Men's corsets: the history of clothes that did not allow breathing

Corsets are usually associated with women's fashion. However, in the past they were also worn by men. These wardrobe items were used to create a desired silhouette, which men also gravitated towards.

It is believed that corsets appeared in ancient Greece and Rome. Men and women wore corset-like belts that helped maintain posture and gave the desired body shape. But even then, these clothes created inconvenience, restricting breathing.

During the Middle Ages, this item of clothing was more like a shell. It covered the body from the neck to the hips. And although men considered it mostly for protection, it was also used among the civilian population.

During this period, corsets became part of everyday men's wardrobe, especially among the aristocracy. They helped create an elegant silhouette, emphasize the waist and chest. They were worn under the suits that were popular in those days. And, usually, men's corsets were less rigid than women's and provided more freedom of movement.

The 18th-19th centuries were the peak of the popularity of this wardrobe item. It is known that even persons of royal blood used it to look slimmer. For example, King George IV loved to eat, his corset measured in 1824 had a waist of 130 cm. Rumor has it that one day he tightened so much that he almost couldn't stop.

The greatest popularity came to the male corset in the 19th century, when the "dandy" figure came into fashion. She predicted a wasp waist, which emphasized broad shoulders. To men who wore tailcoats and whites

pants, it was necessary to hide the exposed stomach, so they pulled it with a corset.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the popularity of corsets among both men and women began to decline. The advent of more comfortable clothing and changes in fashion standards meant that they were worn less and less.