Second Skin: Inside the Worlds of Fetish, Kink and Deviant Desire

by Anastasiia Fedorova

The smell of leather. The flash of a harness. The snap of a latex glove. Welcome to the radical, vibrant world of sexual fetishists.

In 21st century commodity culture, we are all intimately involved with we covet a Birkin bag; we keep trainers box-fresh. We are, in a sense, all fetishists. But occasionally this desire spills into something more subversive. SECOND SKIN offers a tour through the materials, objects and power dynamics commonly fetishised, unpacking their histories, their expressive potential, and the communities they give rise to. Drawing from her encounters with fellow fetishists and kinksters, it is also the story of Anastasiia Fedorova's own of what it means to come to terms with one's sexuality.

Brave and searching, Second Skin reveals how what we deem 'taboo' is never static, while do we have the courage to look at these desires directly, and express them unapologetically?

Genres: Nonfiction, Sexuality

262 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 3, 2026

Reviews

[Meike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fedorova's genre-mix of memoir, research paper, and journalistic essay dives into psychological, historical, and sociological aspects of kink and fetish culture, and the result is enlightening and highly entertaining. Fetish in its original meaning was an entity worshiped for its ascribed magical properties, for its symbolic value - it denoted an object of desire people seek out for satisfaction, which is a concept everybody living under capitalism can relate to (hello, Jean Baudrillard, Karl Marx' concept of commodity fetishism, and Thorstein Veblen). So the modern-day idea of fetishism, Fedorova argues, is about the symbolic power of objects and materials, commonly linked to sexual gratification. Cultural signifiers, personal memories, sub- and semi-conscious desires culminate in the many aspects of fetish and kink culture.

The chapters dive into different fetishes, let's see what we got:

Leather
We all know the leather daddy trope, but the book goes into a whole historical archive of leather and sex, referring to the community-aspect and artwork build on it. Did you know there are official Tom of Finland stamps, showing Kake and a naked male ass, issued by the Finnish postal service? That's the kind of info I want. ;-)

Latex
And did you know that latex fetishism largely started with the Mackintosh raincoat? There is apparently so much art surrounding this sub culture, up to the infamous Prada waders, you know, the ones sported by Daddy Pascal.

The Dominatrix
Obviously.

The Gimp
As I learnt, a gimp is a person, typically a submissive, dressed in a full-body leather or rubber suit including gloves and a hood. Even more than the materials mentioned above, the hood is connected to mindfulness through sensory deprivation and altered states of perception evoked by the material and its effect on the body. And there's art galore, from the 2023 Balenciaga show at the NYSE (which shows gimps in the Mekka of financial capitalism, thus making a political statement) to images like Bloodshrimp's "Chapel X" (which shows gimps at an altar).

The Chaser
A chaser is someone who pursues something or someone driven by an obsession. Most commonly, the term is probably used in context with trans people, so Fedorova lets the one and only Torrey Peters explain.

Feet
Yes, of course this chapter contains references to Quentin Tarantino, and did you know there's wine for fans of feet? Here: Simp Wine!

Medical Gloves
Sex and care and latex. Most doctors politely decline to join this subculture, I've learnt.

Cars
Sex and technology, and of course: Crash by J.G. Ballard. And Titane, and much more.

Monsters
No, not furries (that's a mostly non-sexual thing), but puppy play and the like, so stepping out of one's body. Fedorova explains it with the help of Powers of Horror: An Essay on Abjection by Julia Kristeva.

The Fetish Club
With references to Gay Bar: Why We Went Out, Fedorova explains what happens in clubs such as Klub Verboten, while asking who is to carry the shame parts of society associate with festish and kink: the person with the fetish, the fetishised, or the onlookers?

All in all, I found this very interesting and fun to read. It especially does a good job at explaining the fascination without judging: Neither the participants in fetish and kink, nor readers who are outsiders to the subcultures.

[Ashli Hughes · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.75*

I make it my life’s mission to be as perverted and sexually aware as I can to fight the notion that you cannot be educated & into sex. the rise in purity culture and far right political beliefs have led AFAB bodies, queer communities and kink/fetish communities to be under widespread attack to “fight for traditional” values which has encouraged me to dive even deeper into these topics.

I enjoyed the authors way of writing. a mix of autobiographical stories, interviews with others in the scene, research, historical and modern day examples for a community spanning the globe. I think it had some really interesting discussions (such as the link between queerness x kink, foot fetishes and the jokes made to their expense, leather / rubber history and fury / puppy play.) it was pulling the curtain back on some very interesting topics usually hidden away or discussed in only a negative light.

the only reason this isn’t getting four stars is I wished it had went deeper / was organised clearer. I would’ve loved a more widespread focus in terms of the fetishes being looked at and how these can form, function and play into people’s lives.

