“Christian Grey is watching us,” announced Divalysscious Moms founder Lyss Stern, to the hundreds of women gathered outside Carlyle on the Green in Bethpage, Long Island, waiting for a luncheon Monday to celebrate E.L. James‘s bondage erotica trilogy Fifty Shades of Grey. The series, recently released in paperback by Vintage. has sparked everything from an SNL skit to jewelry to sex workshops at erotic boutiques. The women, who paid $85 to hear the British author, had read every page—in many cases multiple times—and were quick to point out purple dresses among them, like the one worn (and removed) in the books.

Upon entering, we were greeted by couches draped with lacy black panties, feather boas and torn jeans, along with quotes from the book on mirrors, such as, “Miss Steele, I do believe you’re making my palm twitch.” Read More