What it really takes to get into those latex dresses the Kardashians love

Once exclusively the stuff of S&M parties and cosplay events, latex clothing has recently become the sexy, curve-hugging style of choice for the A-list, with everyone from the Kardashian-Jenners to Beyoncé on board.
“The material is pretty amazing, and it’s very forgiving and flattering, which most people wouldn’t think,” Vex‘s Laura Petrielli-Pulice, who’s dressed Kylie Jenner, Nicki Minaj and more in her latex creations, told Page Six.
“It’s kind of like wearing Spanx — it just holds everything in and makes all the good parts look even better. People think you need a perfect body to wear it, which is definitely not the case.”

For London-based latex designer Atsuko Kudo, a favorite of Kim Kardashian and Bella Hadid, the rubbery stuff’s allure goes even deeper. “Latex empowers women,” she said, explaining that she creates clothing “for everyone who wants to feel beautiful, feminine and strong.”

For those eager to squeeze into a latex look of their very own, however, patience is key. “You should never rush dressing in latex,” Kudo said. “It’s like a little ritual. And there is a reward!”
Stars who wear latex pieces for their performances typically opt for items with zippers and snaps for the sake of speed, according to Petrielli-Pulice. “They make it a hell of a lot easier to change in and out of these pieces quickly without ruining them,” she explained. For everything else, there’s lube.
Both latex gurus recommend reaching for a silicone-based lubricant to help the garment (literally) slide on, although Petrielli-Pulice said some prefer a sprinkling of talc powder as a dressing aid. “Personally, I don’t like baby powder because if you do sweat in the piece, you start to drip this white milky residue,” she cautioned. “It’s not pretty.”
Speaking of sweat, there’s a common misconception that latex garments are stiflingly hot by nature, which the Vex founder insisted just isn’t true. “It takes on the temperature of your surroundings,” she said. “So if you’re in a hot, sweaty club, then yes, you’re going to be pretty toasty. But if you’re outside and there’s a breeze, you might be chilly. Everybody just thinks that you put it on and automatically sweat, but I’ve been so cold in latex that I needed a jacket.”

Whether you reach for lube or powder to shimmy into your piece, resist the urge to forcefully tug on a latex garment, particularly if you’ve got long fingernails or are wearing jewelry that could snag the fabric. “Latex is like a balloon: If you have sharp nails or a sharp ring or necklace and you puncture it in any way, it’ll just explode,” Petrielli-Pulice warned. “It’s my worst fear.”
And don’t think you can haul a latex dress to the dry cleaners — the rubbery material requires special (though surprisingly simple) care.
“You can just put it in your sink and bathtub and wash it with dye-free detergent or a mild soap, and then hang it dry,” Petrielli-Pulice instructed. Her brand’s website also stocks Viviclean, a special antibacterial wash that will get the job done.
It’s also important to keep latex clothing out of direct sunlight as much as possible, preferably in a garment bag stashed in a cool, dark place. “I’ve seen stuff in store window displays literally melt from the heat,” Petrielli-Pulice said.
For wearers looking for a red carpet-ready wet look, there are plenty of silicone-based shine products available to add gloss. And as far as protecting the material from normal daytime wear, a UV spray will prevent the piece from developing a powdery cast and color distortion, and keep the latex in tip-top condition for years to come.
“Obviously when the Kardashians are wearing a piece, they’re wearing it once and never again,” Petrielli-Pulice pointed out. “But for the normal person buying it, they definitely want to get some care products to go along with it. Because if they’re going to be spending the money on it, they probably want to wear it at least a couple of times!”

Plenty of normal people are adding their favorite stars’ latex looks to their own shopping carts. “Kylie [Jenner] in that tank dress recently — there have been many orders for that,” the Vex founder said. “Same thing when Rihanna wore Vex in her ‘Bitch Better Have My Money’ video. Everybody wanted that for Halloween.”
Kudo noted that Hollywood’s embracing the fabric has “helped bring latex away from the association of just fetish wear, and into the world of fashion,” and concurred that key celebrity placements have boosted her sales.
“When Kim Kardashian first wore [my clothes] it had a big effect, as she is the first fashion icon for many decades — maybe since Marilyn Monroe — who has a world-famous curvy figure,” she said. “But when Lady Gaga wore Atsuko Kudo to meet the Queen of England, it was a huge moment, as everyone around the world noticed.”
Plus, she added, “the Queen smiled in all of the pictures!”