Of course, everyone associates corsets with women. Whether it’s for waist definition, bust boosting, or even as a form of negative physical manipulation and control – they may look and feel fabulous today, but they weren’t always that way. What many people don’t realise, however, is that women aren’t the only wearers of corsets. The male corset actually has been around since the 1500s, holding its own as postural support and rebellion wear. But where did it all begin?
Corsetry has always been gender-inclusive. Men wore corsets long before they became exclusively associated with women’s fashion.
Victorian dandies elevated the male corset into an art form: a symbol of elegance, discipline, and refinement.
The decline of male corsetry in the early 20th century reflected cultural shifts toward comfort and practicality.
Subcultures and designers like Jean-Paul Gaultier and Vivienne Westwood revived the corset as a statement of freedom and gender fluidity.
The modern male corset blends historical inspiration with new materials, inclusive design, and creative self-expression.
The resurgence of vintage corsets and vintage lingerie in menswear highlights fashion’s cyclical nature and appreciation for craftsmanship.
Today’s male corset top is both a nod to history and a bold step into fashion’s future, where structure, style, and identity meet.
When first designed, corsets were worn by both sexes. In the 16th and 17th centuries, corsetry was part of courtly dress for men, especially amongst European aristocracy. The male corset, which was commonly known as "stays" or "doublet", was designed to create a sleek, upright posture and a commanding silhouette, helping men to achieve the ideal physique of broad shoulders and a narrow waist, which many believed to symbolise nobility and control. Which was one of the reasons why the corset also found its way into military regalia. But as always, with fashion, the corset soon took another turn.
Enter the dandy. Unduly concerned with looking stylish, the dandy saw fashion as not just about vanity – although that certainly had its place – but about intellect, taste, and power. With men like Beau Brummell championing the cause, Regency England became a stage for the fashion-forward male, with waspish waists, wide chests, and tailcoats all part of the theatre. While many commentators ridiculed the style – and the men who aspired to it – for those in the know, the corset was transformative.
But even without the dandies, there was a strong market for male corsetry throughout the 19th century amongst those who saw them as fitness aids – tools for health, posture, and “deportment”. And many of them were beautifully made. The vintage lingerie market today often highlights these rare male corsets as exquisite examples of 19th-century craftsmanship.
By the early 1900s, male corsetry had fallen out of fashion. With modern tailoring, it became possible to make looser, more comfortable, and practical clothing. Corsets began to look outdated and overly fussy, with the only male corsets remaining relegated to theatre costuming and fetish fashion, kept alive by stage performers, drag artists, and fetish communities, albeit underground.
It wasn’t until the mid-20th century that the male corset really returned, and then it was in fetish fashion and avant-garde performance art. Corsetry was presented through a subversive lens, with men wearing corsets as an act of rebellion in the 1950s and ‘60s. This is really where we first see the openly avowed rejection of rigid gender norms and traditional masculinity. And designers like Vivienne Westwood and Jean-Paul Gaultier really bought into this, albeit a few years later, bringing the corset back into mainstream fashion.
Gaultier, in particular, blurred gender boundaries in his collections, famously dressing male models in corsets and structured bustiers. His designs made a statement, but they also opened the door for the male corset top to find its way back into pop culture. Since then, the corset has inspired a host of celebrity looks, from David Bowie and Prince right up to Harry Styles. The result is that the male corset has moved as far away as possible from its original purpose of rigidity and restriction and has become instead a symbol of fluidity and androgyny.
Today, the male corset is somewhere in between. It’s worn for both form and function. It can provide an unbeatable silhouette and incredible posture while helping the wearer to make an unforgettable statement. At the same time as bridging the ever-present gap in gender-driven fashion. But corsets are no longer just standalone garments; they’re now integrated into a variety of men’s staples, from tailored vests and belted jackets to sheer male corset tops.
While in high fashion, the likes of Thom Browne, Palomo Spain, and Mugler, are integrating corsetry into their male designs, corsets are again being used in their own right as male waist trainers and posture correctors. They intersect directly with conversations about identity, body positivity, and self-expression and have become a symbol of creative and personal freedom. For most male wearers, corsets are an act of empowerment, allowing them to take control of their own body and aesthetic.
Who knows where the male corset will go next? But with sustainability and vintage fashion gaining traction, we’re putting our money on corsetry playing a part, perhaps with structured vests and cinched blazers helping to replace some of the plastic that currently dominates fashion. At the same time as allowing men to express themselves through style.
It’s been 500 years since men first started wearing corsets, and we’re ready for a full-scale comeback. But this time, it’s not about restraint or vanity but about body confidence, beauty, and freedom. So, vive le male corset!
Fancy trying out one of your own? Check out the True Corset men’s corset collection.
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