Written on November 6, 2008 – 8:23 am | by Maria Mihale |

Chastity belts are surrounded by all sorts of myths, more or less verisimilar. The most common of these myths is that they were first used by crusading knights on their wives. Women had to wear these anti-temptation devices day and night, whether they wanted it or not. There is, however, no evidence of the existence of chastity belts until the 15th century during the Renaissance, more than one hundred years after the last Crusade.

But what would you say about a modern type of the Chastity Belt? I’m sure that feminists around the world would react with horror to something like the new line of lingerie that comes equipped with a GPS tracking system. If some people are calling it a “21st century chastity belt” and others think it will help them keep tabs on their wives and girlfriends, well, Lucia Iorio, the creator of the new lingerie set, says that it is none of those things. More than that, the “Find Me If You Can” line from Lindelucy is aimed at the modern, tech-savvy woman who wants to have some flirty fun and games with her lover. I’ve seen a couple of outrageous outfits up until this moment, but this new line of lingerie with a GPS tracking system takes outrageous to a new level.

“It is outrageous to think that men can buy this, programme it and give it to their partners and then monitor them”, said Claudia Burghart, leader of a Berlin feminist group. “It is nothing more than a chastity belt for insecure men”, she added.

The lingerie combination set consists of lace bodice, bikini bottom and faux pearl collar, with the GPS device nestled in the see-through part of the bodice next to the waist. “This collection is a wink to women and a challenge to men because even if she gives him the password to her GPS, she can always turn it off”, the designer said. “It’s not a modern chastity belt. Some men think they can keep tabs on their girlfriend with it, but they’re wrong”, she added.

More than that, “some women are now interested in buying it for protection”, according to Iorio, adding that in a crime-prone country like Brazil, where the company is based, the set should be selling quickly. The designer doesn’t seem to be concerned about the controversy her collection has raised or about the global financial crisis and its adverse impact on luxury items sales. The GPS lingerie sells from £500 ($800), complete with a standard Global Positioning System, to £700 ($1,100), with a more advanced model. Pretty much, isn't it?

(Source: gadgets.boingboing.net)