Slipping In, Staying Sleek: The Art of Putting On Latex Clothing

Posted by Andrew Schroeder on March 22, 2018

Putting on clothing is something we all do every day. At this point in your life, it’s probably not a task that you spend a lot of time thinking about. Slipping into your work clothing as you stumble sleepily through your morning routine has become second nature.

Unfortunately, when it comes to latex clothing, especially full suits, it’s not the best idea to get dressed half-awake or let your body go on autopilot. Despite its durability, latex can tear, snag or stretch out of shape if not handled properly.

In addition, latex can be rather difficult to put on, especially if this is your first time doing so. In order to maintain their curve-hugging shape, most latex outfits do not feature any kind of interior lining. This means that the latex can sometimes bunch up or stick to your skin rather than sliding easily over it as you put the garment on.

Does all this sound a bit intimidating? Never fear! Putting on a latex outfit does require a few extra steps, but we’ve prepared this handy guide which outlines each step of the process in clear, thorough detail. With this article and a little practice, you’ll be a pro in no time, able to slip into even the most covering of full suits and step out into the world brimming with confidence!

Before You Get Dressed

Before you even take your latex outfit down from its hanger or out of its storage drawer, there are some important considerations to keep in mind. You want to take every precaution possible to avoid accidentally causing your latex to tear, snag, discolor or become damaged in any way.

We asked the staff here at Laidtex for a look at the personal checklists which they use every time they plan to get all rubbered up. The most important things to consider are listed below:

Make sure that your fingernails and toenails are short and trimmed. Long, jagged or uneven nails can catch on the latex and cause small tears or snags which can widen over time into permanent damage. To avoid this, keep your nails short and even at all times. When removing your latex outfit from storage, keep it balanced levelly on the palms of your hands or forearms rather than gripping with your fingers, which can cause your nails to dig into the material without you ever noticing.
Remove all jewelry (including watches). Similar to improperly maintained nails, the pointy metal or gemstones commonly found on necklaces, bracelets, rings or other jewelry can damage latex by catching, snagging or tearing. If you feel that it is necessary to add accessories to your latex ensemble, look into belts, collars or hairbands which are themselves made from latex. Woven or knitted jewelry pieces made from yarn, thread or soft cloth may also work, but make sure to avoid ALL items containing metal or stones.
Don’t layer with leather. On the surface, leather and latex may seem like a killer combination. After all, both feature a sexy aesthetic, sensual texture and association with dominance, submission and bondage. However, the majority of leather clothing pieces contain at least trace amounts of oils left over from the curing processes. If these oils come into context with latex for any length of time, they can cause the latex to break down or degrade. Alternate between latex and leather looks if you’re a fan of both, but stay away from mixing and matching!
Avoid anything with buttons, snaps, belt buckles, or other metal add-ons. Metals such as bronze, brass, and copper can cause discoloration when they come in contact with latex. These discolored patches are permanent and cannot be fixed with laundering or stain remover. For this reason, avoid layering latex clothing with buckled belts, jackets with metal buttons or snaps, or any other clothing containing metal. Additionally, avoid handling coins, especially pennies, while wearing latex. If your latex clothing happens to feature pockets, do not under any circumstances use them to store coins.
Embrace your natural musk – leave off the scents. Similar to leather, perfumes, colognes, and even some scented deodorants or antiperspirants contain oils which can potentially stain or damage latex. If you don’t feel comfortable going out without deodorant, stick to gentle, unscented varieties made from natural ingredients. Alternately, try out a dry powder such as talcum – as long as it’s made without any scented additives!
Ditch the underwear and go commando. If you’re wearing any kind of latex garment which covers the crotch area (and/or the chest area if you usually wear bras), leave the underwear off. While it’s unlikely that cotton or other plain fabric undergarments will damage the latex, even the skimpiest briefs or thinnest G-string will result in unattractive lines and bunches once you’re dressed. Let the latex do its intended duty and “go commando” to create a sleek, uninterrupted silhouette which highlights your body’s natural beauty. (If you do feel you need undergarments; however, try looking into specially made latex bras or underwear, and pair them with less restrictive latex outfits such as vests, jackets or skirts.)
Shave, shave, shave! Some people like the feeling of smooth latex rubbing against rough body hair. If that’s your thing, it’s totally fine to go au natural! However, if you are wearing full latex for the first time, we recommend shaving, especially in sensitive areas such as the chest or genitals. Hair and latex rubbing together can sometimes create uncomfortable friction, especially if you will be dancing or otherwise moving around a lot. As sharp, “stubby” newly regrown hairs are especially rough, we recommend shaving no earlier than 24 hours before you plan to dress in latex.
Be clean, bathed and prepared. Some natural skin oils can harm latex in a similar manner to the oils carried by leather clothing or scented deodorants. Therefore, it is recommended that you take a bath or shower, exfoliate, wash your hair, and otherwise thoroughly clean your body before putting on your latex clothing. Additionally, wearing latex in hot or humid weather or for long periods of time can cause you to sweat, so you want to remove any pre-existing sweat from your body to avoid feeling uncomfortably sticky during the day.
Wear gloves during the dressing process. As mentioned above, certain natural skin oils can be harmful to latex, causing discoloration, wear, or other permanent damage. Even if you have cleaned off beforehand, it may be a good idea to wear a pair of latex gloves while you are getting dressed. If your outfit doesn’t happen to include gloves, disposable latex medical gloves can be purchased in bulk for a fairly low price at many stores such as those selling hardware or gardening tools.

