Book excerpt: Brilliant Times for Skintight Outfits Whether vinyl, PVC, or patent, rubber, spandex or latex, shiny skintight clothing has mostly been seen as slutty, whorish and vulgar. But since international stars have been sporting extravagant latex attire, skintight and shiny is now worn on the street, at the club and even in audience with royalty. Musicians are on the cutting edge of this trend. Recent out of the closet latex fans include Katy Perry and Beyonce: one dancing on stage in a candy colored pleather mini dress, the other on TV in a revealing American flag inspired latex outfit. In her latest video Christina Aguilera sprawls in a dark rubber and leather costume, and in fat-positive defiance of the current ideal of beauty, Karl Lagerfeld's sex-cracker muse Beth Ditto, squeezes herself into a shocking pink latex cat suit. But music's most recognizable ambassador of the slick and tight is surely Lady Gaga. For her audience with the Queen of England, she audaciously decided to wear an opulent red latex dress by designer Atsuko Kudo. We can happily bid adieu to the days of baggy shirts and cotton leggings. Even Burlesque's nostalgia for the square days of old is giving way to this new love of extravagance and experimentation. What only turned on goths, new wave fans and fetishists is now consumed and adapted by the mainstream for itself. Even Vogue magazine takes up the cudgel for these formerly freakish and ghettoized materials. In an online article, they write: "Be naughty and you sit in the spotlight. Times change. Trends change. The fetish-look is no longer relegated to the silent room, but with raised head (it is) carrying a lot of style and a charming wink. The fun of fashion with previously taboo material such as latex paint and leather outfits is standing in the foreground." For Latex Fashion Photography GOLIATH PUBLISHING brought together the best and most interesting latex fashion labels from across the world, drawing from the trendy, the fashionable and the erotic. On 384 pages more than 60 photographers portray the unique creations and clothes of designers such as Atsuko Kudo (designer to Lady Gaga, Eva Mendes, Kate Moss and more), and Berlin label Tres Bonjour (designer to Katy Perry). Over 30 of the most famous fetish models, among them Ulorin Vex, Eden, Bianca Beauchamp and Mosh, present themselves as latex punks, rock n roll riot girls, modern pinups, and space girls and femmes fatales. !! Continues below at Section Contributors !!!!