____> Bell bottomed: Begins like a normal heel but ends wide: ( \ /\ X \ /_\ \_____> From: 'Pamela' Mules: They have no back at all. The upper ends at mid-arch, much like clogs do. Mules are usually high-heeled and often are open-toed. Maribu feathers are optional. :) From: margo@netcom.com (Ms. Margo) Opera Pumps: Slender straight heel. Closed, slightly pointed toe. Without straps or decorations. Vamps that don't show much toe cleavage. Sides cut fairly high. Opera pumps are usually black patent or black kidskin. Just think of your typical re- presentaion of a fetish shoe and you've got it. From: margo@netcom.com (Ms. Margo) Also, no straps or adornment of any kind, self (ie. one) colored, frequently jet black or at least a dark color, and (strict interpretation) the sides are of one piece with no stitching half way between heel and vamp. From: jhurwit@netcom.com (Jeffrey Hurwit) Oxfords lace up: (aka. 'Old Oxfords') A classically designed shoe originating in Oxford, England. It's pretty much an ordinary, closed shoe, dark or plain black, with an ordi- nary 3 or 4 point lacing, but with the excep- tion of the heel height, that can be anything up to 6". High heeled Oxfords will have a closed toe box and lace closed with a tongue that extends to the ankle. From: Ms. Margo Platforms: Any shoe that has extra height added under the toes. It's a cheaters way to have very high heels. A 6" heel with a 3" platform feels the same (has the same rise) as wearing a 3" heel. From: margo@netcom.com (Ms. Margo) Pumps: An open shoe usually without any straps (except perhaps an simple ankle strap). Can sometime also be toeless. A pump is a high-heeled shoe with a full back and toe box. There are also open-toed pumps which have the end of the toe box cut out so the toes show. From: Ms. Margo Pump D'Orsy: The toe box ends at instep. The heel is held in a heel cup. Along the sole from the toe box to the start of the heel cup is open space about 1 to 2 inches depends on size. Toe box and heel cup are seperate from each other. The most sexy of pumps. Usually patent leather. From: G. Spelvin Saddle shoes: More or less the inverse of spectators, although one rarely finds high-heeled saddle shoes. From: margo@netcom.com (Ms. Margo) Sandels: They have straps for the upper. They are usu- ally flat heels, but can be high-heeled as well. Some people refer to any shoe with ankle straps as a sandel. From: margo@netcom.com (Ms. Margo) Shoe locks: Usually a simple system of straps, one going under the foot (between the heel and the in- step), the other around the ankle. These are locked together, preventing the wearer from removing the shoes without the key to the lock. Sometimes a shoe or boot is equipped with lock- ing ankle straps per design, serving the same function. Pantolette: Like mules but mostly made of wood, - a sort of high heeled clog. From: 'Pamela' Sabots: A kind of mules, but with closed toe box. From: 'Pamela' Shoe size conversion: US shoe sizes are roughly two full sizes more than those in the UK (for example, I take a size 4 1/2 in the UK therefore making me a size 6 1/2 in the US). Oh..and incidentally....I've found that the Canadians follow the same sizing pattern as in the States. However, it should also be noted, that this "two sizes more" rule is general -- as we all know, sizes vary slightly from manufacturer to manufacturer. From: Rachel Marriott Also note that high heeled shoes tend to feel smaller than flats. If you've never worn high heels before and know your size from flats, you should probably add a half (minimum) to your size in high heels. This is not always the case, but often. Just keep it in mind when mail ordering. Shopping in person the first time might be a pretty good idea. From: PG Shoe Size Table: mm. Europe USA England France === ====== === ======= ====== 117.0 20 - - - 123.1 21 - - - 130.0 22 - - - 136.5 23 - - - 143.1 24 - - - 150.0 25 - - - 156.9 26 - - - 163.1 27 - - - 170.0 28 - - - 176.8 29 - - - 183.0 30 1 - - 188.0 - 1.5 - - 190.5 31 - - - 192.4 - 2 - - 196.8 - 2.5 - - 197.1 32 - - - 201.2 - 3 - - 204.0 33 - - - 205.6 - 3.5 - - 208.3 - - - - 210.0 - 4 - - 211.0 34 - - - 214.4 - 4.5 - - 217.0 35 - - - 218.8 - 5 - - 220.0 - - 2 35 221.5 - - - - 223.2 - 5.5 - - 224.0 36 - - - 227.6 - 6 - - 228.1 - - - - 231.0 37 - - - 232.0 - 6.5 2.5 35.5 234.7 - - - - 236.0 - 7 3 36 237.2 38 - - - 238.0 - - - - 240.8 - 7.5 - - 241.0 - - 3.5 36.5 244.5 39 - - - 245.0 - 8 4 37 247.9 - - - - 248.0 - - 4.5 37.5 249.6 - 8.5 - - 251.0 40 - - - 254.0 - 9 5 38 257.2 41 - - - 258.0 - 9.5 - - 259.0 - - 5.5 38.5 261.1 - - - - 262.7 - 10 - - 263.0 - - 6 39 264.0 42 - - - 266.0 - 10.5 6.5 39.5 267.7 - - - - 269.0 - - 7 40 271.1 43 11 - - 274.0 - - 7.5 40.5 275.8 - 11.5 - - 277.6 - - - - 278.0 44 - - - 279.0 - - 8 41 280.2 - 12 - - 282.0 - - 8.5 41.5 284.0 45 - - - 284.6 - 12.5 - - 287.5 - - - - 288.0 - - 9 42 289.0 - 13 - - 290.8 - - - - 291.0 46 - - - 292.0 - - 9.5 42.5 293.4 - 13.5 - - 294.1 - - - - 295.0 - - 10 43 297.8 - 14 - - 298.0 47 - - - 301.0 - - 10.5 43.5 