Bondage lingerie for the look of restraint

An aesthetic first

Most people who buy bondage lingerie are not looking for equipment. They want the look: lines that cross the body, a waist pulled in, the suggestion that someone could hold on. Every piece here is made to be worn and photographed in the first place, and to play with second. That is why we use soft vegan leather, satin and strappy elastic rather than stiff hardware.

Three levels of intensity

• A hint. The Entrave Body Harness ($68) goes over anything you own, even a plain black slip.
• A statement. The Lien Noir Strappy Set ($129) and the Cage Strappy Bodysuit ($128) build the straps into the lingerie itself.
• Structure. The Etreinte Overbust Corset ($168) and the Taille Underbust Corset ($128) shape the whole torso and hold you upright all evening.

For a role to play, the Directrice Roleplay Set ($118) combines vegan leather with a stern silhouette.

Cuffs and the boxed set

If the evening goes beyond the look, the Menottes Satin Cuffs ($34) are soft enough for a first time and secure without being tight. The Coffret Lien ($159) is our couples box for this mood: a set plus two accessories, boxed with a handwritten card. Find all of the play pieces, including a blindfold and a lace mask, among our couples accessories. Agree on a word that stops everything before you start, and keep the cuffs loose enough to slide two fingers underneath.

Fit for straps and corsets

Strappy pieces should sit flat without cutting in. If a strap leaves a deep mark after ten minutes, it is a size too small. Corsets are sized by waist, so measure at the narrowest point and match it on our size guide; a corset should close with a small gap at the back on the first wear and close fully as it softens. For every corset we make, with lacing advice, see sexy corsets.

Vegan leather, satin and elastic compared

The material sets the tone of a bound look. Vegan leather is the most graphic: it has a soft sheen, holds its shape and creaks very slightly as you move, which many people love. It is wiped clean rather than washed. Satin is softer and more elegant, the right choice for a corset that will be worn for hours and for cuffs that should never mark the skin. Strappy elastic is the lightest and the most comfortable, ideal for a set that should feel like lingerie and look like restraint.

Mixing them works well: an elastic set under a vegan leather harness, satin cuffs with a leather corset.

What to wear underneath

A harness over bare skin is the strongest look. Over a sheer set it softens; see our body harness page for combinations. Corsets can be exchanged once for another size within 30 days of delivery if unworn and tagged. Strappy sets and bodysuits are final sale for hygiene.