The Baroness' Elegant, Provocative Latex Clothing: About UsThe Baroness is New York's premier designer of elegant and provocative latex fashions. She views her designs as beyond fashion or fetish attire, and believes they are "the perfect antidote for excess conventionalism". In her lifetime dedication to the expression of the individual through clothing, The Baroness has evolved as a renowned designer, fetish expert, performer, writer, and lecturer. She is currently writing a book with the working title: "Taking Control; the Art of Female Dominance".
The Baroness' Elegant and Provocative Latex Fashions range from sophisticated and formal to daring and casual. Designing for both women and men, her creations are fun, sensual, attractive, and unique. The Baroness makes clothing for people who really like to dress.
"I like to wear latex every day and for all occasions and so I design with a variety of outings in mind, such as going to the opera, night-clubbing or shopping". The Baroness' women's line consists of over 40 pieces, from casual tops and trousers, jackets and capes, to evening wear such as dresses, gowns and frock coats. Her men's line includes T-shirts, tank tops, vests, biker shorts, and leggings."
Known for her high quality work, The Baroness is a purist when it comes to latex. She chooses medium gauge sheet latex for its durability and drape, achieving a luxurious, lasting quality that cannot be achieved by molded latex. All seams are glued for a smooth, subtle finish and stress points are reinforced with rivets.
The Baroness stands apart from other latex designers because of her use of color. The Baroness' provocative latex fashions are currently available in six different choices: Emerald Green, Ruby Red, Onyx Black, Amethyst Purple, Ivory White, and "V.S." Pink.
Believing that latex should be worn by every figure type, The Baroness designs and sizes her garments to flatter and accommodate the curves of the feminine form (and now the angles men's shapes too).
Her creations can be seen in fetish and trend-setting stores in New York and cities nationwide. The majority of her sales, however, are through her lavish and exquisitely photographed on-line catalogue on her award-winning web site.
The Baroness creations have been featured in all major fetish magazines and countless other publications including Interview, Notorious and Detour, which featured Kim Bassinger in a blue latex Governess dress.
While most of her sales are through her online store, The Baroness opened a new boutique in New York's East Village in December 2004. Located at 530B East 13th St., this is the city's only boutique devoted exclusively to latex clothing.
The True Story of The BaronessFrom early childhood The Baroness was destined to pursue a life of fashion. At the age of ten, inspired to action by the glamour and pageantry of Busby Berkeley musical extravaganzas, she borrowed a sewing machine and, in one afternoon, made a jacket and a too-tight skirt. At 13 she was arrested for making American flag shirts, on which she had painstakingly painted the stars and stripes.
In the era of the female power suit, the late 70's and early 80's, The Baroness was designing lingerie. Her company, Varx, produced a unique line inspired by Neo 60's, punk, and Victorian fashions. Her designs and inspired use of fabrics earned her recognition as one of the New Breed by BF/IA and Dupont who referred to her creations as "wearable works of art". Her exotic fashion shows were performed at the trend-setting Mudd Club and The Ritz.
In 1983, for the cover of Time magazine she built a kimono that now hangs in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC. At about this time she was lured to the fantasy world of Broadway and Hollywood where she worked with the likes of Merchant-Ivory, Madonna, Jack Nicholson and Paul Newman using her skills to create illusion and enhance character through clothing.
A decision to leave the film world and spend more time in New York City meant more time for her new passion, latex. Her penchant for the exotic and years of experimenting with unusual materials like plastic, vinyl and PVC led her quite naturally to this truly sensual material. The inception of The Baroness formalized her obsession and introduced her to the public where she enjoys celebrity status as a designer, multimedia performer, spokesperson and lecturer. She is widely known as a speaker on the subjects of clothing, power, and fetishes.
The Baroness was featured on HBO's Real Sex, and has been interviewed for countless radio programs and magazine articles since 1985.