306.0 - - 11 44 310.0 - - 11.5 44.5 314.0 - - 12 45 321.0 - - 12.5 45.5 Conversion from male --> female sizes... ---------------------------------------- Male size Female size ========= =========== Narrow Medium Medium Wide Add: Your size + 1/2 --> + 1 Any feminine style shoe with an open toe. Your size + 1 --> + 1 1/2 Any feminine style shoe with a closed toe. From: Tina H. Suit and shirt sizes: Conversions... Women. (DRESSES AND COATS) US 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 UK 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 (Blouses and sweaters) US 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 UK 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 (Shoes) US 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 UK 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 This is from Fodor's so it should be pretty accurate. From: Ms. Lisbetta Sling-backs: They are exactly what they sound like. They have no back, and have a strap the runs from the sides of the shoe around the back of the foot. This "sling" holds the shoe on. They can be open-toed or close-toed. From: margo@netcom.com (Ms. Margo) Spectators: Pumps which have a different colored toe box and (usually) heel. Popular spectator color combinations are white and blue and tan and cream. From: margo@netcom.com (Ms. Margo) Stilettos: Often the same as 'spikes'. Stilettos are are type of heel that is extremely thin and point- ed. Named after the very thin bladed knives. Spikes: Very thin heels, often almost ending in a point at the tip (like a nail). Thigh Highs: Long boots reaching al the way up to the thighs, thus the name. T-strap Pumps: Usually, this is in the style of a D'Orsay, with a strap extending up from the vamp, along the middle of the instep, to join an ankle strap. From: jhurwit@netcom.com (Jeffrey Hurwit) 3.3 Outfits ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Body: Garment that covers the body from the crotch to just below the neck, sometimes with the arms included. Can be made out of anything, usually something see-though or latex/PVC. Has some- times a snaplock at the crotch for easy bath- room use. Bodystocking: Like 'body' but also covers the legs and some- times the feet (like 'stockings' added to the 'body'). Catsuit: An all-over body suit. Usually without feet and hands, but these can be included, leaving only the head free. Most materials are used, in particular lycra, nylon, PVC and latex. Corset: Garment intended to create an ideal hourglass figure on a woman, either permanent through long training or by simply creating the illu- sion while wearing it. Usually it covers the body from the hips to the breasts, with a long lacing in the back. Some versions went all the way from the knees to the shoulders, often extra stiffly boned, intended to enforce a stiff posture if worn in the daytime (making the wearer unable to sit down), or as training corset worn during the night. Garter belt: A belt (goes around the waist) with attached garters which hold up 'stockings' or similar. Leotard: Almost the same as a 'body' but always without the snaplock at the crotch. Pantyhose: Like a pair of stockings with a panty built in. Comes in many materials. See also the newgroup alt.pantyhose. Stockings: Covers the feet and legs up to the thighs. These can either be the stay-ups type or the kind that needs a 'garter belt' to stay up. See also the newsgroup alt.pantyhose. 3.4 Bondage fashions. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hobble Skirt: A tight skirt usually made of leather, PVC or thick rubber, going from the waist to the an- kles. Leaves only very little space to move the legs in, thus acting as a hobble. Single Glove: Much as the name implies, it is a single glove to put both arms into. Made of many materials (usually leather though), it laces the arms together on the back, with straps going over the shoulders to prevent it from slipping down and off. Some versions are intended to be slightly loose, only trapping the arms, others are literary skin-tight, making the elbows touch behind the back. Zippers and buckles sometimes complement/replace the lacing. Discipline Hood: A hood usually made of leather, thick rubber or PVC with only a hole for the nose. Usually the subject is gagged with a ball-gag or similar under it. It is usually laced tightly in the back of the head. 3.5 Materials. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Cire The term is french an means literaly "Waxed". It is made from lycra and is created by passing the fabric against a hot roller to melt the surface slightly, resulting in a 'wet-look' finish. Lycra An elastic fabric often used in numerous types of close-fitting sport outfits - and naturally as a less expensive fetish material. Spandex Trade name for lycra. ==================== < Per Goetterup "No tears please! > < FAQ Maintainer, alt.sex.fetish.fashion It's a waste of good suffering!" > < TechnoVision Software, Denmark -Pinhead- > < Internet: pg@login.dkuug.dk, FidoNet: 2:235/208.10 (Hellraiser) >