At first glance, these panties look pretty standard. They're lacy, black, and a whole lot nicer than most of the undies in my drawer (except those Ginch Gonch, of course). But look a bit closer, and you'll see tiny beads and seams sewn into the, um, inner butt-cushion type part. Does anybody know the name of that part? Anyway, these panties are called Souffrez pour Moi, and they're designed to create impression-style tattoos on the wearer.
[Ninette van Kamp]
Designer Ninette van Kamp's pieces use artfully placed seams, beads, and textured fabric to create patterns in the skin. In other words, if you've ever wanted a flaming eagle soaring over an erupting volcano imprinted on your ass, Ninette is your woman. Not that, ahem, I've ever considered such a thing.
But seriously, the real story here is pretty interesting. Ninette embarked on this project with the following in mind: "Women have always been encouraged to achieve an unrealistic state of ideal beauty, even in cases where it is detrimental to their health. This is apparent in more extreme examples like the Victorian corset and Chinese foot binding. Women, it seems, are willing to suffer for the sake of beauty." Her aim with the Souffrez pour Moi concept was to explore how beauty and suffering are subtlely intertwined.
[via I Love Bad Things]
Related: What's Under Those Panties?, Test Drive: Ginch Gonch, Introducing the Anti-Panti