As happens so often, I was reading a Facebook post questioning the reality of ripping silk panties in a particularly passionate sex scene. Many noted that silk is an incredibly strong material requiring quite a bit of force to rip. Of course that got me thinking about the old comparison between silk and iron and the claim that silk is at least as strong as iron. Of course, this is a somewhat misleading fact, because a strand of silk is very thin, and compared to the same size of iron, it probably isn’t as amazing. This fact is also further clarified by how they measured strength using a tensile strength measurement, which measures the amount of stress a material is able to withstand before breaking. Of course, silk panties are not made of a single strand of silk, thus the strength is legendary. After reading the post, I just had to make a comment, asking the question of whether these modern-day bodice ripper scenes in sapphic fiction actually happen in real life versus a Hollywood version of love and passion or in the mind of an author. Well…I received numerous responses, that, at least in the sapphic community, it does indeed occur, although the responders did clarify that cotton or lace panties rip easily, not necessarily silk. There were also several who indicated a few missing buttons after a particularly passionate coupling. I cheekily responded that I needed to step up my game! To be fair, neither my wife nor I wear panties to rip off! I’ve never read a scene where a woman’s boxer briefs were ripped off, so perhaps I need to write one of those. Butch gals need that kind of passion, too!
I also needed to research the reality of those bodice rippers because I suspected the undergarments were even more difficult to rip than a tiny pair of silk panties. Indeed I was correct. A romance author actually did a demonstration at a Romance Writers of America conference. It took the author over an hour to squeeze into a dozen layers of clothing women of affluence would have worn in the 1860s — stockings, garters, bloomers, chemise, corset, crinoline or hoop skirt, petticoats, a shirtwaist or blouse, skirt, vest and bolero jacket. By the end of ripping off each layer, her suitor would have been too tired to make mad passionate love to her! I suppose a poor woman might have fared better if their fantasy was to have their undergarments ripped apart in a fit of unbridled passion.
Not that I do physical research for every sex scene I write, but unfortunately none of my books include ripping panties or other pieces of clothing. However, if you would like to see how I’ve handled the removal of clothing during a passionate moment, you know the drill, just click on the links below!
Audio links: Audible in US Audible in UK
Audio links: Audible in US Audible in UK
Now in Audio ! Audio links: Audible in US Audible in UK
Recent double Award-Winning novel….
Amazon Germany Book 4 in the Trophy Wives Club Series
Links to the Books in Audible:
Undercover Love Politics of Love Love Bonds Sculpting Her Heart Disconnected Artist Free Zone Locked Inside
Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!
Annette Mori 
Hello Annette,
Can’t tell you how much fun the “tearing off silk panties” conversation has been. LMFAO. So funny, and I can’t wait to jump into the next pithy, top shelf discussion.
Sincerely,
Karen
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Yes it was a fun conversation
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