Revving up Valentine’s Day
REALISE YOUR FANTASIES: EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS
Wet look or faux leather are the fads this year, but so is erotic role-play to add spice.
It’s a day of flowers, cheesy cards and expensive restaurant bookings. But there’s no reason why a picnic or candle-lit dinner at home, followed by some naughty gifts and fun couldn’t outperform anyone’s expectations of a romantic and sensual night at home.
Valentine’s Day’s stock standards are flowers, chocolates and lingerie. But things are changing, said online retailer Sexy Curves’ Priscilla Olivier.
“In recent years there has been a definite increase in demand for items that add to the experience, for instance massage candles and oils, satin blindfolds, couple’s toys, adult games, body paints, enhancers and bondage products.”
People have become more adventurous in the last year.
“There was more of a literal take on Valentine’s lingerie last year, with heart prints and embroidery. This year, our clients are experimenting and getting playful with leather and more naughty style looks that still have a Valentine’s flair.”
Racy lacy items remain popular. Their delicate and transparent properties are eternally sensual. But she added, there’s a trend toward a wet look and faux leather as more people start feeling comfortable with edgier looks and pushing the envelope is becoming the norm.
Role play is gaining traction, judging by sales, said Olivier.
“Sales increase dramatically during Valentine’s season with loads of sexy costumes. The old favourites are schoolgirls, nurses, bunnies and French maids’ outfits, but again a huge trend seems to be costumes with components of a wet look or faux leather.”
A new website has been launched to facilitate fantasy and role play for couples, particularly useful after a romantic or sensual shopping spree.
It teaches people how to get maximum fun from their play.
The site, called realizedfantasy.com, was started by a husband-and-wife team who decided after a romantic holiday that there were envelopes to push in their relationship. It inspired the website’s content and, said founder Aviv Ben Menachem, role-play has the potential to add more than spice to a relationship. He said it engenders a significant dose of intimacy and trust.
“Introducing role-play to sex turns ordinary sex into erotic sex. There’s a famous equation that says: erotica equals sex multiplied by imagination. Our minds are our most important organ for sex, and instigating our imagination is key to take our sex to the erotic level.”
Olivier agrees with this sentiment and lands it right back at Valentine’s Day.
She said: “Valentine’s Day is all about taking the time to make your partner feel special and re-igniting that emotional connection.
“What can be a sexier gift to your partner than yourself?
“It is important to make Valentine’s Day a pleasurable and memorable experience that gets your relationship out of routine.”
Sexy toys remain evergreen. While living on the edge and going to extremes might not be for everyone, Olivier said there’s a great in-between for couples. It’s adventurous, but not over the top.
She describes the c-string as “underwear that has no sides and a front slot made specifically to accommodate a bullet vibrator. Or even a magnetic vibrator which can be worn with any undies as it clamps the fabric between the magnets”.
“Make it even more fun with a remote vibrator so you can tease your partner at the push of a button.”
On her site, Olivier also sells a 30-Day Romantic Challenge game. It’s a great tool, beyond just buying naughties, to enhance relationships and bring couples closer while unfolding a mysterious journey.
As people are becoming more adventurous and intimate, fulfilling fantasies together, especially during the month of love, could set a solid foundation for the balance of the year.