Sexually adventurous Brits experimenting with ‘castlecore-rotica’ — dubbed Britain’s fastest growing fetish — may be putting their health at risk, experts have warned.
Castlecore is an emerging design trend inspired by the Medieval era that’s become a hit on social media platforms such as TikTok and Pinterest in recent months.
And now, the UKs biggest sex toy brand has discovered the movement could also be inspiring increasing numbers of Brits in the bedroom.
In a new report, Lovehoney said its customers were experimenting with corsets and dildos inspired by fantasy creatures — which it linked to the castlecore trend.
However experts have warned that tight corset risked hindering breathing, while certain sex toys could get lodged inside the body, which is a medical emergency.
Lovehoney said interest in the erotic side of castlecore was linked to the growing popularity of ‘romantasy’ novels.
Blending medieval fantasy stories with erotic romance the genre has taken social media by storm as people review and share their favourite works.
The ‘romantasy’ tag has nearly over 700,000 posts on TikTok alone with some clips, where people offer their reviews of books, gathering millions of views.
Castlecore is the use medieval aesthetics in home decoration or fashion with the term becoming a hit on websites like TikTok and Pinterest in recent months with adherents showing off medieval inspired dresses or Gothic style furniture. Pictured Arundel Castle in West Sussex
However, one of Britain’s biggest erotica and sex toy brands has predicted castlecore will be coming to British bedrooms in 2025. In a new report, Lovehoney said Brits would likely pursue erotic elements such as corsets in the coming year. Stock image
A Lovehoney study found searches for ‘smut books’ rose by 78 per cent between May 2023 and May 2024, with the romantasy series A Court of Thorn and Roses a major part of driving the trend.
The brand also noted that interest in sex toys with designs evoking the genitals of fantasy creatures, like dragons, had exploded ‘sevenfold’ in the same period.
‘Castlecore-rotica — Medieval-inspired products [are] becoming all the rage.
‘In the bedroom, expect more corsets, which have had a huge boom in popularity recently, and dildos inspired by mythical medieval beings,’ they wrote.
Lovehoney’s UK sex and relationships expert, Annabelle Knight, described romantasy as an ultimate ‘what if’ that let people explore their deepest desires unburdened by reality.
‘Let’s face it, reality can be a bit dull sometimes, so who wouldn’t want to dive into a world filled with sexy fairies and forbidden romance?
‘These fantasy explorations also offer a safe space to explore power dynamics,’ she said.
‘They give you the freedom to play with ideas set in a world of mythical creatures or otherworldly beings, which makes it feel more detached from the everyday.
The brand also noted that interest in sex toys with designs evoking the genitals of fantasy creatures, like dragons, had exploded ‘sevenfold’ in the same period. Pictured a dragon from the hit fantasy TV show Game of Thrones
‘These stories also feel empowering, with strong female characters exploring their desires and embracing their power, which resonates with a lot of women.’
While deeply rooted in fantasy, there are some elements to the castlecore kink that can pose a health hazard.
Corsets, sometimes rebranded as ‘waist-trainers’, have enjoyed a resurgence over the past few decades, much to the concern of medics.
Sold online for as little as £7 the devices work by constricting the waist to make it appear smaller and accentuating a desirable hourglass figure.
However, they can cause breathing difficulties by pushing the stomach into the diaphragm, a muscle below the lungs, which is critical to respiration and supplying oxygen to the body.
Corsets and waist trainers can also cause digestive woes, such as acid reflux and constipation. This is caused by the stomach being pushed up and the intestines being restricted from their natural movements.
Use of such devices —which nowadays are typically made of synthetic fabrics and steel — can also cause the kidneys to shift to unnatural positions in the body, potentially cutting off the internal blood supply to the organs.
Some cases of liver and rib damage have even been reported from corset use in the past.
Lovehoney said interest in the erotic side of castlecore would be fuelled by the massive rise of ‘romantasy’ as a book genre on social media. Stock image
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Restriction of movement while wearing a corset can cause back muscles to weaken, potentially causing back pain and muscle weakness further down the line.
Many of these potential hazards result from wearing a corset too tightly and/or for too long.
Those interested in a fantasy inspired sex toy like a dildo should also ensure they are following safety advice.
Poorly designed options can lack a flared base designed to prevent them getting lodged inside the body.
Data suggests hundreds of Brits need to be rushed to A&E each year for an emergency extraction when this happens.
Experts also warn that people should check what kind of lubrication is compatible with the material of their sex toy.
Some formulas can damage the surface of toys, creating ‘pits’ in the structure that can increase the risk of it becoming contaminated with bacteria.