While this list of rules may seem long and daunting, over time, remembering these pointers will become second nature to you. If necessary, write a checklist to manually check off each time you are preparing to put on your favorite latex suit. If you follow these rules carefully, your latex suit, dress or outfit can survive for years and years while still looking as pristine as the day it first arrived on your doorstep!

Satisfying Slick Slide: The Importance of Lubrication

As we mentioned earlier, latex clothing does not feature an interior lining to make it slip across the skin more easily. Therefore, if you put on a latex outfit, especially a suit, without any kind of dressing aid, you will find it catching on or sticking to your skin. In your frustration, you might stretch or tear the outfit – or even, worst of all, decide that putting it on is totally impossible and simply give up!

Luckily, there is a simple solution. You may have noticed in the previous paragraph that we mentioned dressing aids. Now what are those? you might ask. Well, we’ve got the answer for you!

Dressing aids are a type of lubrication which removes latex’s tendency to stick to your skin and instead helps it slide smoothly along your arms, legs and body. Typically, one of two types of dressing aid is used when putting on a piece of latex clothing. The first is a dry powder, usually made from a substance such as talcum, while the second is a wet silicone-based liquid.

If you’re new to rubberism, we recommend experimenting with both types of lubricant in order to figure out which one works best for you. To help you out, we’ve included a brief description of each type and how to best use it below:

Dry Lube: Talcum Powder

Dry lube is found in the form of powder made from the mineral talc (referred to commercially as talcum powder). Talc is the softest naturally occurring mineral on Earth. It is used in a number of skincare products due to its ability to absorb excess moisture and to make the skin feel smooth. Talc is so gentle that it is proven safe to use on even the most sensitive of skin – it is for this reason that talc is the primary ingredient in most baby powders.

When choosing a powder, make sure that it is either pure talc or that talc is the primary ingredient with minimal additives. Some baby powders and other talc-based skincare products add perfumes, scents or oils which can cause permanent damage to latex clothing.

As powders can get everywhere and be a bit messy, we recommend getting dressed in an area which will be easy to clean and sweep, such as a tiled bathroom. Turn the latex garment inside out and dust it thoroughly with a thin layer of talcum powder. If you wish, you may also rub a small amount of talcum powder into your hands, arms or other parts of your body, especially if you have chosen not to shave beforehand.

When you are done wearing your latex, it is acceptable to hang it up or put it back into storage with some residual talcum powder remaining. Talcum powder will actually help keep the latex dry between wearings, preventing the growth of unpleasant substances such as mold and mildew.

Wet Lube: Silicone-Based Liquid

Many types of wet lube are currently sold; however, the only kind which you should be using to assist you in putting on your latex are those made from silicone oil. Silicone oil has been proven not to cause any damage or harm to latex, while many other types, especially perfumes or scent additives, can result in permanent discoloration. Many lubricant brands, such as Pjur Cult, sell types of silicone lube specifically marketed as a dressing aid to be used with latex clothing.

As with dry lube, start by turning the latex garment inside out. Spread a thin layer of the silicone lubricant onto the interior of the piece. Be careful to avoid using too much, as this can cause the lubricant to be slow to dry and feel wet and uncomfortable on your skin for several hours.

Unlike talcum powder, silicone lube is not safe to leave on your outfit after you have taken it off. The latex should be kept as dry as possible to avoid mold or mildew. Clean the latex thoroughly to remove all traces of silicone oil before storing it or hanging it up.

In addition, if you are wearing a piece of latex clothing which can only be put on over the head (such as a tank top or zipper-less dress) you should not use liquid lubricant. Silicone-based lubes are extremely difficult to clean out of your hair, and can leave a nasty, sticky residue for hours. Use liquid lubricant only if your latex outfit of choice can be put on feet first.

