Pasties

Pasties (singular pasty or pastie) are patches that cover a person's nipples and areolae which are affixed with adhesive. Though pasties are commonly associated with strippers, burlesque shows and erotic entertainment, they are also at times worn more casually as an undergarment and occasionally as beachwear. As an example of rarer use, in the annual "Go Topless Day" protests in the United States, otherwise topless female demonstrators wear imitation nipple pasties over their own nipples, to avoid potential prosecution under indecency laws.

Pasties come in a variety of colors, diameters, and shapes. Though pasties come in a variety of sizes, they usually are not much larger than the areola. Pasties are usually applied with a special tape or glue fixative, often gum arabic. However, in some situations keeping pasties from falling off can be an issue, as can be their removal. Some women are allergic to some adhesives or pastie material. Due to this, most high quality nipples are made of hypoallergenic silicone and use special adhesives to reduce the chances of an allergic reaction. Some pasties are for single-use, while others are washable and can be reused.

A sideless bikini bottom is sometimes worn to complement a pasties top outfit, this can be a C-string held by an internal flexible frame or other pasties sustained with adhesive, commonly known as a merkin. These pasties for the genitalia are known as maebari in Japanese.

Pasties emerged in burlesque and striptease in the 1920s as a way to avoid breaking the law by performing topless or nude. Pasties came to be regarded by some as more aesthetic and erotic. They were worn in cabarets such as the Folies Bergère and Le Lido. Burlesque performer Carrie Finnell is attributed with adding tassels which hang from the center and incorporating tassel twirling as part of a performance. Tassel twirling has evolved to include Fire Tassels.

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