[Juliano · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Like most sexual scenarios, it has been lived out countless times before us. We slip it on like a second skin. What brought us here? Desire, perversion, disposable income, love? Chasing an erotic high? We have, above all, an insatiable drive to know one another. Naked is not naked enough.” I came to Anastasiia Fedorova’s Second Skin: Inside the Worlds of Fetish, Kink and Deviant Desire with high hopes for fresh insight of kink and fetish culture and I was not disappointed. From the beginning, Fedorova’s arguments about fetishism and capitalism/consumerism struck me, a connection I’d never really considered before, and one that could be a book in itself. She writes so beautifully, from a personal perspective, but is equally capable of holding the subject at a remove and regarding it from there, separate. “My fetishism is so inescapably close to who I am, interlinked with my identity, hard to separate from my sense of self. And yet sometimes I have to peel it off and examine it under a light.” I am as fascinated by fetishism as I am wary of it, for the very reason Fedorova alludes to: the way it becomes all-encompassing, something I have seen (and grown bored of) in other people in my own life. Fedorova beautifully considers what we have to gain from embracing fetishism and exploration, and the ways its pursuit can broaden us, “a desire for transformation: one which leads us beyond societal constraints, and at times beyond our physical forms. There is a sadness to fetish: of becoming but never being. But then, there is also an enduring sense of purpose. If you can never quite arrive at your destination, you are never fully satisfied, and so the drive lives on forever.” Something about this hopeful way of seeing sexual difference makes me hopeful for the possibility of the erosion of shame, the great shaper and curtailer of fetish and joy: with texts like Fedorova’s, it feels closer than it did even just a few years ago. Thanks to Granta for sending me a proof — it’s out in June and so worth reading!

[Iv Divine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love being a pervert

[Lola Stocking · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting and beautiful book about kink and fetish. Really enjoyed the framing of kink and fetish as part of an expanded sexuality as opposed to ‘normal’/‘deviant’ etc (and this whilst still maintaining the importance of taboo and self-professed perversion). I loved her emphasis on the sensitivity and sensuality of kink (not qualities typically afforded to it) and the term ‘plasticity of judgement’, which she advocates for more of. Most people could do with more plasticity of judgement lol

[Kiara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Casually googling everything referenced forgetting it’s technically porn but like aesthetically pleasing

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book. Despite the damning review in Times I bought this book and loved it. An intelligent view of kink , not sleazy or salacious. With references to Tom of Finland , Maplethorpe Balllard and Torture garden before it was fashionable. What's not to enjoy. .

[Jean Cleverley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every page is so generously dripping in knowledge. A field day for perverts <3

[T. Van · Rating 4 out of 5]

i came across this book reading the book review section of financial times out of all places. so when i saw it being sold at a women-author-only bookstore in berlin, a city that prides itself for its “anything goes” attitude, it felt appropriate to pick it up and learn a bit about the world of kinks and fetishes.

i thought the mix between histories, personal stories, interviews, and mini essays was done with care and an appropriate amount of humour. whilst it was sometimes a bit uncomfortable to read in light of the tabooness of the topic (i felt especially brave reading this in cafes), i feel like the author managed to strike a balance between being honest and open about the subject matter without diminishing its strangeness or scandalising it.

i suspect those more familiar with the subject matter might find this book too light, too introductory, too nebulous. but for those with a more passing interest in the shapeshifting and evolving nature of contemporary sexuality and gender, as well as more niche areas of queer history - and who are comfortable with being slightly uncomfortable at times - i think you will find the content of this book to be quite rich.

[Jua · Rating 5 out of 5]

picked this up on a whim from my favourite book store and was absolutely captivated by it. a delicious mix of historical context, personal testimony and cultural critique ⛓️

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and well written but I hugely resent KV being described as “accessible for all” when it completely excludes physically disabled people.

[Noa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a special read. I love being a pervert!!!!!!! Leather forever!!!!!

[bookcasewalls]

The personal and specific sections of this book are wonderful; I would read a whole book of Fedorova talking about fragments of her play dates, and some of the interviews are really great. However, some of the places where the author is more general about fetish or sexuality I found vague or sloppy. I wished I could act as editor, and push her on the points she's trying to make to sharpen them up or cut them out. I was also amused to find out she's a pandemic pervert - what a baby!! Overall, I particularly enjoyed the chapters on fetishes I do not share (latex, cars) and found the ones where I am more knowledgeable (leather, fetish clubs) a little predictable.