Oh man, I felt hot the other day. Or night, as I went out for a concert, alone.
It was quite literally hot: The concert took place in a small-ish bar, and as more people gathered, wearing my leather trenchcoat soon became too much.
I took off my sweater as well, ending up in my trusted ribbed black tank top, paired with black trousers, which fit me kind of snug and high on the waist.
I also wore my previously mentioned black patent knee high leather boots, as described here:
My only thought that night was that I felt like wearing all black. I wanted a heavy, smoky eye. And I wanted sexy textures: Leather, both the smooth and the shiny kind.
The concert, or, in fact it was a concert night featuring three bands, was great. Moody post-punk, twangy surfrock, energic punkrock. And I felt great.
I don´t go out as much as I used to, saving late nights for when I really want to hear some good music, eat some good food, and/or dance.
And I usually go out with other people. But not this night. I am no stranger to going out by myself, either to a restaurant or the cinema or to the opera (where I was the night before), but sometimes, it can feel a bit awkward.
Like a concert: Attending alone, just…standing there, solo, the seats in the bar already occupied, waiting for the bands to start playing.
But I felt very comfortable this night, just standing there.
I had a nice glass of red wine. I did not check my phone for digital company. I swayed along to the music as the bands started playing, and the music put a smile on my face.
This feeling struck me as a contrast to how I´ve felt in situations like this before: Becoming self-conscious, feeling as though others are watching me.
This night, I was watching them.
And I felt hot, in every sense of the word.
Which made me think about how I´ve been slowly gathering images on Pinterest, simply under the theme: “Sexy”. Not actively putting together a board, just pinning images here and there, which I find sexy.
They are almost all of women, and they are predominately dressed in black, with more than a hint of some androgynous sensuousness, the softness and sharpness in balance, like this:
Speaking of Ann Demeulemeester, I have pinned several pictures of Patti Smith. The way she carries herself, and her clothes, I find really sexy, in a very strong and honest way:
Some are just of faces, some men are also featured, and some are more about the person´s gaze than what they are wearing.
Most of the pictures convey some sort of mysterious, dark and sensual vibe, a person posing, but sexy can also appear in motion, in daylight, the way a woman´s arms take control of her bike:
Is her eyes closed in this photo? Does she know she is being photographed, looked at?
So. What looks sexy, to me?
I find black sexy, maybe set in contrast to a stark white. I find structured yet comfortable silhouettes sexy. Material wise, I find silk and leather sexy, maybe a crushed velvet or a subtle lace. I find my chest and shoulders sexy. Knee high boots, thigh high stockings, a choker necklace, dark red nailpolish.
Hey, nothing original, but very true. And it can all be incorporated into daily life.
But feeling sexy?
It´s so connected to sensuousness, being present in my body, my senses activated, getting out of my head, taking in the space and the smells and the sounds around me, being comfortable in what I´m wearing.
Like a simple black tank top, and a pair of knee high leather boots. And a warm, spicy, smoky perfume.
How about you?
Nowadays, when I'm older and don't wear spike heels and tiny little skirts, it's all about starting from the inside out. Bathing, lingerie - and then keeping it simple and slightly revealing on top. And yes, black, absolutely.