I do understand that Atomage is trying to be honest and has to try to please everyone but I do think some of it is catering for ‘interests’, as you call them, that are perverted. My husband, who shows me every issue of Atomage, assures me that they are all entirely harmless, but I’m sorry, I do not agree with you or with him.

I am not a prude and not easily shocked, but I think some of the fashions are catering for some not very healthy interests. Sorry, but that is my opinion. I don’t know, but I think other wives will agree with me so my husband has persuaded me to write down what I’ve said to him after reading almost every issue of Atomage.

I don’t mind dressing in rubber – it has some very good qualities – and like your lady writer, Helen, I don’t mind wearing the current leather fashions and agree with what she says about it being practical, smart and good value for money. I think my Kingfisher raincoat is very good too. It keeps me dry and looks smart. I often think, too, that. I would like a cape; but wearing rubber and leather clothes in the house or the bedroom I do not consider to be natural or necessary.

Anyway, what happens in the bedroom is a very private matter and I’m sorry but I don’t consider this to be a subject to write about in any magazine.

I believe marriage is a very private business between two people, so I suppose if a woman is prepared to wear a raincoat indoors that is O.K. but I don’t think you should say in your magazine that it is a normal or natural thing for a man to expect a woman to wear something uncomfortable.

Some of the material in Atomage I like because the clothes are interesting and wearable. The cover picture on No. 20 and the story of your customer was good. I am always interested to read what Helen has to say. The clothes she wears I also admire very much, the masks, gasmasks, and the ugly rubber clothes like those on page 31, the centre pages and page 41 I think are ghastly. I honestly don’t see what anyone. gets from that. I don’t mind the colour pictures on page 52 because the pink rubber is feminine and flattering. I have told my husband I don’t mind wearing anything like that although, of course, I would never wear it out in public. Rubber proof suits and gasmasks like those on page 54 of Atomage 19 would, I am sure, put any woman off. There is nothing feminine or desirable about a gasmask which just reminds me of war and death. They are certainly out of place in the bedroom and I wouldn’t be a wearer of one outdoors.

By all means encourage women to wear feminine garments in leather and rubber or vinyl, but not all this civil defence equipment and ugly, heavy clothing designed for men – definitely not for women.

I have told my husband that a lot of what you are doing is helping to destroy sexual attraction – not encouraging it. Hope you don’t think my letter rude. It is not intended to be.

– A WIFE

No, far from thinking your letter rude, we appreciate your frankness. Your views will, we believe, evoke a sympathetic response from other women readers.

What you are saying is that you are prepared to wear rubber or leather garments in the bedroom – provided they look feminine. But the complaints we get are that a great many wives are horrified even by the suggestion that they should wear anything but nice sensible nightdresses in the bedroom.

You see, so many of your sex are unwilling to explore the complex nature of a man’s sexuality – or to put it very simply, what turns him on. The sexual association of certain objects, garments or materials is a difficult subject and ‘Dressing for Pleasure’ is our attempt to shed a little honest light into a dark corner at a time when the marriage relationship is under more pressure than at any previous period in human history. Nobody, too, these days, seems to be able to decide what is feminine, certainly not the fashion pundits it seems, to judge from magazines like ‘Vogue’ and ‘Harpers’! What an interesting debate we could have. Perhaps readers will join in?

– ED.