To say that I’m in love with ‘The Eternal Submission Collection’, designed by Studio 6th Sense and photographed by Troy Wise is an understatement. I’m ecstatic and orgasmic because what we have is a sophisticated, clear-headed examination of the ‘50 Shades of Grey’ BDSM lifestyle that I — as a feminist and strong supporter of women’s rights — can embrace with enthusiasm. 

Yes Shonda Robinson is beautiful, sexy and glamorous. And her master wears the accoutrements of wealth and money. The tradeoff for Robinson is obvious — and as an independent woman, it’s her right to make her own choices.

What I love about this campaign is that as glamorous as these Troy Wise images are — the male master is not Mr. Nice Guy. This is my fundamental resistance to this fantasy-world that women have created around ‘50 Shades of Grey’. This couple makes no attempt at intellectual depth. They may be as smug and self-absorbed as Mr. Grey and Miss Steele. 

The real ‘9 1/2 Weeks’ — rather than the glamourized movie, that I adore — is not pretty or romantic at all. The true story woman very nearly died.

This ‘Eternal Submission Collection’ campaign presents the psychological case of BDSM honestly. Of course, it’s air brushed and romanticized — and blood and bruises aren’t obvious, although there’s lots of grey in the skin tones.

All I ask is that as ‘50 Shades’ sweeps the world at the same time women are losing so many rights here in America, that fashion includes the devil in the details of its portrayal of BDSM. 

Men Obsessed | BDSM Is Not Romantic

There was no BDSM in Alfred Hitchcock’s possession of Tippi Hedren. But he was obsessed with her, obsessed with ‘owning’ her — and he destroyed her career when she refused to submit to him. He stalked her, made countless rules about her life when Hedren worked with Hitchcock. In reality, Tippi Hedren was smothered and her personal flame as a person would have died — had she not refused Hitchcock at the cost of her movie career. 

BDSM is not romantic.