I want you to listen to me and listen good. Now is the time to be bold. Life is unexpected, I mean who would have thought 2020 would be the dumpster fire we’re currently suffering in? So we’re giving you the go ahead to channel your inner bad girl and one of the best ways you can do that is through fearless and freaky fashion—A.K.A body harnesses.
Body harnesses first came into fashion during the mid-1970s, after Vivienne Westwood established the punk shop SEX and brought bondage to the boutique. Body harnesses take inspiration from the BDSM subculture, mimicking rope tie configurations found in shibari. It was a staple of the punk fashion movement and fetish wear is still worn today by many celebrities, from Madonna to Lady Gaga even Taylor Swift, in both the bedroom and the streets.
Although many major fashion brands include body harnesses in their runway shows, you don’t need to be rich and famous to afford one. Many brands, including some of our favorites like Killstar, ASOS and Tibbs and Bones, sell affordable yet edgy body harnesses. These harnesses come in both leather and faux leather, and unlike their punk predecessors, can be made in pastels and ornamented in rhinestones, roses or chains. Other brands also make body harnesses made of elastic, such as Star Creations, which come in a variety of styles for your chest, hips and legs.
The key to rocking a body harness is confidence. Whether you’re just wearing it with some lingerie for your boyfriend or layering it over an ensemble for a night out, you need to wear it with your head held high. Body harnesses are not for the shy and meek, they’re for badass babes who don’t mind having a few eyes on them and getting a disapproving stare every so often. On the other hand, if you’ve found yourself on Rebel Circus, you’re probably used to this kind of attention anyways.
