Last week the British tabloid media — the Sun, Mirror, Daily Star, Express etc — all fell over themselves to give fulsome coverage to a British celebrity who had decided the right way to celebrate her 62nd birthday was to dress up for a high-profile latex photoshoot!
That woman was none other than British TV personality and erstwhile ‘Mistress of Countdown’ Carol Vorderman, or Vorders as she’s known to her legions of fans.
Not only did Carol get dolled up in skin-tight red and black Atsuko Kudo latex for her birthday shoot for the Sun’s Sunday magazine supplement, Fabulous.
On her Instagram she also posted behind-the-scenes views from the session, showing her starting out in pink leopard-print leggings and grey sweatshirt before having hair and make-up done and finally emerging in a highly polished red latex dress.
Vorders also showcased an equally body-hugging, shiny black latex ensemble comprising boned corset top and pencil skirt.
Her third outfit was a black latex bodysuit with tight black trousers and leather boots. It was a reminder that a polished latex piece can be very successfully teamed with more conventional fabrics for a look that’s adaptable to both daytime and evening moods.
Most people would probably agree that Ms Vorderman is in great shape for a 62-year-old. But some might point out that not everyone of that age is blessed with a physique as youthful-looking and latex-friendly as hers is.
Admittedly it does take a bit of self-confidence. But it’s worth remembering that the empowering, transformational effect of a latex outfit can do wonders in that department, regardless of age, shape or size!
For the record, this Vorders photoshoot was not just a one-off ruse to gift the lady some desirable column inches for her birthday. Carol has actually been publicly wearing latex from a variety of British designers for many years now — as browsing through her online photos quickly confirms!
images: Carol Vorderman Instagram (@carolvorders)
images: Carol Vorderman Instagram (@carolvorders)
All images: Carol Vorderman Instagram (@carolvorders)
All images: Carol Vorderman Instagram (@carolvorders)
All images: Carol Vorderman Instagram (@carolvorders)
A talk in London this coming Sunday (January 22) aims to fill an important gap in the recorded history of our modern fetish scene — namely the true origins both of kinky clubbing and latex fashion as we know them today.
Presented by the Institute of SM Studies and taking place at the Bishopsgate Institute near Liverpool Street Station, London EC2, the two-hour event will be hosted by Fetishistas editor Tony Mitchell with guest speakers Daniel James and Beverley Glick (then known as music journalist ‘Betty Page’).
All three were original Skin Two club insiders, involved in helping with the club’s launch in January 1983. Daniel was actually co-founder of the club, and his involvement led to his creating the first rubber clothing designs for women that looked good enough to be worn in public as fashion rather than just in the bedroom. This also led to a long and productive photographic partnership between Daniel and the late, great Bob Carlos Clarke.
Beverley and Tony were both journalists on the music paper Sounds at the time. They became involved through their friendship with DJ, club host and record label boss David Claridge — who after initially co-hosting Skin Two, left for a lucrative television career as the man behind Roland Rat.
The three speakers will begin by recalling various cultural milestones in the preceding decade that helped create the conditions for Skin Two’s launch — including some key London clubbing ventures of the New Romantic era.
They’ll endeavour to paint a picture of what it felt like to descend the stairs to Soho basement venue Stallions for the launch of Skin Two on January 31 1983, and to find yourself among a community of like-minded kinksters in a cool club environment for the very first time.
The talk will cover the changeover that occurred after David Claridge left the club and it changed its name to Maitresse. This freed up the Skin Two name for use as the title of a new fanzine-style magazine to be launched by Tim Woodward and Grace Lau about a year after the original club opened.
If there‘s time, the three speakers will give a flavour of what each went on to do beyond their involvement in the original Skin Two club. And if there’s still time after that, they’ll be available for an audience Q&A.
The Start of the Skin Two Club: 3–5pm on Sunday Jan 22 at the Bishopsgate Institute, 230 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 4QH. Advance tickets £10 plus fee (£11.01 total) from the Eventbrite link below. Tickets on the door: £13.
Sue Scadding in an outtake from flyer shoot for the original Skin Two club
(photo ©1982 Peter Ashworth).
Speakers now (top L-R) …and then (bottom L-R): Daniel James, Beverley Glick (aka ‘Betty Page’), Tony Mitchell
(bottom row photos, left and centre: ©1983 Peter Ashworth); right: Gordon Rondelle).
One of the first latex dresses Daniel James designed was this backlaced Goddess dress, modelled here by Tricia Ronane for Daniel’s Maid In London catalogue.
(image ℅ Daniel James/Maid In London, ©The Bob Carlos Clarke Estate).
Libidex Wins Best UK Clothing Company at the UK Fetish Awards for the Second Year Running.
We are thrilled to announce that Libidex won Best UK Clothing Company at the UK Fetish Awards which took place at Proud Embankment Club on the 16th of November. And what a fabulous night it was too. Everyone in attendance was dressed up to the nines in their fetish finest.
The atmosphere was electric, a mix of anticipation and pure abandonment to the intoxicating music pumping from the excellent sound system and the decadent surroundings the Proud Embankment Club is known for. People were partying as if it was 1999, with drinks a plenty and fabulous outfits galore, to rival the best fetish clubs in London. It truly was a night to remember. And when the big moment arrived and Libidex was announced as the winner for the second year running (we won in 2021 also), the crowd erupted into cheers and thunderous applause as we went on stage to collect our award.
We would like to thank all our customers, friends and followers who voted for us. You are the reason we work so hard to constantly better ourselves as a company, and to have our efforts recognised by you all makes our job all the more enjoyable.
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