Sheer Thigh Highs & Elbow-Length Gloves

Sheer Thigh Highs & Elbow-Length Gloves

Earlier this year, I took a burlesque class. This class, taught by a professional burlesque dancer and choreographer, was nothing like the pole dancing class that I took a few years back. The pole dancing class was very much "breathe and play with the it" while the burlesque class was more business- and end result-focused, in some ways. As in, "this is how you move your body and use the props in order to entice, enhance, tease and create a presence on stage."

I wasn't great at the pole dancing -- I'm shy, and wee bit clumsy, especially in ridiculous heels -- but I wasn't awful either. I can move, I'm athletic, and I'm willing to try risky things like jumping up and sliding down a pole by my legs.

However, I was really bad at burlesque dancing. I think I could get better, with time and practice (just like I did with step class and eventually salsa dancing) but in a three-hour class, I mostly just felt uncomfortable, out of place and confused. This was no fault of the teacher or the class at all -- both were great -- it was that I was so far out of my element that I flushed, fumbled and fell on my face (not literally, but you know.).

Still, I was intrigued and excited. There was something I liked about cocking the hat on my head, whip-cracking the boa through the air as I pulled it off my neck, and tugging the gloves off with my teeth that I liked. A lot. If only I could learn how to do it at home, in the presence of just me, so that I could get over the extreme self-consciousness that I felt.

And, lo and behold, lingerie.com offered to help me do just that. To let me play around and learn my, ahem, skillset, they sent me white, sheer thigh highs with a seam up the back, as well as a pair of elbow-length white satin gloves.

Typically, I wouldn't chose white. I gravitate toward black or red as a rule, but when I pulled the stockings out of the package, they looked so... innocent that they actually were sexy. It's like the school girl outfit or the plain white undies -- they're so sweet and innocent that they highlight the inherent sexiness of a person.

As to fit, I have big calves and fairly big thighs, so stockings are always hit or miss. These were definitely a hit -- they were snug over my calves without cutting in, the line up the back was easy to keep straight, and while the top of the thigh-highs rolled once they were on my thighs, they didn't roll as badly as most (and if anyone knows the serious secret for keeping thigh-highs up on thick thighs, I'd love to hear it!). They're very soft feeling as well, and thick enough that putting them on, playing around with the while taking photos and strip-teasing them off didn't do any damage to them at all.

Ditto with the white gloves. So white you just WANT to muck them up, and satiny soft to boot. The bit of stretch in the material means that they go on and stay on, but that you don't lose any feeling in your fingers from bad circulation. The stitching is nice quality, and the material's not terriblythick, either, so you can actually feel through them, which is always good when you're talking about toys for sex.

Now, that's how they go on. But the real question is how do they go off? I'm sure you won't be surprised if I admit that the first time I wore them, we barely got through the photos before we were doing other things. Oops. The tease would have to wait until next time.

Okay, time two. The gloves are perfect for teasing off -- they hook over the elbow, but not so tightly that you can't pull them off with your teeth. The secret to this trick is making sure there's a little loose fabric at the end of your fingers so that you have something to grab onto and pull with. Of course, with white fabric, you probably want to keep the lipstick to a minimum. Pull each finger off part way with your teeth, so the glove hangs loose on your hand, then pull it off the rest of the way. Growling is, of course, an option. Catch the end in your hand as it slides off, and you can then use it as a mini-whip or as something to drape around your partner's neck and pull him closer.

The stockings were a little harder to do with dignity. They roll off really easily, of course, because they're thigh-highs and, on me at least, they were already starting to roll almost as soon as I put them on. Then they got saggy-baggy around the ankles and I didn't know quite what to do with them (also, I should have taken the shoes off first, but let's pretend I didn't just admit that). I really blame that on user error, however, and not the stockings, as they stayed white and silky and strong the whole way.

So, overall? Both of these are winners. Really nice quality, sexy in their own innocent-white way, and delightful not just to put on and wear, but also to take off. Now, if I could just get my hat to stay on my head at the proper teasing angle...

Thanks again to lingerie.com for the chance to play!

