Parisian gothic - collar by Radiance Bound LLC - review by Lilith Desiderata

The moment I saw the Parisian Gothic collar, my brain shut off and rerouted power to my naughty bits. Vibrators, dildos, all manner of sex toys... sure, they’re a turn on, but there’s something about bondage accessories that is so much more sensually sinister.  Where toys brightly announce their intentions, collars and cuffs seem to whisper in measured, even tones what they’re going to DO to you. This one had a whole bunch to say, and I squirmed with every unsaid word.

The Parisian Gothic is beautiful, elegant, and a joy to wear. The special metallic pattern on the leather has some serious staying power, as it went through a day and (rather active) night of wear with not a flake missing. I like that the ornament on the front is semi flexible; while I like being restricted I didn’t fancy being poked in the neck all day by a rogue decoration, which happily did not occur. The buckle is compact, rounded and well made, a nice departure from the common flat buckle used in most bondage wear – it adds a great deal to the look and feel of the collar and is definitely worth mentioning! The adjustable properties are also excellent, a hole is provided every half inch up to 17”, and the excess is very easily trimmed away. The inside, while unlined, is comfortable and lacks the “sandpaper” feel and suede particles I’ve dealt with from less quality collars in the past.

The mounting of the ring, an O-ring style that hangs flush with the body instead of the usual right-angle-mounted dee ring, is ideal for the attachment of leashes, leads and tie downs. I am more into the ornamental aspect of BDSM, so I did not test the O ring under thrashing or HARD pulling conditions, but it seems relatively sturdy for light use. That being said, if you’re looking to haul someone, or be hauled around by the collar and put in some seriously intense tugging, this wouldn’t be the collar for you. It is wide enough to wear comfortably, but if someone ignores a safe word, (aside from needing to find yourself a new and safer partner to play with!) I could see this slender band becoming a little dangerous under an overzealous backwards pull. Granted, because the O ring is mounted in the front it would take a lot of twisting and flailing to get it turned around, but I’d rather mention it than not.

If you are, or you have someone who is a pet, a “girl”, or an ornament, think of this as the kink equivalent of a diamond necklace. It will enhance the appearance and beauty of your playtime together, as well as draw some appreciative and knowing glances. I enjoyed its gentle but firm sensation on my neck so much, I now like to wear it around the house even when I’m alone.