Corsets for Men

"Don't laugh. I bet plenty of you men wear one of these!"- Elmer Fudd from The Wacky Wabbit, 1942. 

According to the following excerpt from an article printed in a 1921 issue of The Haberdasher, men's corsetry experienced a surge in popularity during the early 20s. (The days when men of Elmer Fudd's generation were eager young professionals, wanting to fit in, perhaps?). "The Baron" gives an enthusiastic, if a trifle haphazard, report of the latest trends, and events, in London menswear, and writes about a new and booming corset industry: "...the male corsetieres are doing a roaring trade..." he says, "...corsets for men are, in fact, openly advocated and boasted of, for the first time in my memory."

It might seem a little odd for men to re-adopt such a restrictive garment at a time when interest in sportswear and personal comfort were growing rapidly. However, the appeal of corsets begins to make more sense when one examines the popular silhouette at the time. The barrel chested suits of the 1890s and 1900s had become decidedly outmoded. Figure-hugging tailoring over subtle hourglass curves (which had been coming into fashion during the 1910s) was now in vogue, and going nowhere. The new silhouette was perfect for slightly curvy gentlemen, with naturally trim figures. However, it presented a challenge for fashion conscious gentlemen who didn't quite fit the new mold. For many, corsets may have seemed like a straightforward answer to a troubling style problem. 

Right: A men's coat form from 1922, advertised in The Clothier and Furnisher. This form represented the ideal silhouette of a gentleman already clothed in his long underwear, shirt, and waistcoat.