Getting Around to Putting it On

Once your latex outfit is all lubed up, it’s time to get dressed! The Laidtex staff was unanimous in regards to their number one piece of advice for this step: take it slow. There’s no rush. Give yourself plenty of time. Moving too fast can result in the latex bunching up or being forced to stretch too much or too quickly, possibly causing permanent damage. Take your time – allow yourself to enjoy the slick, smooth feeling of the lubed-up latex gliding over your body.

Unless the piece of clothing prevents it (such as shirts or some dresses as discussed above), start with the feet and work upwards. Move slowly, making sure each part of your body is secure in the garment before moving on to the next one. Make frequent checks for wrinkles, bunched up or baggy spots, and any other potential irregularities.

If the latex gets “stuck” on any part of your body, move it along with a series of small push and shift motions. DO NOT under any circumstances pull on any part of your latex outfit! This can cause it to permanently deform by stretching too much.

If you find yourself needing to stretch out any part of the garment (such as a pants leg or the neck hole of a shirt) you may do so by inserting the backs of your hands into the garment and slowly and gently widening it to the proper size. You should always use the backs of your hands to avoid getting your nails caught and tearing the material.

In situations where you are having a lot of difficulty or putting on the latex begins to seem impossible, we recommend warming it up before getting dressed. Warm latex will be more supple and forgiving, and can also stretch slightly further without the risk of permanent deformation. To accomplish this, place your latex in a warm, dry environment (such as under an indoor light, near a heater or on top of an active clothes dryer) for at least one hour prior to getting dressed.

Fluorescent light is ideal for warming up your latex. DO NOT under any circumstances attempt to warm up your latex by placing it in direct sunlight, such as next to a window. This will cause the deep, intense color of your latex clothing to fade very quickly, and will soon ruin the aesthetic appeal of the outfit you have chosen.

Sleek and Shiny

Once you are fully dressed, there is one last necessary step before you can paint the town or hit the club. When you first purchase a latex garment, you may notice that it is not nearly as shiny as you would normally expect latex to be. The truth is, most latex starts out fairly dull and gains shine over time with regular use.

However, nobody wants to be seen in a dull, flat-looking latex ensemble. To avoid this, each time you get dressed, apply a shining agent to your outfit. This is what gives latex the “slick,” sexy look for which it is commonly known.

Some silicone-based liquid lubes can also double as a shining agent. In addition, you can purchase shine sprays specifically designed to give latex that extra sparkle. (Once again, the brand Pjur Cult remains a popular favorite of the rubberist community.) As always, avoid anything with added scents, perfumes, or other ingredients, such as baby oil or cornstarch, which can be damaging to latex. As with lubricant, silicone oil is a recommended base material because it does not leave a greasy film on the latex when it dries.

Thoroughly coat your latex outfit in a thin layer of shining agent, making sure that you do not miss any areas. If you are wearing a full-body suit, ask a friend or partner for help shining up hard to reach areas such as the back. Let your shiner dry for several minutes before going out in public – improperly dried shining agent can rub off onto and stain other people’s clothes, hair or skin. If you’re going to be dancing at a club or playing around with your partner in bed, it’s especially important that you make sure you are completely dry before initiating any contact!

Apply the shining agent either outside or in a thoroughly aired-out space in order to avoid potentially breathing in harsh fumes. If you are going to be wearing latex for a long period of time, such as a full day, it is recommended that you keep a small bottle of shining agent on your person in case you should need to touch up any dull spots throughout the day.

You may also wish to add a bit of extra shine by buffing or polishing your latex outfit with a soft cloth. However, you should avoid any type of cloths which “shed” or hold onto lint, such as tissues or standard washcloths. Glasses cleaning cloths, which are specifically designed not to damage sensitive surfaces, are the recommended option here. Use a plain, dry cloth – DO NOT wet it with water or any soap, detergent or oil, as all of these can cause permanent damage.

That’s it! You’re all dressed up in latex – and we bet you’ve got somewhere to go! So hold your head high and stride confidently out in your lubed-up, shined-up latex garment! And when you get home, head on over to our article on “Maintaining, Cleaning and Storing Latex” found here to help you properly prepare your outfit for its next wearing.

If you have any further questions about how to put on a latex outfit, choosing the right lube or shine spray, or more, contact us here at Laidtex at any time. And, of course, check out our extensive catalog of fashionable, high-quality latex suits, shirts, pants, dresses, and more found here. It’s always the right time to add some shiny new latex to your fabulous collection!

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