Costuming and erotic wear have seen many changes over time. From extremely suggestive bustiers that pushed up the breasts and tightened the waist to voluminous fabric and veils that revealed very little skin, the designs tended to fit the culture and times. Today, in the privacy of our own homes, we find it a little easier to let our imaginations go wild.

Although eventually you'll end up nude, foreplay can become much more powerful and extended when you add the element of clothing. Certain clothing elements lend themselves to the erotic.

Buttocks, breasts, legs, and shoulders (in that order) are the body parts that men list as their most arousing. Therefore, plunging necklines, tight skirts, and styles that accentuate the legs, stockings, and bare shoulders are evocative ways in which women can create allure. For the bedroom, try looser-fitting garments that allude to the curves of the body underneath the clothing. The fabric should wrap around you to accentuate your own erotic, natural curves.

The Bare Essentials

It only takes a few items to satisfy a hunger for erotic dressing up. You can keep it as simple as this:

• A sarong made from either rayon or silk (to be worn by both men and women)

• A sarong that is either transparent or see-through

• A teddy, matching bra, and underwear, or a one-piece body suit

• A robe of velvet, silk, or rayon

• A feather boa

In addition, you could add any number of items that appeal to you and your partner. You can use the following list of items if you're looking for an erotic gift for your partner:

• Additional scarves of all sorts

• Dress-up items from used clothing stores

• Fantasy items that you think might be good additions to your love play

• A wider selection of lacy underwear and teddies

• Feathery fans, masks, and other props that might add appeal

• Jewelry that lends an exotic feel to your costumes

Choose fabrics like velvet, rayon, and silk — they feel just as good to the person wearing them as to the one touching them. Silk slides under the hand and over the body easily. It shimmers and feels slinky and gives the body a moist, wet look.

Erotic Clothing for Men

Though it's usually women that we think of as dressing in erotic attire, men have a few options available, too. In studies, women say they appreciate inner strength and caring in a man over physical traits, but when it comes to the physical, they list average build, tight stomachs, and strong arms as their preference. Select silk robes, boxer shorts, and maybe a sarong for your intimate liaisons. For a special evening, you may even want to layer a little and put on a pair of men's G-string underwear under your boxers. When selecting items that create a tighter look with the bulges in all the right places, pick fabrics that will breathe and that aren't too restrictive. It's a well-known fact that a man's sperm count goes down when his scrotum is up close to his body for long periods of time. Select items that leave your whole body available for touching.