OFFICERS IN CORSETS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12213, 7 March 1903, Page 5 (Supplement)

OFFICERS IN CORSETS.

BURLY GUARDSMEN AS FAIRIES WITH 22-INCH WAISTS..

Cossets for men are gaining in popularity. M. Worth admits that " artificially-improv-ed"'figures are common amongst army officers.

_ M. Worth is the leading maker of gentlemen's corsets, and his customers include some well-known men. To a representative of Fashion he says:—" The poular idea with regard to these things is that they are worn by dandies. But my business has shown me that they are chiefly sought after by the most athletic and soldierly of men, who are desirous of keeping their figures in order, so that they may continue in pursuit of their various sports without looking clumsy or'unfit."

Hunting men (says M. Worth need solid support round the waist, such as is afforded by closely-fitting and strongly-boned corsets or belts, and they prefer the high kind for three reasonsbecause they give a more evenly-distributed support to the body;' because they do not shift out of place; and because the hunting coat sets over them without wrinkling and "working "up" , the back. ,

_ " All the intricate mechanism of the body is braced," says a believer in male corsets, " and when bodily fatigue would naturally ensue, causing each part to assume a position of less capacity to sustain further strenuous exertion,' the support of the corset or belt is at hand, to prevent this retreat of the bodily forces to a position of inferior strength and resistance."

Worth et Cie. are . often called upon to supply, corsets of a very feminine, shape for officers who wish to assume female, characters in fashionable amateur theatricals. M. Worth relates many amusing incidents of burly .guardsmen who wish to appear as delicate fairies, with 22in waists. Surgical corsets are worn by many men for physical weakness.