Well, 2015 has come and gone and we’ve seen a wild year of news including everything from millionaires who want to be president to a dress that sparked national debate. But we wanted

to see which sexual fetishes managed to emerge and become buzz-worthy last year so we did some digging and rounded up this list that should whet your whistle and maybe inspire some readers now that 2016 is under way.

Forniphilia

Don’t worry if our first entry doesn’t ring a bell. Although it’s gained popularity, it’s still relatively unknown. Simply put, forniphilia is an extreme form of bondage where a submissive person essentially turned into a piece of furniture. A person may be bound, gagged and blindfolded before being incorporated into a table, lamp or footstool. They are then expected to stay in place – and silent – for hours at a time. Because of the bondage element of this fetish, it’s important for their Dominant to check their safety regularly. This is done without speaking to the submissive though, in order to maintain the sensation of being objectified.

Infantilism

Infantilism is more commonly known simply as Adult Baby Play and it’s pretty much exactly what it sounds like. The role playing fetish has gained popularity thanks to it being featured in a number of television specials throughout the year. Participants use adult sized baby clothes, pacifiers, cribs, toys and diapers to create the image of being an overgrown baby. Sexual activities are not always incorporated and, in many cases, simply acting as and being treated like a baby by others is the goal.

Cross-Dressing

The fetishization of wearing clothes intended for a different gender has officially gone mainstream. Cross-dressers are usually depicted as men in dresses but the truth is that is goes well beyond that old cliché. Thanks to a new understanding of gender fluidity, today both men and women have found themselves dipping their toes into cross-dressing or androgynous fashion. Eddie Izzard, Russell Brand, Dwyane Wade, Johnny Depp and the iconic David Bowie have all stepped out in female fashion and makeup and now, more and more other men are following suit. Once seen as a full blown paraphilia, cross-dressing is now seen less as a sexual issue and more in lines with gender fluidity and simply a form of personal expression.

Spanking

Spanking has also gone mainstream with accessories and instruction manuals widely available thanks, in large part, to the resurgence of the BDSM culture over the past few years. Since spanking is easy to modify from light and fun to quite serious, it offers the most versatility for newcomers, and gives people the chance to experiment in dominance and submission. Many couples who have never experimented much in the past find that simple spanking activities help them to loosen up and get in touch with their own turn-ons, even if that eventually moves away from spanking specifically.

Voyeurism and Exhibitionism

Voyeurism and exhibitionism has been a natural evolution to the increased interest in various forms of sexuality. Swinging, group sex and sexualized shows have all contributed to the growth and mainstream popularity of this fetish. For those who put themselves on display, the thrill comes from being seen and for those who enjoy watching, it’s all about the show. Exhibitionism isn’t always about sex either. The fetish runs the gamut from simply wearing sexy or revealing clothing in public to putting on full out sex shows. Again, it’s the versatility of this fetish that has contributed a large part to its increased popularity.

These popular fetishes show just how sexy 2015 really was. It also displays how much more open-minded and accepting society has become about gender, sexual preference and personal expression. What will 2016 hold in terms of human sexuality and mainstream pop-culture? Chances are, it’s going to get steamy!