Last week the guys over at SHOWstudio launched the first in a series of films about fetish in fashion. Provocatively named 'Fuck Me' and featuring Karlie Kloss, who recently and famously posed nude for Vogue Italia, the film explores the ever-present theme of fetishism in fashion. The film also highlights the contradictory imagery provided by the fashion industry on a daily basis - whether girls are meant to be feminine and demure, or leather-clad sex symbols. Kloss even switches from blonde, virginal young girl holding a bunch of flowers, to bondage queen complete with black wig and leather whip. The concept of fetishism in fashion is not a new one, however is the industry providing confusing mixed signals about what it means to be a strong, feminine woman, or are the personas protrayed by Karlie a sign that there can be two sides to the same coin?
The theme of fetish really came to the forefront of fashion last season thanks to Marc Jacobs' daring collection at Louis Vuitton. Girls dressed as night porters with latex caps and stockings walked the runways, handcuffed to their own bags or with hands tied behind their backs. Kate Moss even closed the show whilst smoking a cigarette. There was large editorial prescence last season of fetish-inspired clothing, and actual bondage apparel and paraphenelia. Fetish brands such as Atsuko Kudo and House of Harlot were regularly featured alongside the big designers in magazines from LOVE to Wonderland. The fetish theme has taken a back step this season as Spring / Summer '12 is all about feminity, however it will not be gone for long. Sex sells after all.
