Charles Guyette
American artist (1902–1976)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Charles Guyette (August 14, 1902 – June, 1976)[1] was a pioneer of fetish style,[2] the first person in the United States to produce and distribute fetish art,[3] and regarded as the mail-order predecessor of Irving Klaw.[4] Later known as the "G-String King,"[5] he is best remembered for his fetish photographs, some of which featured sadomasochistic content.[6]
Biography and legacy
Guyette worked as an innovative burlesque costumer and dealer in theatrical accessories,[7][8] providing vintage corsets,[9] opera gloves, custom-made fetish boots,[10] and, most famously, G-strings.[11] Employed by National Police Gazette editor, Edythe Farrell, he later provided costumes, high heel shoes and boots, and occasionally photographs for publisher Robert Harrison,[12][9] known for pin-up magazines such as Wink, Titter, Beauty Parade, Whisper, and Eyeful. He was also important in early fetish community social circles of the day[13] and in the careers of John Willie and Irving Klaw.[14] Guyette was a fetish fashion pioneer.
Guyette was also influenced by earlier fetish designs including those of Yva Richard.[15]
In 1935, Guyette went to federal prison, becoming the first martyr of fetish art history.[16] Later, he operated under a series of aliases and owned a costume shop on West 45th Street in New York City.[17] Largely uncredited in his lifetime, Guyette influenced key fetish art innovators, including Irving Klaw, John Willie, Eric Stanton, and Leonard Burtman.[18]
The subject of a book tribute, Charles Guyette: Godfather of American Fetish Art,[18] he is also featured in the independent biopic on Wonder Woman creator William Moulton Marston. The film Professor Marston and the Wonder Women, written and directed by Angela Robinson,[19][20] features Guyette as the costumer for Wonder Woman's real-life inspiration, Olive Byrne.[20] Guyette is played by actor JJ Feild.[21] In 2025 Guyette was inducted into the Leather Hall of Fame.[22][23]