LadyHugs
Posts: 2299
Joined: 1/1/2004
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Dear LotusSong, Ladies and Gentlemen;
I do respect your post about uniforms however, today there is no conformity these days.
In the 1970-1980 circa of BDSM wear, it was discreet. Only once inside a club, a person's house and on Halloween, was fetish wear openly worn. In addition black attire was the normal, not always leather.
Wearing leather, goes back to the biker days of BDSM, as leather chaps was a necessity, as were the boots, as not to entangle themselves in their motorcycles and, a time before motorcycle helmets were required. World War II German and American uniform surplus supplied cheap leather, uniform boots for motocycle police, equestrians were easy to find. Mid-western groups, chaps were the uniform of the ranches and goes way back to Spainish ranching, American's Old West as they provided protection for the legs and the chest. Vests, leaving the chest protected in leather, left arms free to work the rope and whips, and not be entangled. First, vests were protection from limbs, branches, vines and other elements and then adapted to riding motocycles. The history of wearing things to the left, goes back to the first elements of warfare and equestrians. Mounting from the left, the sword side avoided knocking the horse's sides with the the sword. The swordsmen were historically right handed, even if left handed by nature, were trained to use the right hand. So, the draw was left to right across the body to remove the sword from it's carrier. So, knights and warriors were seen as authority and power, the sword was on the left. It carried over into BDSM. Bestowing of leathers was no different than bestowing of the coat of arms and symbols of authority of knights. The black, was color of choice for executioners and uniform of the Imperial countries, as blood does not show up as much on black rather than brown or another color.
Wearing these items, it was passed along to me, that we wore the black, wore our floggers and the 'uniform' per se, to honor those who came before us in paving the road for the community at large as well as being in a 'union' of fellow participants to which uniformity of principles and ideas we (in general) could all agree to.
Floggers are routed back into history, as well. Egyptian authority and enforcement of law was symbolized by holding a flail and only could be held by kings. The Roman flail, was associated with Christ's suffering before his crucifiction submitted to sadism, to blood as to have him renounce his faith and service to God. The Roman flail again was associated to Roman law and authority. The British "cat o nine" which is a flail was the Admiral's power and authority as it connected to the Crown. Muted, the modern flogger we know today is as symbolic to some of us as it was in ancient times.
Unfortunately, the meanings are not passed down to the next scene generation as it was in my salad days. However, there are many things borrowed from old times past, that just plain work and are common sense.
That said, it is my observation that each region, territory and group has different 'dressing' codes during the 1970s-1980s. The black was the formal and most appreciated. Now days, it seems the old timers like me wear the black but, it is very tempting to go extremely casual.
I agree-- clothing does not make a Master. Fetish wear is not worn inside an everyday M/s household. However, when we do wear the black we honor the past and present when we do. My whip skills do not deminish if I wear my undergarments (corset) or if I wear formal (long skirt, lace, 40-42 button length gloves) and or, if I wear my leather (Leather vest, cover, gloves, etc.)
Respectfully submitted for consideration,
Lady Hugs
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