What is up with the boots?Whether a perv is straight, gay, or anywhere inbetween, the fetishization of BOOTS holds a prominent place within the kink canon.
Why is that?
Although not all S&Mer's get mezmerized by the leather and the seams, it's obvious that the heavy sculptures on our feet are typical points of attention and worship. Not only do I appreciate most fetishes because they're fetishes--I am obsessed by the concept/meaning of obsessions....is that a fetish?--but I like attempting to gain a general understanding as to WHY certain things mark themselves, brand-like, upon an individual's libido.
Can I, or anyone else, gain a full, 100% grip on understanding a fetish? Nah.
Too many people with too many reasons for having a fetish. An infinite number of personal histories, experiences, exposures, and combinations of those mean that pinpointing a certain formula for any fetish is futile. But that doesn't mean that I won't bother to get a few general nuggets of information. And if I'm a glutton for anything, it's for entertaining and insightful information.
So, how come boots are so special?
Boots hold facist implications. They hint at order, discipline, hardness, tradition, authority. Black leather, for example, holds a duel meaning now in our culture: it's threatening, sinister, subversive; it can also mean protection. Leather, if you didn't know, is an ancient absolute texture that's been fetishized for centuries. The smell, the feel, the look all mean seriousness with a whiff of the forbidden (secret ideas and serious purposes, unseemly desires). Rubber, vinyl, and plastic look and feel completely different, redefining what boots are and what boot fetishization can be defined as. Leather, at it's base, is natural and serves as a second skin. Rubber (although it comes from trees), vinyl, and plastic are, when worn, symbols of fabrication and the artificial--these are not extentions of ourselves or the natural world as we immediately know it. To have those materials visable on our lower limbs implies nowness or futurism while giving the wearer a particular androidal or robotic appearance (see "Bladerunner", "The Matrix", the "Underworld" films, etc.).Looking at someone's boots can tell us a few things about them, whether they tend to be traditional, forward-thinking, or a combination of both. Where is their head at? It may help to look at their feet. What are they willing to tell us about themselves? What information are they sharing with the outside world? How do they imagine/envision themselves?
Boots, despite their links to fascism, power, and anonymity, transform the body in an individual way. Foot fetishists are often boot fetishists for obvious reasons. The feet are transformed as are the legs--boots have a tendancy to harden our appearances. We become reshaped. Everyone looks improved in boots and, when we wear them, we all look great in completely different ways. They become extentions of ourselves and carry our unique histories and body secretions along with them (google, also, underwear fetishization; same difference).
Where have you visited? How busy have you been? Do you have a tendency to hold onto things? The soles of their boots will tell you.Who are you? What do you do? What size are you? What are you made of, chemically?
The inside and the outside of boots tell us plenty of information no matter how anonymous or how inhuman the design and material may be.
Boots are a perfect and powerful armour but, also, give up plenty of intimate personal details if the worshipper investigates. The fact that they tend to be aesthetically beautiful clearly adds to their appeal. The powerful natural/unnatural materials that boots are made of, along with their often threatening looking designs, turn bodywear/footwear into works of art to be admired, adored, threatened with (boots can stomp you, kick you, smash you, etc.), and humilated with. "Kiss my boots, slave!" How many times have we seen this in over-the-top action, scifi, and fantasy films, comics, fairy tales, books? It means the absolute subjugation of a submissive to some sort of wicked or dominant power figure. No wonder this is such a typical BDSM activity.... Not only do boots have to do with foot worship but they also carry a culturally traditional sign of dominance. Yet boots are a part of uniforms--they can mean bondage to an idea or institution which is why we seen them worn by submissives as well as dominants. Boots can be formal and ALWAYS point at purpose whether that purpose is to follow orders or to make commandments.
I believe that the foundation of boot fetishization stems from the duality of an anonymous armour and design concept sharing space with the highly personal (the fetishization of particular materials such as leather, vinyl, rubber, etc. is a whole different subject that I'll dip into further on another writing later on). Boots transform us based on the visual ideas and materials of others while also sharing our individual secrets, purposes, and chemistries.Boots are the perfect example of S&M wear because they are both extremely guarding/constricting and, in their own way, incredibly revealing.
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