A German designer brings out some hot new underwear for the cold
season.

BERLIN, GERMANY (OCTOBER 17, 2008) REUTERS -
It's cold outside but it's hot in here: the presentation of Daniel
Rodan's new underwear collection is pretty hot stuff. Forget about thermal
undies for winter, this German designer's garments are all made of different
kinds of leather, and are sure to keep the nether regions warm.
Far from being just 'leather and latex' the designs vary from everyday
underwear to very sexy or barely there, and Rodan says the client base is as
varied as the garments themselves.
"Principally it is very individual characters who buy them, and
they come from all levels of society. It starts with taxi drivers and stops
with the head secretary of the big banks or somewhere. It is something that
you can't pin onto one type of customer," he says.
The collection, which ranges from bras, suspenders and knickers to
theme-based costumes, is called "Black Nights II - Secrets in
leather" and involves not only a lot of different kinds of leather, but
also a lot of fantasy. The secret, according to Rodan, is that the garments
should complement the woman wearing them, not disguise her.
"It has to suit the person wearing it, that is really important.
The idea, after all is to dress them and not disguise them. And that counts
for all the lingerie, even the zodiac-style costumes, where we make the
scorpion style to fit the star-sign or a lioness for leo, it doesn't matter
which."
With the amounts of material used in some of the creations, the
garments are somewhat unsuited to disguising the figure anyway, but, using the
finest leather, are at least comfortable enough for everyday wear, and really
don't make you sweat too much, one model, Enyerlina said.
"It is really comfortable leather, really fine. I feel really sexy
in it. It's beautiful, and not too hot at all."
In addition to cow and calf leather Rodan uses exotic materials such as
elk or kangaroo leather, crocodile and various reptile and fish skins. And
while a fish-skin bridal dress or scorpion-style lingerie might be too exotic
for some, the garments on show did appeal to some of the guests.
"There are a few things I would like to wear, the trench coats and
a few of the bras and knickers which were quite nice," said one guest,
Olga.
"It is amazing that they can be worn just like any other garment,
and I find that really attractive, you look good in it," said another,
Birgit.
And with the idea that underwear has to go under your clothes being
completely out of fashion, if you have no traditional leather trousers for the
Octoberfest in Germany, at least you can get some leather pants.