Fetish Boudoir – Blog

Torture Garden Halloween
Saturday 01 November 2008 @ London (Mass)

It is sometimes useful to have the benefit of hindsight when writing one’s reviews. Or maybe I’m just making excuses for being very late in my contribution to the Halloween Torture Garden event post … In any case, Torture Garden sent out their November Newsletter which provides their take on the new layout, which is highly illuminating. From their point of view, the limitations imposed on Mass for the use of their habitual dungeon turned out to be an improvement. From the punter’s point of view, the use of two full cocktail bars and much more seating was a huge improvement, though there were minor drawbacks, such as the gauntlet to be run between Dungeon/Chill-out area and the dancefloors .. but more on that later.

The vibe was there even in the queue, early as we arrived. This was it, one of the biggest Torture Garden events of the year, up there with the Birthday Ball and New Year’s Eve party. Finally, all those who felt they needed a commercial excuse to dress up could let loose. It was also the perfect occasion for first timers, a little shy in their ‘borrowed plumage’, to make their outing. Traditional-style Halloween costumes, witches, ghouls and mummies mixed with the trashier roadkills, graphic corpses and morbid fetish. A truly terrifying pink clown haunted the halls. Torture Garden regulars could be spotted between forests of feather and tulle wings  … Though they made circulation a little difficult at times, it was truly invigorating to see so many spectacular outfits and appreciate the effort that had gone into them.

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