Kink of the Week: Leather

I’ve always loved leather, particularly the way it smells. This probably stems from growing up in the west, with saddle and western shops everywhere. You can smell it the minute you walk in – it’s a smell that’s hard to describe, but it’s fresh, and sensuous. I used to love to admire the saddles throughout the store, running my fingers over the intricate patterns in the leather and inhaling the scent. At the rodeos, the smell of leather was mixed with sweat, but it still smelled damn fine – did it have something to do with the rugged cowboys in their tight jeans, spurred boots, and hats? Could be. It’s certainly an association I still make with the scent of good leather, and I do find it arousing.

When I was in high school, I became interested in a different kind of leather. I hadn’t hit my punk phase yet, and my music world revolved around heavy metal.  One band I adored back then was Judas Priest, and their eminent front man Rob Halford. I remember going to one of their concerts, and out came Rob on a massive Harley, decked out in black leather jeans and a jacked covered with spikes. He looked amazing, and incredibly hot. He may have introduced the BDSM look into metal (which many didn’t realize until he came out), but he also introduced me to a way to dress that was overtly sexual and exciting, before I had any idea about kink or that non-rock stars dressed this way.

I wear some leather in my regular life, particularly coats and boots (and also a leather skirt that I wear to work sometimes), but I also love to wear it before or during sex. I have a leather bustier and bra, several collars and cuffs, a few leather spanking skirts, and even a hot pair of high black leather boots that may or may not come off before we play. We have some leather floggers and tipped crops as well, that I love the look and feel of.

Black leather is kind of a cliche of clothing in BDSM, but I’m not sure if it’s because people enjoy wearing leather or because it can look so kinky, and so right in a dungeon setting. Look through the clothing at shops that specialize in “kinky” wear, and you’ll find a large selection of leather, including equipment as well as accessories like collars, cuffs, and hoods. And let’s face it – it’s a symbol of at lease one other group too – bikers. There’s no shortage of leather pants, boots, and jackets, for various reasons. Not all bikers are into leather, and not all BDSM participants are either – it’s just a prevalent look. And a hot one, in my opinion.

For us, wearing leather changes the way we set up our night of sex. A lot of this is from the restraints that come out, but when I dress up in leather clothes, it changes my look, my attitude, my expectations, and my desires. I find it sexy, and my partner loves it. And that’s what matters.

Be sure to click through and read other Kink of the Week posts!