When Kinky Meets Glam — Discover S&M-Flavored FINERBLACK Jewelry
EL James, author of Fifty Shades of Grey, was hardly the first person to explore the idea of a fine line existing between pleasure and pain. Famed author Anne Rice, for instance, once wrote, “The only pain in pleasure is the pleasure of the pain,” while footwear mastermind Christian Louboutin applied the concept to the fashion realm, saying, “High heels are pleasure with pain.” And, of course, there’s Marquis de Sade, who wrote, “It is always by pain that one arrives at pleasure.”But, of course, the hurst-so-good ideology is open to interpretation — and, even those who believe there’s a degree of truth to the purported connection between the two sensations will argue that this linkage is highly subjective, that the amount of emotional or physical pain from which pleasure can be derived will vary from one individual to the next. In a bedroom context, one person might enjoy a bit of hair-pulling, a quick love bite, or fingernails digging into flesh while others (case in point: those into BDSM) will resort to spanking, flogging, and other more extreme pain-inducing instruments. These notions — the contrast between pleasure and pain, the ever-shifting line between what’s considered passionate and what is deemed seedy, and the similarly tenuous distinction between confident and abrasive, bold and impudent, assertive and belligerent, emphatic and combative — all seem to inform the overarching aesthetic of FINERBLACK, a jewelry line developed by Berlin-based Italian designer and artist Alessia Flavia Vitale.
Many of the necklaces and body chains, which you can see above, nod to S&M practices but they’re never a full-on literal homage. A chunky, oxidized gunmetal chain, for instance, might be softened by a floral embellishment or charming ribbon strands. Take, for instance, the FINERBLACK Illusion Charm Necklace ($158.43 at Finerblack.com), shown second above, features a white-and-gold shaded chain that can be worn alone, as a choker, or with the three layers of gold- and platinum-colored chains and the detachable charm flower pendant included. The chain trio, meanwhile, can be worn in various ways — including as a belt, as a cross-body piece, and so forth. When worn as shown, the effect is feisty but feminine, with the chains adding a dangerous feel and the flower diminishing this effect, creating an interesting visual tension.
Similarly the FINERBLACK Whispers Choker ($137.17 at Finerblack.com), shown fourth above, incorporates an off-white fabric flower pendant with golden and white glitter to infuse a classy sensuality to bolder elements: the two white-and-gold shaded aluminum chains comprising the choker portion of the necklace, the golden circlets that sit at the base of the neck, and the more risqué platinum-colored leash chain.
The vibe achieved by the floral embellishments changes slightly when these are fabricated out of leather, which we tend to associate with more illicit and rebellious fare. Check out the FINERBLACK Balance Charm Choker ($169.06 at Finerblack.com), shown last above, which features a detachable black leather charm pendant for a more forbidden feel. This, in turn, matches the lethal vibe of the brass-toned, hammered metal claw along the front, attached to the layered chain portion of the choker (comprised of two thick polished gunmetal chains and two thin golden polished chains). It’s one of my personal favorites, with an aura that’s romantic but gothic, sinister but sexy.
Those who like their jewelry to walk on the wild side, meanwhile, can eschew the floral motifs and head straight for the chunky chains, ring charms, horns and claws. Another favorite piece, the FINERBLACK All The Forbidden Things Choker ($137.17 at Finerblack.com) shown at top, is made of a lightweight shiny aluminum shade in a red pomegranate color and features a large burnished gunmetal central ring and a matching horn pendant dangling from one end of the chain. The piece is designed to be worn in multiple ways so that the chain can be wrapped around the neck twice (as shown above) for a choker effect or worn loose for more of a leash-like look.
If you want your jewelry to play really rough, meanwhile, check out the FINERBLACK Tame Me If You Can (€259 at Finerblack.com), shown third above, a body chain with a decidedly BDSM inspiration. The upper portion of the piece resembles an asymmetrical shoulder harness thanks to the manner in which the two polished purple and light gunmetal aluminum chains comprising the choker necklace then attach to chains that drape over the shoulder in an almost epaulet-like fashion. This upper portion, however, connects to longer body chains that are meant to be worn across the body, like a bandoleer. This bandoleer attachment, then, features a long purple chain with structured knots, a thinner chain in a golden shade, and two short palladium chains that hang like fringe from the central ring.
You decide how far you want to take it! No safe words needed!
