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The shop I went to is a place called Kink, just off Kloof Street. It was lovely. Lace and frills and leather and PVC and ultra-modern furniture and antique lampshades and lingerie and phalluses and all sorts of squiggles and balls and beads.
And a bar!
How cool is that? Apparently they serve drinks every day from five pm. Guess a little lubrication of the alcoholic sort makes it easier to get your freak on. Anyway, I was impressed. But wait, there's more! Apparently they have all sorts of sexy events and stuff. Sadly I missed the James Bondage party. But wild horses won't keep me away from Miss Noble's teachings.
I know. It's a dirty job, but someone's got to do it.
What really struck me (besides the bar obviously) was how stylish and pretty everything was. My personal favourite – the OhmiBod (a vibrator that syncs with your iPod! Ha-ha) is sleek and slick and v cool.
And then I saw the prices! Sheesh-kebab. Very pretty and very expensive. The bodiPod thingy cost around R1,300. Which made me wonder if Apple Inc. designs them? A delightful but very tiny bottle of lube for around R150? An underwear set for R1,200? Massage oil for R480?
It seems you definitely pay for the classy setting and the pretty packaging.
Which got me thinking… Are we still so intimidated/ alienated/ grossed out by the male dominated world of sex that we're willing to pay these exorbitant amounts just to avoid the sleaze? And if so, does this not make these new "women-oriented" shops exploitative? Or do we just love pretty, and expensive things. What do you think?
In the mean time, with my journalist's salary, I guess I'll have to be heading back to seedy but steady Adult World. But I definitely know where I'm having my next drink...
Have you been to one of these ultra-stylish sex shops? And do you agree the items are overpriced?