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Black Silk Corset

Black Silk Corset

The delightful and gorgeous corset, provided by Lingerie.Com

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Black silky material. Embroidered flowers. Lace up the back. A promise that it was a corset made for real women, not for some skinny model with balloon boobs. Something just my size, with stays that would be strong enough to pull my waist in, but not so strong that I couldn’t breathe…

Can I say that I was just a little excited, waiting for this corset to arrive? Oh yes, yes I can.

Truth be told, I have always loved corsets. I love the way they look on women, the way they accentuate their curves and highlight the hourglass of women’s bodies. I think the material is often so beautiful, the patterns and details, the buttons and eye-and-hooks and lace-ups. The way they feel, not just to wear, but also to touch. I think they’re incredibly sexy, no matter what size and shape the wearer is.

Despite my passion for corsets, I’ve never owned one that I loved. In fact, I’m not sure I’ve ever even owned one, not even one of those cheesy mall-buy corsets.

Why? Mainly because they never fit right. I have something of an hourglass figure already (wide shoulders, skinny waist, big butt), but I think it’s the small breast thing that screws it up. No matter how hard I cinch the suckers, my chest doesn’t fill up the space that’s left behind. Obviously, there are corsets that go under the breasts, but for me, I really really love the ones that go all the way up. Various friends have said, “Well, you just to have one that’s custom made.” But custom-made corsets are incredibly expensive.

So, in an attempt to find a corset that fits me right off the rack, I did a little research. Turns out, more and more corsets are being made to fit women of all sizes and shapes, and it’s getting easier to find something that will fit you even if it’s not custom-made. Score.

Things that I discovered you should pay attention to when choosing a corset:

1. The ribbing that runs through the corset. The strength of these “ribs” is what gives the corset its shape while it’s on you. For a stronger hourglass shape, look for stronger ribs (but not something so strong that you can’t breathe).
2. The material itself. Corsets are made of all kinds of materials, from less durable lace numbers to stronger fabrics like silk, latex, leather and even corduroy. Find something that’s comfortable, but that will stand up to whatever movements you’re planning to make.
3. The way it closes or connects. Some corsets have lacings up the back as their only way in and out of them. Others have velcro, hook and eye closures or buttons.
4. The sizing. Many corsets only offer S, M and L options. If you’ve tried these and found them lacking, look for corsets that have more varieties of sizing, or that are bra-sized (34 a, b or c, for example). They’re more likely to fit you in both the waist and the chest.
5. You should be able to breathe, even when it’s tightened. This is important!

So when the corset arrived, I have to admit that I just looked at it for a while. It was so beautiful, and seemed so well made. I knew that I was going to be incredibly sad if I put it on and it didn’t fit. Or if it looked bad. Or. Or. Or. In the box it was perfect. On me? I wasn’t sure yet. So I waited days before I finally, finally tried it on…

The beautiful lace up the back.

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The flower details.

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Tying myself in. The corset has a series of hooks and eyes up one side of it, so that you can put it on and take it off easily without having to worry about the laces until later. Not only that, but there are two rows of hook-and-eye connectors to ensure for an even better fit. Bonus.

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The front view. The fit really is nearly perfect, I have to admit, although in the future, I might order something that’s one size smaller, because there is just a small amount of give even when I tie it as tight as it will go and use the tighter row of hook-and-eye loops. Either way, it’s incredibly comfortable. There is velvet trim along the edges that mean the fabric doesn’t rub, and the bottom swells out enough to fit my hips.

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Front and back view. While the corset does fit around my breasts (meaning there isn’t so much room between skin and fabric that I could carry a drink in there, unlike most other corsets), there’s still more room than I’d like and thus the velvet piping on the edge kept furling over just a little.

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FOLLOW UP: 

Overall? Corset was a serious hit. I wanted to link to it on the Lingerie.com site (not just because I think it’s a great corset for the price, but also because I wanted to plug them as a thank you. Plus the fact that I like how many sizes they offer, including a wide range of plus-sized stuff), but this corset doesn’t seem to be available anymore in the size I ordered. I do believe this is the same one in the plus-size, though, which looks awesome.

In a few weeks, I’m going to my first official Kink Party, and I have to admit that I’m likely going to wear this… If I can just find something to cover my bottom half!

Cinching up your brain and body, one hole at at time, s.

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