Earshot 1997



The Rubber Ball
Psydde Delicious - unleashed at Skin Two's annual fest.

So, do you dress expecting the room to be well heated (catering to those wearing only harnesses and G-strings or strategically placed pieces of duct tape), or do you dress expecting the room to be well air conditioned (catering to those in multiple layers of latex, leather armor, or body bags and face hoods)?

This was the question I kept asking myself while trying to prepare for this year's Rubber Ball. The Skin Two Rubber Ball, the largest fetish event in the world, was held on Oct. 28 at the Hammersmith Palais in London. Skin Two, which is the leading fetish publication on the market, certainly does not take throwing a ball lightly. The Rubber Ball is now in its fifth year, and has in the past attracted such well known party-goers as Mick Jagger and Jean-Paul Gaultier among it's 3,000-plus attendees.

Upon arrival, guests entered through a velvet-roped stretch of pavement into the Palais. Photographers stood poised just outside the transformed concert hall snapping photos as each leather nun, rubber nurse and French maid entered. Crowds formed outside quite early to gawk at the outrageously costumed masses, or to attempt to buy or sell last minute admittance to the event. The first unavoidable thing everyone noticed was the size of the queue for coat check - well, that and the guy wearing nothing but Saran Wrap and frankfurter roll.

The crowd patiently and expertly maneuvered themselves through the club in 2-foot platforms, fetters, rubber tails, and other costume hindrances. There was a sense of camaraderie among everyone there that night; one of the few nights when anyone could go out with their most private fetish on display for all to see, and not have to worry about being bludgeoned in a corner - unless, of course, that happened to be your fetish. There were people tied to themselves, to other people, to large inanimate objects, and to fixtures of the building. The people wearing inflated condoms and layers of bubble wrap tended to keep their distance from those spiked bustiers and horned cod pieces, but otherwise the crowd mingled quite nicely - even the stormtroopers and latex police officers.

The theme of the evening was "Circus of Desire: desire is the hunger of the soul, a constant earnest longing" - a little hokey, but well executed. The front foyer was filled with slide-show exhibits/exhibitionists, both caged and uncaged. Siamese twins, stilt-walking robots, palmists and tarot readers were only some of the entertainment provided by the Rubber Nipple Club Organization. Soda and popcorn were sold by vendors behind fairground style vending carts, and at the main stage a giant roaring tiger head was constructed through which performers would enter and exit.

Michelle Olley, the features editor of Skin Two magazine, coordinated the fashion show and acted as hostess/emcee throughout the evening. Olley was outfitted in pony ears and tail created by STAN of London, and clomped around in wonderful hoofed shoes designed by Fleur Oakes. She was accompanied by a corral of circus-animal-inspired assistants, from corseted tigresses to mohawked zebras.

The most interesting performance of the night was by designer Suzie Le Broq. Le Broq created cast metal plates molded from various body parts which she then had belted and strapped to her model like a crumbling suit of armor.
The United States was represented this year by CJ Leather from Colorado, Dark Garden from San Francisco, and Black Eagle Leather from Pasadena, CA. Also there but not performing in the show were Chicago's House of Whacks crew, and, of course, Philadelphia's-own Delicious Corsets, with our insect-inspired collection of corsetry. Other guests arrived from Detroit, Los Angeles, Toronto, Australia, and all parts of Europe.

Over 16,000 pounds ($24,000) was raised for CRUSAID, the major AIDS charity in the United Kingdom. When asked about any changes for next year's Rubber Ball, Olley responded, "Only the dress code. Formal wear will no longer be permitted... there were too many black suits."

- P.D.