Publisher's Synopsis
AtomAge magazine was the underground bible of leather, rubber and vinyl fetish wear throughout the 1970s. Founded, designed and published by John Sutcliffe as a way of showcasing his extraordinary clothing designs, it quickly became a focal point for explorers of every kind of fledgling clothing scene. For its readers, AtomAge was both an instruction manual and a mirror. The experimental clothing, including items made by the readers themselves, transformed a passion for a sexual kink into a cult phenomenon. From motorbiking and mask wearing, to mudlarking and wading worship, AtomAge covered every conceivalbe wrinkle. The photographs reflect an age of amateur enthusiasm, before fetish became the industry it is today, inadvertently depicting a suburbia fromwhich Dressing for Pleasure was a necessary escape. These outrageous costumes were an inspiration to a new generation of fashion designers, many of whom have since been assimilated into high-end collections. Presenting the most astonishing imagery from all thirty-two issues of this now rare and sought-after cult magazine, Dressing for Pleasure illustrates not just Sutcliffe's exceptional designs, but also, through their own photography and writing, the fantasies and desires of AtomAge followers.
