Great news for 50 Shades or general vampire fiction enthusiasts: whether you merely enjoy some light choking and hair pulling during physical intimacy, or built a full red room into your apartment basement with whips aplenty, a new study has shown that those who prefer to engage in BDSM have better sex.
According to new research in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, those favoring BDSM (that is, bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, and sadomasochism) tend have better sexual satisfaction, and generally less problems in the bedroom. Those who are increasingly open about their sexuality also allegedly enjoy healthier sex lives, and do not have the relationship to pathology or psychology issues that has often been portrayed in the media.
And the more sexually open our generation becomes, the more that sexuality filters into other areas of culture—most visibly, fashion. Latex, pleather, and vinyl, materials traditionally associated with ‘sexual deviants’ (sex workers, dominatrixes, and amateur BDSM practitioners) has in recent years been embraced by the mainstream. This is in no small way due to its effectiveness in flattering bodily curves and ushering of a new beauty standard that privileges larger breasts and hips. Consequently, it’s now preferred by the most influential celebrities on the planet (primarily, the Kardashian-Jenner sisters) and with fast fashion following closely behind. Just today, Jenner revealed her Interview Germany cover, for which she donned a latex red body suit and matching gloves.
In case you’re thinking of embracing your kinkier side, in or out of the bedroom, we compiled the best BDSM-inspired pieces to get you started—and sweating.