Spandex is a type of material that stretches and provides a tight, form fitting outline when worn. While spandex itself is a particular type of fiber, it is often combined with other fibers to give an additional level of comfort and practical use. The desire for these types of materials in a sexual sense is known as spandex fetishism. Spandex fetishism commonly takes the form of appreciating and engaging with others that are wearing spandex, although personal-stimulation in an autonomous sense is not unheard of.
There are a number of elements that go toward the fetishism of spandex and a wide, varied range of justifications and reasons for it. The largest element and most commonly cited explanation is the fact that spandex provides a particularly tight, form fitting aesthetic to the wearer. This can give the appearance of the individual being naked, or otherwise outlines and shows their body shape. A small subset of the spandex fetishism community may also find that the occurrence of a camel toe is more likely to occur when spandex is worn. This ‘second skin’ theme is common across other types of clothing as well, and may partly explain elements of fetishism in gloves and pantyhose.
A second element of fetishism in spandex wearers may relate to the purpose of wearing the spandex. One primary purpose of spandex is for sporting purposes. The tight nature of the fabric means that there’s less likelihood of being caught on equipment or otherwise impeded by fabric that isn’t skin-tight. Spandex is popular in swimming, ballet, cycling, Olympic weightlifting and other physical sports. A fetishism of these activities may also provide a backdrop for spandex fetishists – especially those that have a direct erotic fascination with muscles. Naturally, sport-based spandex wearers are more likely to be athletic in appearance, something that is highly associated with sexual desirability.
Thirdly, spandex can be considered sexual for its feel and interaction. An individual wearing spandex that engages sexually with another may find it easy to strip down or otherwise provide access to their genitalia. This apparent lack of barrier can be seen as sexually arousing, owing to the proximate level of accessibility. Spandex admirers will also potentially enjoy the feel of spandex against their skin when they touch and interact with it. The material is silky in texture and smooth to the touch – it’s also almost always universally consistent.
Spandex fetishists may also enjoy autonomous engagement with spandex material. Women may find that the tight-fitting nature of spandex can stimulate their clitoris and males, to some extent, may also enjoy the stimulation of clothing with a tight grip around their genitals. For the purposes of masturbation, a male may enjoy using an item of spandex clothing to assist. This typically involves removing skin-to-skin contact with the penis and instead, using the clothing as a form of makeshift glove. Masturbation using spandex may be more erotic and enjoyable if the item of clothing has been worn by another individual.
A full-body outfit made of spandex is known as a zentai. Originally of Japanese origin, zentais are seen in various sporting circles, animes and cosplay outfits. While zentais are not always sexual in nature, their application within the BDSM community is quite often sexual in nature. Zentais cover the individual from head to toe – this coverage may be of particular enjoyment for individuals, as those wearing them can be practically anonymous while doing so.
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