#union suits

If you’ve watched the 1997 animated film Anastasia, you may have noticed that Dmitri wears a rather odd outfit.

He’s got a vest over rolled sleeves over longer and tighter white sleeves. But why does he have those long sleeves? I’ve heard people call it a Henley or an undershirt, but the truth is far less sexy. 

Feast your eyes on the sort of underwear men in the 1920s wore; behold the UNION SUIT.

The union suit was popular from the late 19th century to the early 20th century. They could be short and sleeveless, or longer, as in the examples shown here. Union suits are still around today, but their popularity has waned. 

Ordinarily, the union suit would never be exposed, which means that Dmitri’s white sleeves are the deeply unsexy 1920s equivalent of a thong and low rise jeans.

I like how they all ended up some variant of pink. But I mean hey - he really rocks those union suits.

@improvidence318